CFC Managing Director Hosts Talk on “Humanizing the Value Chain” at Sociëteit De Witte
The Hague, 20 January 2026 – The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), hosted a talk on Humanizing the Value Chain at Sociëteit De Witte in The Hague, bringing together for a discussion on fairness, sustainability, and shared value in global commodity markets.
The event featured Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the CFC, who was introduced by Dr. Mauro Boero, Principal Patent Examiner at the European Patent Office. Dr. Boero facilitated the opportunity for the CFC to address the international table at the club, highlighting the relevance of innovation and policy collaboration in addressing global development challenges.
In his remarks, Ambassador Belal shared the story of the CFC’s mission to increase the income-generating capacity of commodity producers, particularly smallholder farmers who often receive unfair prices within complex global value chains. He emphasized that the CFC’s work goes beyond sustainability as a concept, translating it into practical, distributive solutions that ensure farmers benefit more equitably from the value they create.
The audience responded enthusiastically, particularly to the presentation of a pilot initiative demonstrating how technology and finance can be combined to deliver fairer outcomes for producers. Among the attendees was Mr. Andy Haxby, Managing Director of Competa IT, a Netherlands-based technology company that has been in discussions with the CFC on making this pilot a reality.
Ambassador Belal framed the initiative as a call to rethink how business is done, noting that everyday consumer products, such as a USD 5 T-shirt, often carry hidden human costs. He emphasized that producers at the start of the value chain frequently receive less than 1 percent of the final retail price, leaving them far from a living income or wage sufficient to meet basic needs. He highlighted the role of consumers in demanding fairer alternatives and introduced the concept of micro-repatriation, whereby small, transparent value transfers can help restore fairness and dignity to producers at the beginning of the value chain.
The CFC’s work spans investment and technical assistance for SMEs, connecting farmers to international markets, improving access to fair prices, and strengthening capacities across commodity sectors. The discussion underscored the growing recognition that fair value chains are not only a development imperative, but also a viable and necessary business model.
About the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)
The CFC is an UN-affiliated international financial institution based in Amsterdam, working in over 100 countries to support inclusive economic development through impact investing in commodity value chains.
For media inquiries, please contact:
[CFC Media Relations Team]
[Email: managing.director@common-fund.org]
[Phone: +31 20 575 4949]