Success Stories

Since its establishment in 2006, Worldconnectors has actively encouraged its members to utilize its network for various initiatives. Over the years, numerous notable achievements have been realized, and a selection of these accomplishments is outlined on this page.

However, it is essential to note that the success of the Worldconnectors extends beyond these illustrative examples. For many of our members, the association’s true value lies in providing a platform where individuals from various sectors can converge, engage in meaningful dialogues, and exchange innovative ideas. Worldconnectors serves as a “thinkcubator”, fostering the incubation of ideas and a collective effort to turn them into tangible realities.

True Price: Het Onthullen van Echte Kosten voor Duurzaamheid

In 2011, an idea emerged from a working group within Worldconnectors to calculate the ‘true’ price of products. The ‘true’ cost of a product is the selling price plus the cost of all hidden ecological and social expenses, such as CO2 emissions, living wages, soil depletion, and water consumption. These hidden costs are not included in the price but are shifted onto future generations and often affect poor farmers and workers. When the gap between the true price and the retail price is made visible, companies can use this information to set objectives and identify innovations and actions to reduce the gap between the true and current price. True Price has evolved into a social enterprise with a mission to create products that have an affordable true price for everyone. And in 2023 True Price has joined forces with Albert Heijn.

Curious about the contribution of Worldconnectors? Click here. Or visit www.trueprice.org for more information.

Lab Toekomstige Generaties: Verankering van Toekomstige Belangen

In 2013, the Future Generations working group was established under the leadership of Jan van de Venis. The Lab was created to assist and advocate for the future generation, ensuring that their interests are firmly embedded in our society. They do this in various ways, such as through the use of a Future Council. The Lab’s mission is to anchor the interests and voices of future generations in society’s decision-making by 2025. Over time, the Lab has evolved into an independent initiative with funding from various organizations.

Curious about the contribution of Worldconnectors? Click here. Or visit www.labtoekomstigegeneraties.nl for more information.

Sustainable Development Goals Charter: Implementatie van Duurzame Doelen

In 2013, the Sustainable Development Goals working group was formed within Worldconnectors, with the ambition to contribute to the implementation of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In June 2013, the working group presented its plan for the Sustainable Development Goals Charter. Both Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Ploumen mentioned the Charter as a promising initiative to engage civil society in the implementation of the goals during the UN Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015. The Sustainable Development Goals Charter now facilitates partnerships and collaboration at all levels. Over 75 parties from the business sector, NGOs, academia, and (local) governments have signed the charter and are ready to contribute to the implementation of the goals. The goal of the Charter is to create a movement, and a community of practitioners, and to showcase the ongoing efforts in the Netherlands.

Curious about the contribution of Worldconnectors? Click here. Or visit www.sdgnederland.nl for more information.

SDG Traineeship: Vorming van Duurzame Leiders

The SDG House Network and TheRockGroup have launched a nationwide SDG Traineeship program to introduce 500 young people to, and provide them with experience in, sustainable and social entrepreneurship. These young people will be trained to become true ‘SDG Professionals’.

Worldconnectors has played an important inspiring role in the initiation of this program. Within the association’s activities, several members have contributed to this successful initiative.

Curious about the contribution of Worldconnectors? Click here. Or visit www.sdghouse.org for more information.

1%Club: Het Platform voor Positieve Impact

1%Club started as a platform that enables people with strong ideas to realize them and make a positive impact in their community, city, country, or even the world. This requires financial resources, as well as knowledge and manpower. 1%Club has the expertise to assist project owners in running successful crowdfunding campaigns. They facilitate the administration and ensure that everything can be shared online.

From the beginning of 1%Club’s establishment, Worldconnectors have been of great value to the platform’s success. Various Worldconnectors have contributed to securing the initial funding, and others have associated their names with the platform, making 1%Club attractive to investors from the start. Throughout the establishment of 1%Club and the development of the platform, Worldconnectors have always played a significant advisory role.

Curious about the contribution of Worldconnectors? Click here. Or visit www.onepercentclub.com for more information.

Duurzame Impact na COVID-19: SDGs Beyond Corona

SDGs beyond Corona. That was the title of a series of nine Dialogues organized between May and October 2020 by Worldconnectors and Earth Charter Netherlands. It was a rich series of conversations with a wise group of people. These dialogues brought up a wide range of areas that need priority to build a sustainable society in the next 10 years, both here in the Netherlands and beyond. However, we must pay attention to the elephant in the room: the old economy.

Want to know more? Read the full report here. For a brief overview of this report and more information about the individual dialogues, click here.

SDG Spotlight: Duurzame Doelen in de Spotlight

The global SDG-Spotlight report is particularly critical and calls on the international community to support the 2030 agenda with greater strength everywhere. According to Worldconnectors, the Netherlands must and can play a larger role both domestically and internationally in achieving the goals. With an SDG Spotlight report, we stimulate more ambitious and coherent actions on the SDGs, bringing us closer to achieving the agenda in the Netherlands and beyond.

What started as a working group within Worldconnectors, the SDG-Spotlight NL team provides an overview of the current situation and highlights the pain points regarding the Dutch efforts on the SDGs. They also add constructive recommendations, primarily focused on the role of the Dutch government. The first SDG Spotlight report for 2020 focused on SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities and SDG 15: Life on Land.

You can read the report ‘Moving Beyond Voluntariness‘ here. Or click here to go to a brief overview.

Visiedocument over Voedselzekerheid en Landbouw in Ontwikkelingslanden

During the food price crisis in 2007 and 2008, it became evident that food security was a significant problem in developing countries. On top of that, policymakers had long neglected the agricultural sector in these countries. The Worldconnectors believed it was crucial for the Netherlands to continue contributing to food security and agriculture in developing countries. The network consolidated their knowledge and develop policy advice for the then-Secretary of State Bleeker of Agriculture and Secretary of State Knapen of Development Cooperation. From the working group, a recommendation emerged aimed at promoting a sustainable green revolution, international political stability, effectively combating chronic hunger for one billion people, and effectively feeding a world with nine billion inhabitants by 2050. This recommendation was further elaborated in a vision document, which was discussed with Secretary of State Knapen and significantly impacted the government’s policy. As a result, the expenditures within the budget for development cooperation, agricultural development, and food security doubled from approximately 250 million to 500 million euros.

For an overview of the process and the results, click here.