Benjamin Kebenei's Farm Training & Reforestation Program & Education Bursary Scheme For His Children Using Fairtrade Premium

•  Food security training program 
• Reforestation Program 
•  Education Bursary Scheme for members children through Fairtrade Premium

Mosombor Secondary School Upgrade Using Fairtrade Premium

• New classrooms construction 
• Increased students admission 
• Improved academic performance due to better learning conditions 
•  Reduced financial burden to parents due to financial aid from Fairtrade Premium

Please view more videos http://www.fairtrade.or.ke/news2/videos/

Tecla Cheptanui's House Constructed & Children's Education Paid For, Using Fairtrade Premiums

• Education Bursary Scheme to assist members with children education 
•  Tecla, the beneficiary of a new house constructed through Fairtrade Premium 
•  Water catchment program

For more info, please visit http://www.fairtrade.or.ke/news2/videos/

Siwo Dispensary upgraded using Fairtrade Premium

• Construction of additional facilities
• Facility now serves 5 sub-locations of the tea growing community 
• Offers pre-natal, maternity and general practice medical services

Please visit http://www.fairtrade.or.ke/news2/videos for more info

East Africa working towards Fairtrade Certification

Artisanal and small-scale miners in Africa are making history as they work towards ethical certification.

The challenges faced by the five million artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) in Africa are particularly acute. There is an exceptionally low level of mechanisation; little health and safety and endemic use of the lethal element mercury in gold processing. In return for these dangers, miners are often underpaid and exploited by local traders.

Most mining laws in Africa, as well as those in Asia and Latin America, are geared towards large-scale industrial mining, thus excluding small-scale mining operations. This leads to informal and illegal set-ups with hazardous conditions. It is a $1 (66p) per day economy, often populated by those with no options left, whose children put their health in danger at the mines: to make extra money for their families or simply because of a lack of childcare.

Now, thanks to a grant from Comic Relief, 900 miners in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are working towards Fairtrade certification. It’s hoped that the first Fairtrade African gold will reach the UK this summer. These miners are proving that, with organisation and training, poor working conditions, unfair pay, child labour, women’s rights, health and safety and environmental damage can all begin to be tackled.

If standards can be achieved, the organisations will join Fairtrade. They will also help promote responsible mining practices among the continent’s other ASM gold miners. They will be proof that change is possible.
Egessa Paul, who has been mining since childhood, says of recent developments, “The difference is that we have protective gear - and we have a rock-crushing machine. It takes two hours to crush rocks by hand and just thirty minutes with the machine.”

Fairtrade gold has been available in the UK from pilot schemes in Latin America since 2011. Miners there have reported substantial improvements. The lack of mechanisation In Africa means production levels there are lower. However the training the miners have received means productivity is beginning to increase.
Up to half of the ASM workforce in Africa are women, the highest percentage of any continent. They transport ore, crush and grind the rocks and purify the gold with mercury, often working with young babies on their backs and toddlers at their side.

Mercury poisoning can lead to kidney, sight and speech problems, muscular tremors, seizures and can be fatal. Medical facilities are negligible. Jennifer Nafula, a miner of 10 years, heads a miners’ women’s group and says her main role is to educate the other women on using mercury as safely as they can. Many believe their children are suffering sight defects as a result of mercury vapours and ingesting contaminated water.
“We are grateful that we now know about mercury,” says Naomi Onega, a mother of two. “The next generation won’t have the same exposure. We won’t let children close to mercury-burning. Breast feeding mothers will stay away.”

There are many other dangers - pits collapsing, miners drowning in flash floods, children killed in accidents, malnutrition and people swallowing gold to steal from friends. But the miners, together with Fairtrade gold’s Greg Valerio, are optimistic. “If we do it right, and there’s still a lot of work to do, we’ll have the only traceable, legal gold supply chain in Uganda,” Valerio told miners on a recent trip. “What you’ll see here is more than Fairtrade. We are establishing that it is possible to do gold mining transparently. It is no exaggeration that these four groups are making history in Uganda.”

The Fairtrade Foundation is aware that there is a long way to go until Fairtrade gold comes as easily to mind as Fairtrade bananas and coffee. Work is continuing apace. A briefing has just been published to explain the complexities behind the industry and the revised Fairtrade Standards for Gold and Precious Metals which encourage best practice.

And this week the ‘I Do’ campaign has been launched ahead of Valentine’s Day – to encourage 50,000 couples to buy Fairtrade gold rings. There is enthusiasm for the idea. The Foundation’s research shows that consumers believe buying jewellery for a special occasion would hold greater value and significance if it carried the FAIRTRADE Mark.

