Research Trip 2023 - Be Water wise

Please do NOT pay your contribution yet!

Be Water Wise

¡Hola Amigos! Are you ready to broaden your (Rabobank) horizons? This year’s research trip will take us to Santiago de Chile! Santiago is the capital and largest city of Chile, one of the largest cities in the Americas and home to one of our Rabobank offices. We will dive in the challenges & opportunities regarding water, as water is of great importance to our food system but also under strain due to climate change. In addition to conducting research, we will also have a personal leadership program to help you with personal development and to achieve your potential. Of course, we will also explore the culture of Chile. 

Our challenge 

Our commitment to the Food Transition stems directly from our founding story. As a cooperative bank, we have been dedicated to creating a future-proof society and tackling major societal challenges for 125 years. As a bank founded by farmers for farmers that has supported F&A businesses all over the world for decades and gained a wealth of sector knowledge, we believe that the F&A sector can be a significant part of the solution for the challenge of providing enough affordable, nutritious food for a growing world population within planetary boundaries.1 – Our Road to Paris, 2022 

One of the challenges we are facing to feed the world within planetary boundaries is water stress. Water stress — a situation where there is too much water, not enough water, or water of insufficient quality to meet the demands of people and the environment — is already a reality in many parts of the world. Droughts and water scarcity are no longer rare or extreme events, and many people are affected by water stress during an average year, including our rural clients. In addition, lack of access to water supply and sanitation can be considered as another water-related risk. The OECD argues that investing in water security is a condition for sustainable growth and development. Climate change is expected to make the problem worse, as droughts are increasing in frequency, magnitude, and impact. A 2017 OECD report ranks Chile as the 10th country out of 142 (4th among OECD countries just after US, Mexico, and Australia) subject to more severe water risks2. Water risk is therefore high on Rabobank agenda. Currently the bank is conducting a water pilot with clients in Chile, which makes it a perfect destination for this year’s research trip. 

Besides this research component, we will be focussing on your personal development. In the preparation sessions as well as during the trip. By expanding your perspective on personal leadership, you will further deepen your understanding of yourself, your environment, and our organization.  

The Young Rabo Research Trip will take place between 8 October 2023 and 18 October 2023. The exact dates of the trip will be communicated as soon as possible. Application to join the research trip can be submitted from 1 June 2023, 12:00 until 22 June 2023, 23:59.     

Application 

What do you need to do to join the research trip?  

You can register through the Young Rabo website (www.jongrabo.nl). Before the deadline (22 June 2023, 23:59PM), to complete your application you need to share your motivation with us by filling in this Forms questionnaire (accessible with your Rabobank mail) and a short video to show why you want to partake in this year’s trip. A few criteria should be addressed in your motivational video:  

• Describe why you are the right person to join us on this trip, what will you bring to the group?  
• Let us know why you are interested in this theme and what you would like to at least take away from this trip;  

Maximum of length of motivation: 1 minute. Your motivation will be the main criteria in the selection process. Besides those main criteria we will strive to create a diverse group of participants. The number of participants is limited to 40 Jong Rabo members. 

You can share your motivation with us uploading your video at the end of the registration Forms page. If you are having problems with uploading your file, please send it to our email address, <researchtrip.jongrabo@rabobank.nl>, or upload your application to the internet and share the link (including a password if needed) using the same email address. Make sure that you filled in the Forms questionnaire and that we have access to your digital creation before 22 June 2023, 23.59. Otherwise, your registration will be regarded as incomplete, and you will not be selected for the trip.  

We look forward to receiving a powerful and fun motivation. Please feel free to get as creative as possible!  

What do we expect from you? 

Personal contribution 

The research trip is made possible thanks to substantial contributions from both the Rabobank Managing Board and Young Rabo. But you do have to chip in as well. This year the personal contribution has been set to 600 Euro. This will help cover the trip, stay, meals, transport, and all planned activities. After you have been selected, we will inform you how you can pay your personal contribution. 

Internal sponsorship 

Every year part of the budget is obtained by asking direct managers or whole departments to contribute as well. We request that you ask your management or department if they are willing to sponsor a (small) part of the research trip. It is more an investment than a sponsorship because your manager and department are going to benefit from the experience that you will bring back! Once you are selected, we will facilitate you in proper ways of asking for this sponsorship. 

Commitment and attendance  

Please be aware that your commitment to the Research Trip is not limited to the travel period in October. Since we will perform an in-depth research assignment, preparation sessions and a closure including a presentation of the results to our stakeholders will also be part of your participation of the trip. These sessions are mandatory as they are an integral part of the total journey and experience. We need you all to be there. After the trip, you will also be asked to spend some time to process your acquired knowledge during the trip for the final results of the research report.  

Kick-off 1: 7 or 14 September. Informative session on the how, what, and where, closed off with drinks. 

Kick-off 2: 25 September. Informative session on the research topic, travel itinerary and the final preparations before take-off.  

Results & Reunion: to be announced. To present our results and reminisce about our trip, we will plan a reunion to get together again. The reunion date will be announced later. 

Practicalities 

Travel insurance 

We strongly advise all participants to get travel insurance. Young Rabo is not liable for damage of any kind. 

Travel documents 

You will need a passport that is valid until at least May 2024. Make sure to check this and make arrangements to get the necessary documents. Applying for a new passport might take weeks!  

No-show / cancellations 

If you were to be a no-show (with no/too late/invalid notice of cancellation), you will forfeit your personal contribution of 600 Euro as no-show fee. If you withdraw your application after 1 August 2023, you will also forfeit your personal contribution of 600 Euro. 

Holiday leave 

Young Rabo arranged that you do not need to take personal time off for Young Rabo activities. If you receive questions about this from your manager or if you have other questions about this arrangement? Let us know via secretaris@jongrabo.nl. 

Disclaimer 

This research trip will continue, reserved that there are enough participants and sponsorship income to do so. In case of any unforeseen events that may jeopardize the trip, Young Rabo will determine whether the research trip can take place. 

We are looking forward to an amazing trip, and we hope that you will be able to join us!  

If there any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: <researchtrip.jongrabo@rabobank.nl> 

Regards on behalf of the Research Trip Committee, 

Abrehet, Rafaël, Martijn, Eglas & Eline