ICSR-vouchers
project results
From 2012 to 2022, the ICSR vouchers offered financial support to almost 300 SME entrepreneurs with ambitions to make their international chains more sustainable. As the last round of vouchers was awarded in 2022 and there is no prospect of their return yet, it is time for a retrospective. What exactly are ICSR vouchers, why are they valuable and, above all, what have we achieved with them in recent years?
Although the Dutch business community consists largely of SMEs, they often fall between the cracks when it comes to regulations on making the international chain more sustainable. International corporate social responsibility (ICSR) is still far from being standard practice for many companies, and SMEs often lack financial resources, time and knowledge. The ICSR vouchers are a concrete means to support SMEs when they want to get started with their supply chain.
Making the international trade chain more sustainable
Through the ICSR vouchers, CSR Netherlands provided financial support to SMEs that wanted to make their international trade chain more sustainable. With this voucher, entrepreneurs were reimbursed 50 per cent of the cost of hiring an external advisor to make their international trade chain more sustainable - up to a maximum of 10,000 euros. From feasibility studies and advice on making your chain more transparent to introducing sustainable innovations or setting up pilot projects or impact studies; the ICSR voucher offered a solution.
There were three components in each voucher: the SME, the trading partner and the consultant. The trading partner was designated in a so-called Private Sector Development country, appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These included countries in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia. Together with this trading partner, the SME worked on increasing sustainability in the chain. The Dutch or international consultant then provided the SME with advice and research on human rights situations, improving working conditions and/or environmental policy at trading partners in developing countries.
"The study has given us such a great deal that we now have concrete tools to continue working on sustainability."
Mart Veeken, Labl Fashion
About ICSR vouchers
For small and medium-sized enterprises with international and sustainability ambitions, CSR Netherlands, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, offered financial support through the ICSR voucher from 2012 to 2022. ICSR stands for International Corporate Social Responsibility. This voucher entitled to a 50 per cent discount on consultancy costs aimed at making the international supply chain more sustainable. In recent years, more than 300 companies have already benefited from the ICSR voucher. In 2022, the last round of vouchers was awarded and you can no longer claim an ICSR voucher.
Doing more with CSR Netherlands?
CSR Netherlands will continue to promote sustainable trade and ICSR. For example, check out CSR Risk Check to do a short check free of charge in which you will discover what international CSR risks you face with your trade activities. And, of course, what you can do to mitigate those risks.
Experience stories ICSR vouchers
Through the ICSR vouchers, CSR Netherlands provided financial support to SMEs that wanted to make their international supply chain more sustainable. Are you interested in these SME entrepreneurs' experiences with the ICSR voucher? Then take a look at their stories.
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