13 November 2008

The Dutch Ministry of Development Cooperation and the Dutch Task Force Sustainable Soy have agreed to co-fund the RTRS Outreach Program. This program is intended to increase support for the RTRS in Latin America, USA, Europe, China and India.

Earlier financing was agreed by Solidaridad, a Dutch development organisation which is also a member of the RTRS Executive Board. With the financial approval of the Task Force and the ministry this program can take off.

Most of the activities under the Outreach program will be executed by the RTRS secretariat. However, together with Nevedi, MVO is charged with the overall coordination of the program. MVO will closely cooperate with the other partners involved in the project: Solidaridad and WWF and of course the RTRS secretariat.

The financing of the Dutch government is organised via the so-called Initiative for Sustainable Trade (IDH). This initiative intends to stimulate sustainable trade regarding a number of products, including soy, cacao and stones. During a meeting on 23 October State Secretary of Development Cooperation Bert Koenders officially started the IDH program. In total about 31 million Euro is invested in the Program.

More information on IDH can be found via: www.initiatiefduurzamehandel.nl.

More information on the Task Force and its activities can be found on www.taskforceduurzamesoja.nl.