The UN classifies countries as ?least developed? based on three criteria: (1) annual gross domestic product (GDP) below $900 per capita; (2) quality of life, based on life expectancy at birth, per capita calorie intake, primary and secondary school enrollment rates, and adult literacy; and (3) economic vulnerability, based on instability of agricultural productions and exports, inadequate diversification, and economic smallness. Half or more of the population in the 50 least developed countries listed above are estimated to live at or below the absolute poverty line of U.S. $1 per day (This paragraph published at Factmonster.com).
Whether or not one agrees with the UN's list of Least Developed Nations, if you look at the list, it's clear that there are countries on this list that are under- or simply not represented in the US Fair Trade Markets. We're interested in hearing from people who are working in these countries (and stories of success!), despite all of the extra challenges.
Before founding Worldgoods, we were frustratingly aware that The Gambia had no representation that we could find within the U.S. Fair Trade Marketplaces. How could it be possible that an entire country, where most people live below the Absolute Poverty Line of $1 per day, had been completely overlooked by hundreds of organizations associated with Fair Trade - especially when other countries had dozens of representative organizations and companies selling their goods? So, Baptiste & I rolled up our sleeves and began working on the Ground in The Gambia with women's groups and individual artisans, for example. The letters from the women of Njau and the crafters in Brikama have helped us realize that our efforts, even though just on a small scale, have already begun to make a big impact in the quality of many families' lives.
Here's the list - We can't wait to hear about all of you who are representing the artisans and farmers of these nations! We're hoping to learn about all of you and your stories of success. Are these 50 Poorest Nations being represented?
UN list of least developed countries (currently published at Fact Monster)
Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, East Timor, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Tanzania, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia.
Great question...
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Reading through the list I see that many of these countries, by definition of being among the 50 poorest, have recently experienced war, conflict, or other types of upheaval. Without viable economies they can't produce products for the fair trade marketplace. That said Bambootique does carry silk and cotton scarves and silk bags from Cambodia as well as a number of jewelry items and knitted coin purses from Nepal. I know Haiti also has an incredible artisan community and there are several strong fair trade organizations working within the country
It is great that you confronted all the challenges in Gambia and others in this thread are taking up partnerships in Cambodia and other post-conflict countries. But I do want to take this chance to emphasis that Fair Trade sometimes can't be a viable opportunity for "the poorest of the poor." My clearest example was when I was in Madagascar with my employer, Catholic Relief Services (although these comments are my own), doing an assessment in 2006 of Fair Trade possibilities with our FTO partner, A Greater Gift. Although there were many skilled artisans, some of whom were able to enter the Fair Trade market, there were more still who were literally malnourished and unable to earn any kind of wage.
It sounds almost self-evident to say that starving people can be too weak to work, but sometimes Fair Traders, myself very much included, talk about the "billions of people in poverty" and act as if Fair Trade is THE solution for those living in the most horrific of circumstances. We fool ourselves and we risk oversimplifying and undercutting support for direct humanitarian assistance. Fair Trade is "A" solution, or perhaps I should say, a "approach" to sustainable development, but we can't avert our eyes from some of the realities that keep people out of the market in the first place.
I am definitely all about consumer power through Fair Trade, but some things can't be bought, and actual humanitarian assistance is needed. Thanks for listening.
Although I believe in the power of fair trade as a means for creating sustainable and viable alternatives to the problem of poverty, I cannot but agree totally with Jacqueline Decarlo that "we run the risk of over simplifying and undercutting support for direct humanitarian support"
We will be greatly mistaking if we assume that fair trade is a "cure all" remedy to the problem of poverty in the developing world.
In addition to the need for direct humanitarian assistance, we need to address the fundamental problems that create poverty in the first instance like somebody has noted in the discussion.
It is interesting to me to note that the criteria used in arriving at the least developed nations, non talks about the effort of people in creating wealth or the obstacles they have to face!
It is quiet ironic that the hardest working are the poorest as a result of the negative international trade barriers and conditions.
I think that the starting point to achieving sustainable poverty eradication is not in classifying countries into least developed and highly developed but in removing the barriers that consign people into categories as if they are some commodities.
Apparently it's a hard question, too. Whereas almost 1000 people viewed and many responded to my "Valentine's Day" post, you're the first response to this one...and look at the original post date!! Thanks for responding...
Yes, good question it is!!!! We are located in Viet Nam which is certainly poor but does not rate on the UN 50 poorest list which is a good thing.
Re the frustrations of being a small and independent (no NGO involvement etc. which is important for us) Fair Trade producer located in a developing country we have made a few posts here.
Our major gripe is that the requirements and cost (more than 3 months salary) of becoming a member of one of the organizations recognised by Trust Providers is prohibitive. When contacting independent wholesalers/retailers they will not communicate if we are not a member, so a bit of a closed shop as they are not willing to check our credentials themselves. This World of Good initiative is brilliant..... BUT.... a fully operational business Ebay account (one of the essential requirements) is not available in most developing countries. So, raises the question.... who exactly are these "Sellers"..... certainly not small and independent artisans/producers located in a developing country.