Our Role

Market or private sector organizations are concerned with the efficient production and distribution of goods and services. Civil society institutions are concerned with the expression and preservation of core community values and beliefs. Experiences have shown that intermediary actors are needed that can help overcome the cultural barriers between the two sectors, and can link prospective partners. The purpose of EUCORD is to be that actor.

EUCORD is organized as a cooperative as the cooperative organization combines characteristics of market organizations as well as civil society organizations. EUCORD’s membership consists of development-oriented NGOs in low-income countries that share EUCORD’s goals of poverty alleviation, food security and private sector development. EUCORD plays the role of broker, and also seeks – through its members – to become active partners in the partnerships they help foster.

EUCORD pursues partnerships that yield mutual benefits for the partner organizations and promotes shared control of partnership decision-making. It actively dialogues with agribusiness firms and other corporations that are operating in developing countries. At the same time EUCORD seeks to protect the autonomy and identity of its NGO members who are often small in scope, size and political influence. Each NGO has its constituency. Its ability to leverage funds from the public and the charitable private sector depends on the continuation of credibility the NGO maintains among its sponsors.

EUCORD’s management has a strong ability to identify opportunities to develop programs in partnership with both the public and private sector. Collaborating private sector firms, including Heineken, Diageo/Guinness, and Unilever all recognize EUCORD as a serious NGO partner with expertise in value/supply chain development and an emphasis on technology and innovation. EUCORD has expertise in defined geographic areas, particularly in Africa where it works in close partnership with partner NGOs which have extensive knowledge of the development landscape.