Every now and then, it benefits when ideas and initiatives under international corporate social responsibility (CSR) hire an outside expert who brings new perspectives. This prevents tunnel vision and can provide new insights in how to effectively fight poverty in the world. Having worked abroad for many years, I can reason issues and solutions from a different angle. For microcredit, microfinance, and inclusive finance issues, I set up Inclusive Finance Advisory Services (IFAS).
To combat poverty, bilateral organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and corporate social responsibility (CSR) departments must understand the situation on the ground. A thorough understanding of the status quo prior to the implementation of a project, saves money, avoids negative sentiments, and increases the probability of a successful intervention. It is critical to understand, among other things, local ownership of land and other assets, the local power structure, the priorities and attitudes of different stakeholders toward the intervention, what negative spill-over effects may occur, and how an exit strategy might look. With his many years of living and working in poor countries, Van Oosterhout understands the critical issues and can help assess the concept paper of a project. Van Oosterhout can provide consulting services to assess the concept paper of a project, conduct feasibility studies, offer technical assistance to ongoing projects with operational or strategic challenges, and provide technical support in evaluating the results or impact of projects.
To combat poverty effectively, corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects must thoroughly understand the situation on the ground. The understanding of the status quo prior to the implementation of a project, saves money, increases the probability of a successful intervention and avoids negative publicity later on. Among other things, it is critical to understand the local ownership structure over land and other assets, the local power situation, priorities and attitudes of different stakeholders towards the intervention, what unwanted spill-over effects might be, and how an exit strategy may look like. With my many years of living and working in poor countries, I understand these critical issues and can help improving a project concept. But I can also carry out feasibility studies, offer technical assistance to ongoing projects with operational or strategic challenges and give support in evaluating the results or impact of projects.
By providing expert advice and guidance to governments and development organizations around the world I contribute to financial inclusion. I assist them to ensure that SMEs and low-income people have access to a broad package of financial services that support their businesses, will improve their lives and prevent unsustainable indebtedness. I also provide a range of direct consulting services to banks, microfinance institutions (MFIs), financial cooperatives in Africa, the Middle East and Asia in understanding the genuine demands of their niche markets; launching microcredit programs; setting up inclusive finance interventions, risk management, governance structures, monitoring and evaluation.
