The Broker Online

17/02/2022

𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱?

While programmes have been heralded as a promising tool to support school-to-work transitions, they are also met with many critical questions: should they be paid or unpaid?; do they exacerbate existing inequalities?; do interns actually gain meaningful ?
In this new article, Knowledge Broker Martha Kapazoglou examines the internship systems in the U.S. and the and tries to draw lessons from experiences of interns in the global North for designing internship programmes that will effectively contribute to decent in the .

You can read the full article on our website.
https://www.thebrokeronline.eu/decent-youth-employment-are-internships-the-way-forward/

This article examines the internship systems in the U.S. and the Netherlands, reflecting on what can the experiences of global North interns teach us about how to roll out successful internship programmes in the global South.

16/02/2022

Last weekend, during the General Assembly, the Union declared 2022 the African Year of Nutrition.

In this article just published on our website, Jorrit Oppewal (The Broker), Paulina Bizzotto Molina (ECDPM ) and Koen Dekeyser (ECDPM) explain that, in order to ensure that this will mark a positive turning point for nutrition trends, African should not only focus on nutrition and productivity increase, but also on adopting an approach anchored in , with the real challenge being to find ways to translate the big thinking of food systems approaches into practice.

The authors highlight existing tools that can be repurposed to facilitate the integration of food systems thinking into efforts to address concrete problems on the ground.
You can read the full article published on our website
https://www.thebrokeronline.eu/africas-year-of-nutrition-time-for-paper-tigers-to-start-biting/

This weekend, during their General Assembly, the African Union (AU) will declare 2022 the African Year of Nutrition. This attention is very much welcome as it presents an opportunity to link the African objectives of ending hunger and of promoting sustainable agricultural transformation on the conti...

14/02/2022

If you are a or practitioner working in the field of , we think this workshop might be just the thing for you!

𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘
On Thursday 10 March, between 10:00 and 12:00 we will be hosting an online workshop:
‘𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁’.

The Broker is currently carrying out a research project commissioned by PRISMA, christelijke organisaties in ontwikkelingssamenwerking, Tearfund Netherlands, Dorcas, World Vision and Woord en Daad, focused on answering some important questions: What is the added value of collaborating with religious actors for sustainable development? What are the obstacles to such collaboration? What are opportunities for religious-secular partnerships?

During our on 10 March, we will share our initial findings and facilitate a cross-sectoral dialogue about your views and experiences, further informing our research and contributing to fruitful partnerships within development cooperation.

𝗦𝗼 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟬 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟭𝟬 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬-𝟭𝟮:𝟬𝟬!
More information will follow soon, on our website and social media channels.

14/02/2022

It is well known that not all the costs and benefits of food to society are reflected in the price that consumers pay for their food or that farmers and the food sector in general receive.
During preparations for the , the True Value of Food has emerged as a possible game-changer to realize sustainable food systems.

The True Value of Food initiative was later launched as the result of a multi-stakeholder collaboration between The United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS) Scientific Group, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Global Alliance for the Future of Food (GAFF), the World Benchmarking Alliance , Fairtrade International, UN Environment Programme, the WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the Impact Institute (spinoff True Price) and Rabobank.

Building on the momentum of the UN FSS, leveraging the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting, and recognising that much remains to be learned about the science and practice of the True Value of Food, three of the initiators – the WBCSD, Impact Institute and Rabobank – together with DSM, organised an online session on the future of the True Value of Food, with the support of The Broker.

The many outcomes and challenging ideas emerging from the conversation are collected in this op-ed by knowledge broker Yannicke Goris, available on The Broker website at this link

https://www.thebrokeronline.eu/a-common-destination-on-the-road-towards-the-true-value-of-food/

You can learn more about the true value of food on the Rabobank website: rabo.coop/truevalueoffood

Here, you can find an overview of The Broker work in support of the True Value of Food and Food Systems: https://lnkd.in/e89p_aw5

At the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UN FSS) in 2021 the True Value of Food Initiative was launched – a ‘game changer’ according to Stientje van Veldhoven, Vice President and Regional Director for Europe at the World Resources Institute (WRI). The Initiative is the result of a multi-stak...