Just like a marriage, Fairtrade is about togetherness. Miner Dan Odiba, from the Micodepro group in Kenya, certainly agrees. “Previously every miner worked on his own,” he says. “Now we mine as a group, process our ore together as a group and sell as a group. Today we are privileged to work collectively.”

Modern Kitchen Construction for Kiptulus Secondary School

Fairtrade uses the Fairtrade Premiums gotten from purchases of Fairtrade marked products to empower local small-scale farmers.

The modern kitchen construction for Kiptulus Secondary School is a typical example of how we utilize these funds.


The project included;

• Modern kitchen construction
• Secondary school feeding program
• Assisting local community in catering services during events

The Sireet Outgrowers; Nandi County Road Trip For Universities For Fairtrade Brand Ambassadors

The Fairtrade Marketing Organization Eastern Africa (FMOEA) has organized a two day road trip to the Sireet Outgrowers in Nandi County, Kenya, for the Universities For Fairtrade Brand Ambassadors, slated for 23rd and 24th July 2015.

The participants, selected Fairtrade Brand Ambassadors drawn from various universities will learn first-hand, how Fairtrade Premiums works and will mingle with the beneficiaries of these projects.


To follow the activities on these 2 days, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/640771129393828/

Fairtrade Brand Ambassadors Social Media Challenge is back!!!

The Universities For Fairtrade Brand Ambassadors Social Media Challenge is back!!!
Participants must use the hashtag ‪#‎FairtradeSireetTrip‬ on their posts and will be judged on 2 categories;

1. BEST PHOTOS – taken with a Fairtrade marked product and/or at any Fairtrade Premium Projects
2. MOST ENGAGEMENTS – most Retweets, Shares and Likes.

You are encouraged to share posts from our wall to your followers highlighting our areas of work and what the Fairtrade movement means to you.

Voting closes at midnight 31st July 2015. The selected winners will win fantastic prizes!!!

Kaderes Officials Trained On The Fairtrade Standards As They Inaugurate School Constructed With Fairtrade Premium

Yesterday, the newly employed field officers of Kaderes, a Fairtrade certified coffee farm Located In Karagwe were trained on the Fairtrade standards.

Today, they will be inaugurating a school which was constructed with premium money. More updates to follow.

Why Fairtrade?

More than 2 billion people who live in poverty currently rely on small-scale agriculture for their food and wages. World trade has the potential to greatly reduce poverty, encourage economic growth and provide these people with a sustainable livelihood. But the regulations that currently govern international trade are stacked in favour of wealthy countries and organisations. As a consequence workers at the beginning of the supply chain don't always get a fair share of the benefits of trade.

Fairtrade certifies goods that meet an internationally agreed standard, and buying products that carry the ‪#‎Fairtrade‬ mark is your independent guarantee that disadvantaged producers are getting a better deal. It means you can be confident that a fair price has been paid for your product and that producers have enough money to reinvest back into their communities.

Fairtrade Premium to co-fund climate change projects

Farmers often use the Fairtrade Premium to co-fund climate change projects. Sireet OEP is working with Fairtrade Africa and an NGO, Vi Agroforesty, on a project called ADAPTea.

This project aims to assist #Fairtrade certified smallholder tea farmers in Eastern Africa to adapt to climate change and improve quality and crop yield.

At Sireet, over 150,000 trees have been planted using Fairtrade Premium, which are improving soil fertility and providing shade for tea crops. Farmers have also received training on reducing deforestation, safe use of chemicals, organic composting, diversification and other sustainable agricultural practices.

We Celebrate World Fair Trade Day, 9 May 2015

As we celebrate World Fair Trade Day around the globe, it is helpful to revisit the Fair Trade Principles. In 2009, Fairtrade International along with the World Fair Trade Organization adopted the Charter of Fair Trade Principles, which provides a single international reference point for Fair Trade. The charter includes our common vision, definition of Fair Trade, core principles and the distinct approaches to Fair Trade. Fairtrade International adheres to the principles in creating our standards and pushing for trade on fairer terms.
Here are the core principles and some examples in action:

• Market access for marginalised producers
  An important part of Fairtrade’s work is help otherwise marginalized producers access markets on better terms. In India, small-scale cotton farmers are at the end of a textile supply chain that often leaves them trapped in poverty. Access to Fairtrade markets helps them organize and improve their position. In 2013, farmers’ organizations sold 15,900 MT of Fairtrade seed cotton on Fairtrade terms. See photos and learn more about Fairtrade cotton farmers in India.
  
