Our impact in 2025
Bridging distances, improving livelihoods and driving tangible change for a more sustainable future
Entrepreneurs bridging distances for stronger futures
In 2025, the urgency to create meaningful impact only grew as social and economic challenges became more complex. Growing inequality, climate shocks, and rising volatility continued to widen the distance to opportunity for many people. Rabo Foundation provided early-stage impact financing to entrepreneurs, from Dutch social enterprises to cooperatives around the world, enabling them to turn challenges into tangible opportunities for people in vulnerable positions. In food systems and inclusive labor markets, these organizations expanded opportunities for smallholder farmers and for people facing barriers to work. Combined with capacity building, this financing is laying the foundation for stronger businesses, improved livelihoods, and lasting impact where it matters most.
Impact in numbers
Lives impacted around the world
0
million2024: 1.9 million
Organizations that provide development opportunities
0
in portfolio2024: 470
Commitments in impact finance
€0
million2024: 59.8 million
New projects
0
projects2024: 219
Creating sustainable growth in
0
countries:
Behind every number is a story of change
Building pathways to a better future
In 2025, Rabo Foundation backed enterprises that made a visible difference on the ground. Smallholder farmers gained new opportunities to strengthen their livelihoods, participate more fairly in value chains, and build greater resilience for the future. In the Netherlands, people facing barriers to work gained access to job opportunities, creating pathways to income, participation, and a stronger sense of belonging. Across sectors, these efforts contributed to a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Dutch social enterprises are redefining the economy
Building a more inclusive and sustainable society is becoming ever more urgent. Despite a tight labour market, many people continue to face structural barriers to entering and staying in work. At the same time, the transition to a circular economy is gathering pace, driven by growing pressure to cut waste, rethink resource use, and transform food systems. Across the Netherlands, social enterprises are rising to the challenge. Creating jobs that offer income, skills, and a sense of belonging, while delivering practical circular solutions. In doing so, they demonstrate that societal impact and economic value can go hand in hand.
Our impact in the Netherlands
€ 11.7 million
to strengthen social and circular entrepreneurs in the Netherlands (2024: 7.7M)
238 enterprises
advancing inclusive work and a more sustainable economy (2024: 175)
8,951 people
gaining work experience, skills, and opportunities to participate (2024: 5,955)
Meet two social enterprises creating pathways to change
Sûr Atelier turns newcomers’ talent into work, and fashion into a fairer story
Newcomers often arrive with skills, ambition, and professional experience, yet wait too long for a first real chance to work and belong. Sûr Atelier turns that gap into progress. In atelier-shops in Haarlem and Utrecht, participants learn by making, selling, and meeting customers, while a circular fashion model built on repair, reuse, and small-batch production takes shape. With support from Rabo Foundation, inclusion and slow fashion are moving forward together.
107 newcomers
supported by Sûr Atelier in 2025
85%
of the 4,500 garments were produced following circular practices
Smallholder farmers at the frontline of change
Climate shocks, volatile prices, and limited access to finance continue to shape the reality of smallholder farmers. Across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, they are on the frontline of change, while remaining vital to local economies and global food systems. Smallholder farmers produce around a third of the world’s food, making their resilience essential to global food security. As access to markets, finance, knowledge, and essential services improves, farmers are better positioned to invest in their land and livelihoods, improve yields sustainably, adapt to climate change, and strengthen resilience over time.
Our impact in Africa, Asia and Latin America
€ 54.3 million allocated
to strenghten farmer organizations, FSPs and resilient rural livelihoods (2024: 52.1M)
270 organizations
expanding finance, market access, knowledge, and resilience for members.
2,862,334 people
with greater access to income, markets, and opportunity (2024: 1.9M)
Meet three organizations creating pathways to change
Strengthening Smallholder Farmers’ Resilience to Climate Change
In Rwanda, climate resilience begins with finance that works when farmers need it most. Cordaid Rwanda’s SFAREC project starts there, strengthening four microfinance institutions already supported by Rabo Foundation. Lenders rural communities rely on. By building their capacity to offer climate-sensitive financial products, the project makes adaptation finance more timely and practical. The result is not just stronger institutions, but a sturdier financial foundation for smallholder resilience.
> 5,000 smallholder farmers
reached with climate-sensitive products across four MFIs
4 microfinance institutions
strengthened to deliver climate-resilient lending
How we manage and monitor our impact
In a world where climate shocks, inequality and fragile food systems impact livelihoods, ‘doing good’ is no longer enough. We also need to know what works, for whom, and why. That’s why impact management is moving into the mainstream: stakeholders ask for transparency and accountability, and scarce impact finance must be allocated more effectively. At Rabo Foundation, impact management has been a core principle since 2013. Over time, we’ve continuously refined how evidence informs our choices, and in 2025, that focus deepened further.
Keep bridging the distance to achieve lasting change
The stories in this report bring impact to life, while the numbers show its scale. Together, they illustrate what happens when distance is bridged. Enabling entrepreneurs, strengthening livelihoods, and building resilience. This is the work of Rabo Foundation every day. By financing organizations, connection is translated into tangible and measurable results. Read more stories and explore the insights behind the data to understand how change is created and sustained. This is how bridging the distance continues. Turning progress into lasting impact.