About
OVERVIEW
Our logo assures you that
Trade Network and artisan groups around the world have become self-sustaining. Because ATA's goal is to link the artisans to markets, Aid to Artisans provides assistance in all stages of that process, including product development and design, business development, market entry, and working with clients.
The social impact statements that most closely apply to our organization's mission statement
Our organization screens
How often our organization monitors compliance of our standards
How our organization monitors compliance of our standards
Our mission statement
The history of our organization
Established in 1976, Aid to Artisans has developed programs over 32 years in 110 countries to foster successful artisan-led handcraft enterprise to support community-based, economic growth in challenged communities. Over the past 3 years, Aid to Artisans benefited 45,000 artisans, two-thirds of whom are women, and generated the retail sales equivalent of $90 million. Working in partnership with local NGOs, community associations, producers, exporters and other industry and community members, ATA provides technical assistance critical to business growth, including product design assistance, production management and business training, direct marketing assistance, and creation of industry structures needed to support diverse business participation in market opportunities. Our work is made possible by generous support from governmental institutions, multilateral organizations, foundations, corporations, individuals and the active participation of designers, importers and retailers.
Our organization's standards for producers, products, or sellers
Aid to Artisans strives to share its Code of Practice & Principles, as follows, with the artisans, exporters, importers and partner organizations with whom we work.
Code of Practice & Principles:
1. Fair Practices. We are committed to promoting and advocating fair wages and fair return on artisan labor. This means equitable commercial terms, fair wages, and fair prices in the interest of the producers. We recognize that unfair trade structures, mechanisms, practices and attitudes should be identified and avoided or changed.
2. Respect for Producers? Cultural Identity. We encourage development and production of products that respect and build on producers? cultural traditions and natural resources. We promote producers? artistic, technological and organizational knowledge as a way of helping preserve and develop their cultural identity.
3. Concern for People. We promote development which improves the quality of life and which is sustainable for and responsible to both people and the natural world. We seek to avoid child labor that prevents their attendance at school or their participation in vocational orientation or training programs.
4. Working Conditions. We promote safe working environments that satisfy at a minimum all local statutory regulations. We promote work that is carried out under humane working conditions.
5. Ethical Standards. For both our staff and the artisans with whom we work, we strive to reflect in our structures a commitment to justice, fair employment, public accountability and progressive work practices. We seek the greatest possible efficiency at the lowest cost while involving staff and artisans in decision-making and management as appropriate to each organization.
6. Dignified Treatment. We are committed to promoting policies and practices that affirm the dignity of clients and are respectful of cultural and gender differences.
7. Transparency. We agree that clients deserve accurate and understandable information regarding the terms of services, so that all clients can make informed decisions. Our openness about market information, structure and strategy is tempered with respect to sensitive commercial, financial and political information.
8. Concern for the Environment. We encourage the production and trading of goods which are environmentally friendly. We strive to manage resources in a sustain manner and to protect the environment
9. Education and Advocacy. We promote an awareness of where products are made and artisan traditions to promote intercultural understanding and respect among our donors, importers, exporters and customers.
10. Privacy of Client Information. We protect proprietary commercial information and disclose it only in the aggregate. We agree that service providers should protect the personal information of their clients and should take steps to not disclose information without client knowledge and consent.
How we developed our standards
Aid to Artisans Code of Practice & Principles is derived from more than 30 years of practical experience working side-by-side with artisans, exporters, importers and partner organizations to understand the conditions under which they work and the goals that they strive towards. Aid to Artisans is an active member of the International Federation of Alternative Trade and our Code reflects our shared values and missions. Our ethics and practice are respectful of local and indigenous cultures and beliefs of artisans and our partners. We believe in a collaborative learning process. We believe that Aid to Artisans has an equal if not greater amount to learn from artisans than we have to teach them.
Summary of our process for screening new producers, products, or sellers
Aid to Artisans selects artisans, exporters, importers and partner organizations based on the shared goal of expanding markets and increasing incomes to artisans. Aid to Artisans partners are selected based on shared values that reflect ATA's Code of Practice. This shared vision is revealed through visits by ATA staff and consultants to partners' workshops and offices, through personal interviews and visits to artisans' workplaces and showrooms. Frequent visits by ATA field staff, consultants and partner organizations insure that artisans are meeting their commitments to safe and responsible business practices.
How we regularly monitor compliance of our standards
Aid to Artisans? monitors the well-being of artisans and their environments through regular visits by ATA field staff, Board of Directors, Consultants and partner organizations.
Our monitoring process including who performs the monitoring
Monitoring and evaluation of Aid to Artisans work is completed by ATA staff, regional third-party monitoring and evaluating parties, and by our funding partners who send independent auditors and evaluators to insure the quality and integrity of our work.
The fee structure for our monitoring system
Our monitoring is for internal use only and is not available on a fee basis.
Monitored regions
Aid to Artisans has monitored its work closely in the more than 110 countries in which it has worked. For more information about our work globally, please visit Aid to Artisans' website.
More information about our organization
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