• Sustainable & equitable trading relationships
  Fairtrade International recently revised the Trader Standard to strengthen the requirements, increase transparency, and provide a framework for companies to go above and beyond the standard in dealing with farmers and workers. Read more about the Trader Standard.
• Capacity building & empowerment
  The effects of climate change are already evident in producer countries where rapidly changing weather patterns and shortened growing seasons are making farming even more unpredictable. Fairtrade tea farmers in Kenya are working with Fairtrade International and other partners to share knowledge and adapt to the changes. Read the full story.
• Consumer awareness raising & advocacy
  Everyone is familiar with Fairtrade in the UK and Australia and North America, but the new frontier in building awareness and advocating for fairer trade terms is in producer countries. South Africa joined the Fairtrade system in 2009, Kenya and India became Fairtrade markets in 2014, and we’re proud to announce the addition of Brazil this past March. Read about the new organization.
• Fairtrade as a “social contract”
  Karma Cola, one of the world’s only Fairtrade colas, is made using Fairtrade certified sugar and vanilla. And, although there isn't currently a Fairtrade Standard for cola nuts, the company has found a way to make their trading with Sierra Leone cola nut farmers as fair as possible working with the communities to implement projects. When the Ebola virus started spreading there, Karma Cola stepped up their support sending extra funds to help prevent Ebola infections. Read their full story .

Fair Trade organizations around the world are celebrating World Fair Trade Day – be sure to check Fairtrade Near You to find the Fairtrade organization in your area and find out about events and opportunities.

Hugh Jackman Ventures to Ethiopia in Trailer for Fairtrade Coffee Documentary

Hugh Jackman journeys to Ethiopia and advocates for fair-trade coffee in the trailer for his upcoming documentary, Dukale's Dream.

On his trip, Jackman meets a local coffee farmer, Dukale, and learns about how he could improve Dukale's life and those of other local growers.



Jackman is shown farming and brewing coffee in Ethiopia as he and his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, who's also featured in the documentary, talk about the struggles of Ethiopian coffee farmers.

"They wake up and basically the agenda for the day is to get food," Furness is shown saying in an interview. Jackman adds, "Coffee buyers will come in and offer way below market values, and [the growers] can't afford to go anywhere else."

But the actor says he wants to end the "cycle of poverty" that system creates. "It's not the way things were meant to be and it's not the way things have to be," Jackman says. As Dukale explains that his kids will be able to go to school, the trailer ends with Jackman spreading the message of fair-trade coffee.

"This is about livelihoods, this is about change, this is about hope," he says. Dukale's Dream, directed by Josh Rothstein, opens in select theaters on June 5 before its released on VOD on July 14.

http://www.fairtrade.or.ke/news/wolverines-hugh-jackman-ventures-to-ethiopia-in-documentary-for-fairtrade-coffee/

Fairtrade: A Just World Starts with You; A Benjamin Conard Presentation At TEDxSUNYGeneseo

Fairtrade On Earth Day

This ‪#‎EarthDay‬ we’re putting the spotlight on the many farmers around the world struggling with the effects of climate change.

“I’m ready to train others and pass my climate change knowledge on,” said Luke Metto, ‪#‎Fairtrade‬ tea farmer at Sireet OEP in Kenya. Farmers like Luke don’t know if they will be able to go on farming tea because temperature and rainfall has become so unpredictable.



Farmers often use the Fairtrade Premium to co-fund climate change projects. Sireet OEP is working with Fairtrade Africa and an NGO, Vi Agroforesty, on a project called ADAPTea. This project aims to assist Fairtrade certified smallholder tea farmers in Eastern Africa to adapt to climate change and improve quality and crop yield. At Sireet, over 150,000 trees have been planted using Fairtrade Premium, which are improving soil fertility and providing shade for tea crops. Farmers have also received training on reducing deforestation, safe use of chemicals, organic composting, diversification and other sustainable agricultural practices.

Watch more about climate change adaptation here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l69IAWzFXec

Find out more about Sireet OEP and how you can source Fairtrade certified tea from them: http://www.epkoutgrowers.co.ke/

Fairtrade's impact on farmers and workers - Fairtrade tea in East Africa

What impact does Fairtrade have on farmers and workers? This overview film for our series 'The impact of Fairtrade tea' highlights how Fairtrade makes a difference to farmers and workers, using examples from Sireet OEP tea co-operative in Kenya and Kibena Tea Estate in Tanzania.

http://www.fairtrade.or.ke

Africa: Flower Farmers to Increase Their Market Visibility Through Innovative Online Platform

Fairtrade Africa has partnered with an online flower platform to increase visibility of Fairtrade flowers through profiling them through online platforms such as FlorAccess ( www.floraccess.com).
"This is intended to help producer organizations increase Fairtrade sales," says Caleb Lang'at, Fairtrade Africa's Flower Manager.

