The Growth of Solidaridad Asia: Celebrating 10 Years of Positive Change

Solidaridad Asia celebrated a decade of international cooperation and development during a two-day event in Delhi, India in the first week of November. More than 300 staff and stakeholders of Solidaridad from nine countries in Asia came together for in-depth discussions on sustainable and inclusive development. The programme covered a broad spectrum of subjects, and the soybean, cotton, sugarcane, palm oil and tea farmers from across Asia shared their opportunities and challenges. Solidaridad’s “Farmers First” principle was emphasized in panels on challenges farmers face, as well as urgent issues such as as climate change, water and productivity, soil conditions, supply chain linkages and access to finance.

Offering a statue representing the five stages of growth to Solidaridad Asia Director Shatadru Chattopadhayay.

Network event brings farmers, experts and partners together

As Executive Director of the Solidaridad Network I am impressed by the leading role of the Asian team in bringing innovations to the our network organization. By developing or strengthening national standards for the palm oil and tea sector in Indonesia, India and Malaysia, the Solidaridad Asia team has taken the lead in our post-certification agenda, creating local ownership for sustainable production and consumption in Asian countries.

Solidaridad’s managing directors formed a panel to discuss various good practices learned from successful programmes in Asia.  The Village Super Market in Bangladesh was highlighted as an example of the Solidaridad Asia’s direct impact on farmers. The establishment is a wholesale market for local farmers that helps to create a more robust supply chain by reducing waste and creating more transparency in price setting. This innovative approach offers inspiration to colleagues in Africa and Latin America.

Asia shows success in new supply chain approaches

In my keynote speech, I shared that a robust agricultural infrastructure is not only related to the economic dimension. It includes the ecological dimension, to be addressed in a sustainable landscape approach. Solidaridad wants to bridge the blue  agenda of creating economic entrepreneurial perspectives for farmers with the green agenda for conservation and restoration of nature. For too long, this was a polarized debate.

Economy and ecology are closely linked. Serving different market segments requires the further diversification of the portfolio of farmers. This has a positive effect on possibilities for crop rotation and intercropping, which in turn are a precondition for our ecological ambition to restore soil fertility. Nature offers eco-services which are crucial for agriculture. Reduction of erosion, clean water, bees and other insects for pollination and natural pest control, and much more.

Solidaridad is ready to address this agenda and has the boots and the brains on the ground. ‘ We develop the right ethics, serving societal interests and public goods. We don’t corrupt corporate engagement by offering money to some companies at the detriment of others.

Please view my full speech here:

Solidaridad Asia facilitates sustainability at scale

In his inaugural speech, Shatadru Chattopadhayay, managing director for the Asia region, highlighted that the regional expertise centre for Asia learned to successfully implement large-scale innovations over the past 10 years. Solidaridad Asia pioneered the concept of national sustainability standards and developed programmes around tea, sugarcane, palm oil, castor oil and industrial minerals tailored for Asian markets.

The Solidaridad Asia team also introduced innovative concepts like constructing high-tech village supermarkets in Bangladesh, linking its market approach towards river pollution management and popularising methods for re-using wastewater for agriculture. This innovative, market-oriented approach allowed Solidaridad Asia to reach out to more than 1.5 million farmers and workers cumulatively working in over 1 million hectares of land in Asia.

An analysis of just three projects shows that Solidaridad generated an additional 124 million euros for the farmers through increases in yield after discounting other factors like cost of production. This reflects direct wealth creation for the farmers and the effective use of the grant money.

Shatadru's full speech can be watched here:

Dutch and Asian representatives support Solidaridad’s approach

Ambassador of the Netherlands in India, Marten van den Berg, congratulated Solidaridad for 10 successful years in Asia. “You can be very very proud,” he said. Van den Berg praised Solidaridad's accomplishments regarding organization, management and capacity while furthering agendas relating to sustainability, environment and society.

“The public-private-partnership model is the pillar of Dutch development cooperation,” Van den Berg said. The Netherlands strives for “getting people together, to connect knowledge and skills from different angles with smart innovation and real progress in SMGs”.

Speaking from the stage in the hall with beautifully carved walls, Van den Berg said that Solidaridad has built up a solid track record as a reliable partner. He cited examples such as the Clean Ganga programme in the leather industry of Kanpur.

The Dutch government was also represented by Tanja Gonggrijp, member of the management team from the Department of Sustainable Economic Development, who emphasized the importance of a fair market. "We have to broaden our responsibility and start paying the true price for products and services so that farmers can earn a decent livelihood, children can go to school, forests are not destroyed and the water flowing through river Ganga can be clean again,” she said.

“If sustainability remains just a CSR project then we cannot reach the sustainable markets. If values like equal opportunities and solidarity are not part of the core strategy and conviction of an organization or business, then even well-intended projects cannot be successful,” Gonggrijp said.

While appreciating the role of Solidaridad, Gonggrijp said that its deeds involving constant action on the ground, innovation, new partnerships and an open mind have set an example for others. “Solidaridad is no longer a Netherlands-based NGO working in developing countries but an international network organization,” she said. She further stated that Solidaridad, along with other organizations, has helped the Dutch government in shaping and implementing its policies.

Memorable moments become festive celebrations

Enough reason for celebration. The Solidaridad team looked back with emotion at a small and humble beginning in 2007 from a fledgling network of two employees and one small office in Delhi to more than 350 employees working from 28 offices in nine Asian countries. Each evening of the event concluded with unique entertainment, an award ceremony, dinner and cocktails. Special attention was given to the upcoming transition to a new executive director in May 2019 as I will step down from my multi-decade role as leader of the organization. In a talk show setting supported by video messages, my contributions ‘ in reinventing and renewing Solidaridad over the years was remembered and celebrated’ . Too much honour but highly appreciated.