Daniëlle Hirsch
Director
Environmental Economy • international economic relations • water management
I feel it is my mission to show that a country like the Netherlands has a lot of impact on the world, including the quality of life of people in developing countries. We can and must contribute more to sustainable and fair development all over the world, by working together with people, communities and local companies from the Global South to develop new economic activities that will benefit people, the environment and the economy.
The Netherlands is still one of the most polluting countries in the world. Instead of reducing our emissions, we gain wealth from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas and stimulate 'alternative' energy sources like palm oil, which have a very negative impact on large areas in Asia, Africa and Latin America and lead to violations of land rights in developing countries. At the same time, we don't take the opportunities we have to improve our own economy and our financial system.
I want to contribute to finding a way of development of which not only the Netherlands gains profit, which respects the boundaries of nature and which also provides a better livelihood to others.
About Danielle Hirsch
Danielle Hirsch worked for three years in Mexico, Paraguay and Kenya during and after her studies in Economics. In 1995 she started working as an international consultant and at the same time became a volunteer at Both ENDS in 1995, where in 2003 she became policy advisor on water management. She was elected director of the organisation in 2008. Over the years she has been working in many of Both ENDS' projects, mainly in the field of international financial flows, water and climate. Although she's often still involved with projects, she now focuses primarily on developing the organization as a whole.
Danielle is a fellow of the Donella Meadows Leadership Fellows Program since 2008. She is also a member of the board of the Netherlands Water Partnership.
-
Dossier
The Netherlands and the SDGs: A better world starts with yourself
In 2015, the member states of the United Nations committed themselves to the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unlike their predecessors, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the SDGs recognise the importance of equality within and between countries, of decision-making processes in which all people are included and heard, and of legal systems that are independent and accessible to all.
-
News / 31 March 2022
Well-deserved recognition for small grants funds!
We are exited about the news that Ms MacKenzie Scott decided to entrust substantial funding to a wide range of small grants funds from Both ENDS' partner networks*. These small grants funds are unique as they are set up and led by people, often activists themselves, from the country or region in which the fund is based. Most mainstream conventional funders admit they have difficulties reaching community based organisations and grassroots groups themselves. Small grants funds know better than anyone how to reach local communities, who to support and what kind of financial as well as non-financial support is most needed. Thus, they bridge a wide funding gap. Both ENDS applauds this recognition of the important role of these funds in the funding landscape. We hope this encourages more funders to join!
-
Blog / 18 February 2022
This is what a fair and sustainable Africa strategy looks like
Minister Liesje Schreinemacher for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation recently made her first working visit, to Kenya and Uganda. With this visit, the minister made a flying start in honouring the pledge in the new government's coalition agreement to formulate a 'targeted Dutch Africa strategy'. Such a strategy is desperately needed as, too often, our foreign trade is conducted at the expense of people and the environment, including in countries in Africa. The new strategy presents a perfect opportunity to ensure that the 'trade and aid' agendas are closely aligned.
-
News / 11 December 2020
Both ENDS presents new strategy towards 2025
Both ENDS has a new 5-year strategy. It is set up along three strategic pathways that together lay the foundation for our vision to become reality: 1) An empowered and influential civil society; 2) Systemic change in public institutions that prioritizes people and planet; and 3) Transformative practices are the norm.
-
News / 19 May 2020
Effective strategy to tackle COVID-19 calls for a global reset
On Monday 11 May, at the government's request, the Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV) published an emergency advisory report on how the Netherlands can make an effective contribution to the worldwide fight against the Corona virus. Together with companies, scientists and environmental, human rights and development organisations, Both ENDS is today presenting a response to this report, in which we make a number of suggestions for investing in countries and people with insufficient resources to tackle the crisis effectively.
-
Letter / 4 May 2020
Letter to Minister Kaag with five recommendations to achieve the SDGs and the climate agreement
The Corona crisis is showing us just how closely our current economy is irrevocably intertwined with the pollution of the planet and is making people all around the world more and more vulnerable. Both ENDS and MVO Nederland (CSR Netherlands) – are particularly concerned about what we hear about human rights, climate and the environment. We ask the Dutch government, in a letter to Minister Kaag, to commit to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the goals of the Paris climate agreement.
-
Publication / 10 February 2020
-
Publication / 8 November 2019
-
Publication / 8 November 2019
-
Blog / 29 January 2019
Make the climate debate a part of our foreign policy
The climate debate in the Netherlands is bogged down in what we can change at home and does not touch on our actions abroad. And that is a missed opportunity. Precisely because our international trade model is both so influential and, at the same time, such a widespread cause of pollution, changes in that policy can have an immediate effect.
-
News / 22 May 2018
Reflection on policy note "Investing in Global Prospects"
On Friday, the long awaited policy note by Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag was published. The note was the outcome of a process of consultation, scientific analysis and much discussion within and outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We searched for the spirit underlying it: What trends does this minister consolidate and deepen? What is new? Are those new aspects a superficial change of discourse or a genuine break with the past? On what issues is the paper silent and what do those silences tell us?
-
External link / 22 May 2018
Reflection on policy note "Investing in Global Prospects" on Vice Versa
On Friday, the long awaited policy note by Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag was published. We searched for the spirit underlying it: What trends does this minister consolidate and deepen? What is new? On what issues is the paper silent and what do those silences tell us? Both ENDS' director Danielle Hirsch published her reflection on the policy note on the website of Vice Versa (in Dutch).
