The Importance of National Fair Trade Networks in the Global South

8/4/2019 The Importance of National Fair Trade Networks in the Global South

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Mitch Teberg, MAAssociate Member

World Fair Trade Organization:

The Importance of National Fair Trade Networksin the Global South

1 August 2011

On our Journey for Fair Trade, Chou and I discovered what could be described as the key to

making Fair Trade sustainable well into the future. Along with the importance of localizing Fair

Trade, we found that “developing countries” with strong national Fair Trade networks were

further along in many ways than countries with weak or non-existent networks.

By stating they were “further along” I mean that Fair Trade Organizations (FTOs) and advocates

worked towards collective goals such as raising awareness of Fair Trade in their communities,

on campuses, and in government; successfully collaborated in international events such as

World Fair Trade Day; regularly met to discuss issues addressing Fair Trade and producers to

find solutions and share experiences; and provided various forms of ongoing support for the

many producer groups engaged in Fair Trade. Most importantly, Fair Trade was localized incommunities and there was a franchise of Fair Trade stores from which many activities were

coordinated (Read Journey for Fair Trade: Franchising Fair Trade).

Frankly speaking, this is the way it

should be in “developing nations” of the

global south. Fair Trade cannot be a

northern concept for northern markets

– it has to be localized in the southern

markets if Fair Trade is to be

sustainable, and to do that requires a

concerted and unified effort at thenational level.

With that said, some countries we

visited don’t have national networks, or

in other cases if there was one it wasn’t

operating to expand Fair Trade

nationally. When there is no national




network there is no unified goal for localizing Fair Trade; no strategy for raising awareness

amongst local consumers and expanding local markets; no social movements for trade justice

or attempts to address social issues in local communities through Fair Trade initiatives; and

there is little-to-no support for our common agenda – to alleviate poverty, provide opportunity to

the disadvantaged communities and to bring social change to a nation. In an atmosphere such

as this, there is room for failure (Read:Journey for Fair Trade: The Sound of Silence).

We also found a national network which was more concerned about gate-keeping rather than

seeing opportunities for expansion. In this case, there had not been a single new FTO to join the

network in several years and there was no tangible Fair Trade Movement anywhere, not in the

cities, not on campuses, and not amongst producers. This is unthinkable if Fair Trade is to

become localized in the south! As we all know, dependence on export trade to the global north

alone is not a wise direction, particularly following the global recession of 2007-08.

Chou and I met with the leadership of a national movement to discuss their current approach

and reason for rejecting so many applicants. In that discussion, one issue became very clear

that concerns all Fair Traders: some businesses or exporters were seeking membership in the

national movement simply for the certification. It wasn’t that these organizations were interested

in the principles, but that those whom they exported to were increasingly requesting that they

become a Fair Trade Organization.

However, as we know Fair Trade certification or membership does not mean attending a simple

training course and passing a quick, painless audit to receive a big brother’s smile of approval

like the ISO certifications where businesses basically certify businesses with a wink and a grin.This is equivalent to fourth-graders policing fourth-graders on the playground – it doesn’t

happen, but this framework of certification system is where many conventional businesses,

importers, and exporters are coming from.

So to a degree, guarding a Fair Trade network at the national level is sensible, but taken too far

it becomes a Members Only Club, and that is not Fair Trade. The problem with the gate-keeping

approach was it prevented the expansion of Fair Trade. Rather than see these applications as

opportunities to introduce Fair Trade Principles, they viewed these applications as predatory

and only interested in diluting the essence of Fair Trade. This cannot be how we perceive

newcomers. Frankly, in this case there needs to be a re-evaluation of perceptions.

First, set up a comprehensive application process and let’s welcome applications to national

movements. Start by establishing a step-by-step process for certification which requires

organizational and operational changes over a reasonable period of time. For example,

introduce a probationary period before full certification is granted. This period could allow time

for consideration and adaptation of the principles into business practices; consider this a time

for mentoring and coaching applicants.




Most importantly start with the

easiest things to adapt, like

management procedures that are

transparent to producers and

integrating Fair Trade Principles

into contracts with suppliers. These

do not cost significant amounts of

time of funds to implement. Take

on the harder transitions in time,

such as issues that run against

current socio-cultural trends. These

can be integrated step-by-step. Itisn’t that we ignore those issues; it

is just that once the process is

started and the easier things

integrated, we have their vested

interest in continuing change. Think of this as Change Management. For another alternative

approach where an FTO reaches out to potential producer groups read:Journey for Fair Trade:

To Make Coffee Sustainable.

This is how we expand nation membership, develop local Fair Trade markets and raise

awareness of Fair Trade in “developing nations” of the global south. Utilizing a gate-keeping

approach is a quick way to alienate those whom Fair Trade is intended to help.

Let’s open up Fair Trade and make it attainable. It begins with local initiatives and grows from

there. If starting a national network seems a daunting task, start from where you stand. Make

Trade Fair in your community (Read: Journey for Fair Trade: The Start of a Fair Trade

Movement).

Localize Fair Trade.

Mitch Teberg, MA © 2011

International Consultant

Sustainable Development / Fair Trade

Researcher / Trainer / Consultant

www.journeyforfairtrade.blogspot.com

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The Importance of National Fair Trade Networks in the Global South