Fairtrade Africa product networks are organised groups of Fairtrade certified producers of a specific product. They cut across national and regional boundaries. Product groups will facilitate greater understanding of particular producer issues with regards to production and marketing. Each network is led by an elected steering committee that acts as the focal point of producers’ interaction.
Aims of product networks
- To facilitate and improve the participation of African producers in the development of Fairtrade product strategy and standards issues
- To promote shared learning amongst producers of a given product in Africa by sharing ideas and experiences on key areas such as production, marketing and value addition
- To explore and develop intra-African supply chains to increase market access for producers
- To raise awareness about Fairtrade as an alternative to conventional trade, leading to better income for producers/farmers
- To forge partnerships and linkages with relevant governmental and non-governmental institutions for producer support
Development of product networks
Fairtrade Africa is currently piloting the development of product networks for African Fairtrade tea, coffee and cocoa producers. All three networks are expected to encourage peer learning and information exchange in order to promote, as a group, greater access to markets and technical assistance.
Coffee network
At the coffee producers meeting in February 2010, a committee of six producers was elected. The committee sought to balance representation of Arabica and Robusta producers, sub-regions and gender and is tasked with continuing the dialogue begun at the producers meeting.
Tea network
At the tea producers meeting in May 2010, six producers were selected to form a steering committee for the product network. The committee started work straight away chairing review sessions to obtain producer views for a FLO tea standards review.
Cocoa network
Cocoa producers from different West Africa countries met at Fairtrade Africa’s first cocoa network in September 2010. At working group with five members was set up, which will provide product advisory services to FLO-GPM, Fairtrade Africa and other partners.
The aim is that in time product networks will be rolled out across Africa into other key product areas.