About
OVERVIEW
Our logo assures you that
this is a member of WFTO, the global network of Fair Trade Organizations. Our mission is to improve the livelihoods and well being of disadvantaged producers by linking and promoting Fair Trade Organizations, and speaking out for greater justice in world trade.
The social impact statements that most closely apply to our organization's mission statement
Economic empowerment and value, Self-empowerment, Environmental conservation
Our organization screens
Production process, Business practices
How often our organization monitors compliance of our standards
Continuous
How our organization monitors compliance of our standards
Self reporting
Our mission statement
We have a dream. It is called The Sustainable Fair Trade Economy - a global marketplace where all individuals and organizations trade fairly for the good of all people and the planet; where social, economic and environmental sustainability is not only common practice but a market precondition. We are driven by the need to empower the marginalised who are the most vulnerable to the great challenges of our times. To turn our dream into a reality we have to show that we mean business. Building a trusted global brand is a key component.
Our brand has a clear message: everything the WFTO does helps bring about change for its members. The World Fair Trade Organization is not just a new name and identity, it is a new idea. The WFTO changes Fair Trade from a global struggle to a global solution.
The history of our organization
From the mid 70s, Fair Trade Organizations worldwide began to meet informally in conferences every couple of years. By the mid 80s there was a desire to come together more formally and the end of the decade saw the foundation IFAT in 1989.
All over the world, networks have been established. Regional networks include the Asia Fair Trade Forum (AFTF), Co-operation for Fair Trade in Africa (COFTA), the Association Latino Americana de Commercio Justo (IFAT LA) and IFAT Europe.
During its history of over 60 years, Fair Trade has developed into a widespread movement. Thanks to the efforts of Fair Trade Organizations worldwide, Fair Trade has gained recognition among politicians and mainstream businesses. More successes are to be expected, as Fair Trade Organizations develop into stronger players and mainstream companies become more and more attuned to the demand for Fair Trade in the marketplace.
Our organization's standards for producers, products, or sellers
IFAT prescribes 10 standards that Fair Trade organizations must follow in their day-to-day work and carries out continuous monitoring to ensure these standards are upheld. The standards addresses:
? Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
? Transparency and accountability
? Capacity building
? Promoting Fair Trade
? Payment of a fair price
? Gender Equity
? Working conditions
? Child Labour
? The environment
? Trade Relations
How we developed our standards
The WFTO Standards and indicators for Fair Trade Organizations were initially based on 60 years' experience of the world's Fair Trade pioneers. They are continuously reviewed and amended as part of a broad democratic consultation exercise, in which all WFTO members take part.
Summary of our process for screening new producers, products, or sellers
New members have to go through a careful process of screening. WFTO members are every two year screened against the standards for Fair Trade Organizations.
How we regularly monitor compliance of our standards
A three-step Fair Trade monitoring is in place. It ensures that IFAT members are trustworthy in their commitment to Fair Trade. The IFAT Monitoring System consists of
? Self-Assessment against the Standards for Fair Trade Organizations
? Peer review between IFAT members
? External verification by independent verifiers.
This system of Self-assessment and Peer Review emphasizes the participation of stakeholders in the assessment process, as well as learning and improvement. When a member has met all of its monitoring obligations he becomes registered and entitled to use the FTO Mark. IFAT's Registration Sub-Committee oversees this procedure and makes its recommendations on registration to the IFAT Board of Directors.
Our monitoring process including who performs the monitoring
The Registration Sub-committee and the WFTO Board of Directors.
The fee structure for our monitoring system
Between 25 and 1000, depending on the turnover of the member. For more information about our fee structure: http://www.ifat.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=155&Itemid=187
Monitored regions
WFTO consists of 5 regions:
- Africa
- Asia
- Europe
- Latin America
- North America & Pacific Rim.
The standards for Fair Trade Organizations apply to all regions.
More information about our organization
We'd also like to tell you...
To contact our members to know about their products. You can find organizations of interest to you on our Member database on our website: http://www.wfto.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6&Itemid=37. Those listed with full details are members who have passed through our monitoring process and may use our WFTO logo to promote their organisation. You can search by region, country, product, service or (part of) organisation name.
For businesses or producers that want to work with us, we recommend you do the following...
For businesses and producers who are still not members of WFTO but have Fair Trade Principles in your mission and operations, please join WFTO. Visit our website: www.wfto.com