RSPO Smallholder Support Fund (RSSF)
The RSPO Smallholder Support Fund (RSSF) provides financial support for oil palm smallholders to help improve their livelihoods through sustainable agricultural practices. With this support, RSPO aims to help smallholders increase their yields and remove obstacles to reach international markets. The Fund’s objective for smallholders is to reduce the negative impacts of oil palm cultivation on ecosystems and improve livelihoods, creating a space where palm oil, local communities, and the environment can coexist in harmony.
Find out more about how the RSSF works, which smallholder groups can apply, and what activities can be funded in the video below.
Watch an Overview on How RSSF Works
Who can apply for RSSF?
- An Independent Smallholder Group in the oil palm sector seeking fund assistance
- A legal entity
- Groups or organisations with sufficient experience working with smallholders can apply on behalf of the smallholder group, with a clear intention of supporting them
- Organisations who wish to support and promote the production of sustainable palm oil
What can RSSF be used for
Smallholder Certification Audit Cost (one-off only): 100% of the audit costs for all potential certification processes of Independent Smallholder Groups per applicant. The funding does not include Pre-Audit Assessment.
Other incidental costs quoted by the Certification Body, namely auditors’ travel expenses, accommodation and per diem for audit purposes, may also be reimbursed based on actual expenses incurred.
RSSF applications must be submitted prior to the audit as the fund applicant will be required to provide three (3) quotations from three (3) Certification Bodies. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
What to expect after submitting an RSSF application
Applications for funding the Smallholder Certification Audit Cost are open throughout the year.
All applications received will be reviewed by the RSSF Fund Manager before being shared with the RSSF panel for consideration. The RSS Fund Manager will thereafter communicate the outcome of the decision.
| Submission of Application/Proposal |
Smallholders/ Grooup Manager |
Timeline |
Remarks |
| Appraisal review and assessment of application proposal |
Fund Manager and Regional Representative(s), where present |
up to 6 weeks from receiving application |
|
| Decision of Application |
Fund Manager, Regional Representative(s), Smallholder Fund Panel (SFP), where present |
Up to 4 weeks from appraisal review |
Note: Unsuccessful applicant(s) can resubmit proposals and will be treated as new applications. |
| Announcement of decision to applicants |
Fund Manager, Regional Representative(s), where present |
Up to 2 weeks from Decision |
|
| Contracting of grant agreement |
Fund Manager, Regional Representative(s), where present |
Up to 8 weeks from decision |
|
| Monitoring |
Fund Manager or Regional Representative(s) |
As and when RSPO and fund recipient to arrange monitoring |
|
RSSF by the numbers
These are the regions where the RSSF has directly supported its Independent Smallholder beneficiaries since 2014.
The map shows the cumulative number of smallholders that have benefitted from the Fund.
