Fair Trade organisations (FTOs) around the world are gathering in Kathmandu, Nepal from the 16th to the 22nd May for its annual global meeting.
But this is not just an ordinary meeting that has been taking place since the last 20 years. It is the first gathering under the auspices of World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) that debuted during the last week's World Fair Trade Day celebration.
The challenging times have called members to reinvent the Fair Trade movement to tackle head on global inequity to make way for sustainable economy. The new name symbolises new mission. This aggressive move is the top agenda on the table in the Nepal conference, a daring response to the experiences of global financial crisis, climate change and poverty.
The voice of Fair Trade
The Nepal Global Conference is just the second step among many in breaking barriers to change, being the universal host of World Fair Trade Day celebration as the first. Last week WFTO took off with the message of change and leadership, a record breaking celebration that saw massive response from members and supporters across the globe. Big Bang!!! Being loud and vocal agent of change is the new role that WFTO positioned as the voice of Fair Trade.
To realise this role WFTO equips members with new innovations of sustainable technology and science, cutting edge business models, new approaches in advocacy and campaigns, and best practices in the Fair Trade movement during the Nepal meeting. Latest information and being abreast with its rapid development are necessary tools to make change happen.
Sustainable Solutions
This new role overhauls old thought. The Fair Trade movement is no longer a charitable cause helping destitute, marginalised producers but an initiative to remove the manipulative free trade that perpetuates poverty and allows environmental degradation. WFTO offers the world sustainable solutions through Fair Trade Principles.
Driven by members committed to 100% change, WFTO seeks to alleviate poverty through socially responsible trading partnership that gives investments directed to the economic and social development of small-scale farmers, producers and artisans rather than for profit alone, and revitalise the spoiled environment through restorative agricultural use.
To do this WFTO breaks into mainstream market and delivers access of all goods produced according to Fair Trade Principles through aggressive marketing, advocacy, campaigns, knowledge exchange and quality monitoring. This makes WFTO the leader in sustainable economy.
Moving Forward
Gearing up for the big task at hand, the new leadership of WFTO does two things: rebrands members to carry the new name and new logo that signify change, and to implement the Sustainable Fair Trade Management System (SFTMS) project.
The new name and logo forwards WFTO as the voice of Fair Trade. The logo differentiates members as change agents adhering to Fair Trade Principles and Standards. The logo brands members as 100% Fair Trade after going through a monitoring process. But the logo is not a product certification. At present WFTO is developing Sustainable Fair Trade Management System (SFTMS) that will certify products that do not fall under the category of Fairtrade Certification system, a system (the only one at present) that caters to commodity products. SFTMS was originally designed for marginalised farmers, producers and artisans to improve their market access and to allow them to trade locally.
With all these and more, the tasks are enormous. And the Nepal Global Conference is a giant step towards clearing the path for change.
For more information visit WFTO.org