The platform allows Fairtrade - certified flower organisations to request for login details, which enables them to upload their flower details and farm profile. This includes and is not limited to: length, variety, type, head size, CSR activities, and Fairtrade premium projects.

Over 60 Producer Organizations globally have been exposed to the system's usability. The pioneers, including three farms from East Africa, have begun processing their applications, enrolment and subscription.

Today over 90% of floriculture buyers use the internet as their prime source of information when looking for products thus confirming the viability of this support for Fairtrade Flowers.

Buyers will now be able to search for a combination of product name and the Fairtrade certification. The cooperation between Fairtrade and the online platforms shall create a unique selling point thus helping increase markets access and sales for Fairtrade Flower producer organizations.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201503230531.html

http://www.faritrade.or.ke

Routes to Market Consultant (Re-Advertised)

Routes to Market Consultant (Re-Advertised)

Terms of Reference

Background: Fairtrade Marketing Organization Eastern Africa believes in a world where all producers can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods and fulfil their potential.
Fairtrade is a global movement, which addresses the injustices of conventional trade, specifically in agriculture. It stands for sustainability and development through trade. Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers globally.We contribute to this vision in the following ways:

• We promote intra-African trade opportunities to create extra market access and offer African consumers the opportunity to shop sustainably
• We offer African traders an avenue to source and trade sustainably through sourcing from Fairtrade certified producers.
• We raise awareness on trade justice by drawing attention to the concerns producers face

Overview of opportunity: Fairtrade Marketing Organization Eastern Africa is part of a consortium of organisations who have received funding the Big Lottery Fund, a prominent UK-based funder.
Our project will work in Kipkelion Union – a collection of coffee cooperatives in KerichoCounty–supporting women farmers from two member cooperatives into income earning positionsand providing marketing support for the sale of their coffee into local or export markets.
We seek the input of a consultant to lead the development of a focused marketing strategy identifying the most viable routes to market for women’s coffee from target cooperatives within Kipkelion Union.

• This strategy will build on leads to prospective buyers already known to FMOEA as well as involving consultation with new potential buyers both in local and export markets.
• Having identified the range of possible options this strategy will define in concrete detail which routes represent the most viable prospects for further development; clearly linking the volume and grade of available women’s coffee with the size of commercial interest from potential buyers,and including consideration for their interest in coffee in green bean or roasted form.
• Critically, this strategy will then be expected to provide a step-by-step overview of the actions that need to be taken to pursue the most viable routes for women to sell into – in line with the criteria of buyers and ensuring that women’s coffee reaches the market ina way which maximises impact and sales.
• At all times consideration of external factors which may affect the viability of sales locally or internationally (e.g. policies, regulations, license requirements and so on) must also be fully accounted for.

As the successful applicant you will be supported in these actions by the Project Manager and the Director. You will be required to visit Kipkelion Union and member cooperatives to collect relevant data and others as required.
Role and responsibility:As the consultant for this work you will be responsible for:

• Leading in the implementation of research at the cooperative and Union levels to identify existing volumes and quality of coffee, as well as researching existing marketing arrangements
• Leading in the implementation of the market research with prospective buyers of women’s coffee – including existing prospective buyers known by FMOEA and other project partners as well as researching entirely new buyers at the local and export market levels.
• Leading in the writing and delivery of a focused marketing strategy into the most viable routes to market for women’s coffee, as outlined in the previous section, as well as proposed budgets required for the same.

Person specification

• Essential: Demonstrable experience of developing marketing strategies for organisations through commercial and/or procurement routes
• Essential: Experience in conducting consultation work with different types of organizations
• Essential:  Excellent communication skills and time management with the ability to create a compelling case in support of Fairtrade’s work in accordance with tight deadlines.
• Essential: Excellent knowledge of the Kenyan coffee sector including knowledge of coffee buyers, national and international regulation relating to sales
• Essential: Knowledge of issues affecting smallholder farming cooperatives particularly those connected to market access and licensing requirements for sales (locally and for export).
• Strongly desirable: Knowledge of gender-sensitive interventions in agriculture.
• Strongly desirable: Knowledge of Ethical Trade and Fairtrade in particular is an advantage

Timing and remuneration:
We are seeking a consultant to work for 25 daysin total including preparation for a field visit,interviews with the producers, potential buyers/traders and other relevant stakeholders, as well as the subsequent development of the study piece.
All costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence are covered by FMOEA.
To express interest please submit a C.V and a 1-page expression of interest document overviewing relevant experiences to date(in line with the person specification) as well as the proposed work plan.
Deadline for submission is 20^thApril2015.
Download Application

Applications to be sent to info@fairtrade.or.ke