Fair Trade - under the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) - is a trading partnership based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers - especially in the South. In this context, Fair Trade is more than jus
t trading: it proves that greater justice in world trade is possible. It highlights the need for a change in the ethics and practice of conventional trade and shows how a successful business can also put people first. WFTO Africa & Middle East (formerly the Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa - COFTA), is a network of Fair Trade producer organizations in Africa, the Middle East, Mauritius and Madagascar, involved in and working with disadvantaged grass root producers to eliminate poverty through Fair Trade. As one of the five regional chapters of WFTO Global, WFTO Africa & Middle East brings together over 10,000 artisans and workers from across Africa, the Middle East, Mauritius and Madagascar. The overall mission of WFTO Africa & Middle East is to improve the livelihoods of African producers through sustainable partnerships that advocate for Fair Trade. WFTO Africa & Middle East therefore strives to strengthen its members capacity to benefit from trade with global markets by assisting them to develop quality products and providing them with market access support through shared efforts and resources within the principles and structures of the global Fair Trade movement. Membership of WFTO Africa & Middle East currently stands at over 90 producer organizations, largely non-food producers, from over 20 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Mauritius and Madagascar. Formally registered in 2007, WFTO Africa & Middle East is fulfilling its mandate of growing and developing Fair Trade across the region, and facilitating the registration of small-scale producer organizations to become members of WFTO. Unlike other Fair Trade Systems that certifies products, the WFTO Fair Trade System certifies the entire organization, and therefore becomes a more practical Fair Trade solution to organizations with multiple product ranges, be they commodities, services or crafts.