12/05/2021

Vacancy alert! Are you creative, innovative and resourceful and would you like to contribute to sustainable development worldwide? Then read on quickly, because you might be the communication & innovation broker we are looking for!

Are you creative, innovative and resourceful and would you like to contribute to sustainable development worldwide? Then read on quickly, because this vacancy might be for you!

23/10/2019

2019, sneak preview
Beyond the taboo: what can drug economies do for the poor?

Are we right to ignore the development potential of illicit livelihoods, or is engagement with illicit livelihoods like growing o***m poppy or smuggling what is required to leave no one behind in fragile and conflict affected settings? In southern Afghanistan, o***m poppy cultivation supports 2,2 million people and has transformed 300,000 hectares of desert land into productive agricultural lands. In places like Lesotho, Nigeria and Kenya, illicit crops like khat and cannabis provide farmers and entrepreneurs with opportunities not readily available in difficult environments. In the Sahel, smuggling is as much a tradition as it is an opportunity to move ahead in life.

Despite the exploitation, violence and insecurity associated with these livelihoods, large groups of people continue to engage in them. Is there a way in which the development sector can engage with these dynamics without causing harm? Come discuss this complex topic with Eric Gutierrez of Christian Aid and other experts at . Here, our knowledge brokers Rojan Bolling and Malou van Meijl will help explore if the Dutch experience with ‘tolerance policy’ can help us navigate the stormy seas of illicit economies.

Sign up through our website to save yourself a spot: https://www.thebrokeronline.eu/upcoming-broker-day-2019/

16/10/2019

2019, sneak preview
Equal risk, equal gain: equality as requirement for sustainability

Climate change is inherently a discussion about social justice: do big polluters make up a larger share of the bill? And how is this bill shared between generations? How do we support countries most exposed to climate risks? And do all citizens benefit from subsidies on ‘green’ technology, or is this a privilege for high-income households only?
Protests by farmers, students and the ‘gilets jaunes’ show the need to discuss the question: to what extent is reducing inequality a prerequisite for effective sustainability policies in the long run? Although more and more sustainability policies are being designed and implemented, issues around inequality jeopardize public support for them. Together with a diverse panel of experts, moderator van Kesteren will discuss the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of this question at . Join us on 6 November and share your insights! Register now through our website: https://www.thebrokeronline.eu/upcoming-broker-day-2019/

11/10/2019

2019, sneak preview
It’s consumption stupid! A mindset change for a truly inclusive value chain.

The premise of a circular economy gives reason for optimism, but also for realism. How do we realize a circular economy – and do we have what it takes to make it a reality? What interventions are necessary to make sure producers and consumers are on board? Who will take responsibility to make the transformation happen? But also, are we aware of the possible unintended consequences?

True circularity demands that companies rethink their business models to no longer prioritize profit, but actively seek to ‘close the loop’. It requires a willingness on the part of consumers to prioritize sustainable and fair products and consume more conscientiously. And finally, it needs the full support of the government, with effective policies and targeted interventions. Together with a diverse panel of experts (including entrepreneurs), our knowledge brokers, Yannicke Goris and Jacqueline Vrancken, will explore where we, in the Netherlands, currently stand – bringing together different perspectives to identify what is needed to realize a circular economy. Join on 6 November and share your insights! Register now through our website: https://www.thebrokeronline.eu/upcoming-broker-day-2019/

16/04/2019

Our latest contribution to Sahel Watch:

The massacre of Fulani in central Mali on 23 March marks a grave, new turn in the conflict. How did we get here?

18/01/2019

We are hiring! The Broker is looking for a new Knowledge Broker on Food Security (medior, 0.8-0.9 fte) for the Food & Business Knowledge Platform - F&BKP, based in the Hague.
Are you interested in connecting worlds of knowledge in the field of agriculture and food security? Check out the full description on our website.

The Broker is looking for a knowledge broker on the theme food security (medior, 0.8-0.9 fte). The knowledge broker will work in the secretariat of...