"Unite to Unlock": A Historic Gathering of Our Global Partners
The "Unite to Unlock" event, celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Rabo Partnerships (RP), took place on April 7-8, 2025, at Innstyle in Maarssen, Netherlands. For the first time we have brought together all our partners across the globe. From representatives of (non-banking) financial institutions to (non) governmental organizations and corporates. The event provided a perfect opportunity to celebrate, connect, and explore new potentials in the field of agricultural and inclusive finance in emerging markets.
The event commenced with a warm welcome of our Rabobank Board Member Els Kamphof, followed by an introduction from David Gerbrands, the acting CEO of RP. The keynote sessions featured notable speakers such as Sean Turnell, a former consultant to the IMF and World Bank, who provided an external perspective based on his experience with Rabo Partnerships in Myanmar, and Mukwandi Chibesakunda, the CEO of our partner bank Zanaco in Zambia and the winner of the Leadership Excellence Award in Banking (2023) and Outstanding CEO Award (2024).
Throughout the first day, attendees engaged in various spotlight sessions. One of the key discussions focused on "Unlocking the Potential of Agricultural Finance," featuring a panel with representatives from Proparco, Coop Bank, IFAD, and AgriBora. Another session highlighted the experiences of Avanti Finance and Kaleidofin in "Unlocking Inclusive Finance for Farmers through Digital Solutions." Additionally, a panel discussion on "Unlocking Synergies with Value Chain Partners" included insights from Banco Pichincha in Ecuador and Jorge Marun, a banana and cacao farmer. The day concluded with networking drinks and a dinner accompanied by live entertainment, providing ample opportunities for attendees to connect and unwind.
The second day began with a recap of the previous day's activities, followed by a presentation and panel discussion of our newest proposition of Venture Building. The interactive "Fishbowl Sessions" covered topics related to how to make the F&A sector more appealing to banks, how to digitize and how to scale up financial solutions, encouraging active participation and knowledge sharing among all attendees. Informal "Walk & Talks" allowed partners and RP colleagues to engage in meaningful conversations. The event concluded with networking drinks and bites, offering a final opportunity for attendees to connect and reflect on the insights gained during the conference.
The theme "Unite to Unlock" underscored the importance of collaboration and innovation in unlocking new opportunities within the agricultural finance sector. The event saw participation from a diverse range of partners, including AGRI3 Fund, Arise, Global Coffee Platform, Banco Sicredi, Bayer, IDH, Rivulis, NMB Tanzania, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oikocredit and many more.
The conference successfully fostered connections, facilitated knowledge sharing, and highlighted the collective efforts needed to drive progress in agricultural and inclusive finance. To get an impression of the event, check out the video below.