Abstract: This paper aims to explore challenges of COVID-19 in achieving sustainable development goal (SDG) 1 ‘no poverty’ by Fair Trade (FT) enterprises. The authors used focus group discussion (FGD) with seven members of World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) – Asia, from six different countries: Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Findings suggest that COVID-19 has posed bigger challenges to FT enterprises in achieving the SDGs since the pandemic has created challenges not only to the economic aspect but also to the health, education, safety and security of the communities. Due to COVID-19, the progress in attaining SDGs has slowed down, as global unemployment surged, global markets collapsed with a catastrophic economic downturn, which could eventually push more people to the pit of poverty. Stronger collaboration among the stakeholders is needed to achieve the SDGs.

Keywords: COVID-19, enterprises, Fair Trade, sustainable development goals

The notion of Fair Trade is a unique idea conceptualised historically in Northern countries to advance equitable and just trading processes that could provide an alternative to the mainstream trading system in the world. Northern activists working with producers, labourers and other impoverished sectors of the Global South are using market-based strategies to mobilise consumer awareness in order to bolster incomes and empower Southern producers and workers (Murray & Raynolds, 2007, p. 4). Fair Trade as a system is seen as a progressive attempt to transform the global exchange of products in a way that ensures ethical and socially just methods of production. Barrientos, Conroy and Jones (2007, p. 54) point out that in the United States Fair Trade’s dramatic growth has accentuated underlying differences in the movement and tensions between the movement-based Alternative Trade Organisations (ATO)-led Fair Trade, and certified Fair Trade in mainstream outlets. The limits of the project of Fair Trade are well documented and critiqued by scholars with an appreciation of its limitations. The South African context of Fair Trade needs to align to the social conditions within which agricultural production takes place and the politics of social justice, equity and empowerment. For a South African product to be considered ‘fair’ while the social formation of the country and practices in various sectors still resemble historical inequalities – reflective of South Africa’s colonial and apartheid history – should be seen as contradictory. The Fair Trade system is not as yet well entrenched in South Africa’s political and social culture. For it to be embraced by a wider section of constituencies it needs to go beyond a business-driven process to one that reaches out to civil society. In this article I illustrate what the missing questions are in the South African context of Fair Trade and issues that need serious consideration for Fair Trade to have a wider impact.Keywords: Equity; empowerment; transformation; South Africa; production; race; political economy; agriculture; rural developmentIntroductionI am returning to the subject of Fair Trade after a ten-year (see Raynolds & Ngcwangu, 2009) hiatus during which I have been focusing on other research areas related to the sociology of development, political economy, education, skills development, sociology of work, inequality and social justice in South Africa. This does not

Keywords: Equity, empowerment, transformation, South Africa, production, race, political economy, agriculture, rural development

As core certified Fairtrade products have become mainstream in the UK market since the late 1990s, Traidcraft Exchange has focused energies on bringing new innovative supply chains and new small-producer organisations into the wider Fair Trade system. The case study presented here focuses on indigenous ‘superfood’ fruits from the forests of Senegal’s Casamance region. Traidcraft Exchange has worked in partnership with two local processing SMEs and 2,200 small-scale producers in the Casamance to develop transparent and fair supply chains for these fruits. The work was catalysed by, but is not limited to, the development of a new range of Fair Trade juice drinks for the UK market. The case study highlights some of the achievements and challenges faced by the programme, particularly with reference to its post-conflict setting. It situates the work within the broader context of the ‘leave no one behind’ agenda and explores how a trade-based programme has contributed towards this aim. Of particular note here are the development of social capital, small producer negotiating power and improved value chain coordination.

Keywords: Baobab, Casamance, Fairtrade, fair trade, forest, fruit, leave no one behind, non-timber forest products, post-conflict, Senegal, SME, superfood, value chain

While growing awareness, concern and expectation among stakeholders for companies to implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies exists, the fashion industry’s global supply chains and product lifecycles are unsustainable. Fair Trade apparel bridges that gap. The Fair Trade and CSR literature supports the idea that fair trade consumers should possess the attributes of (a) compassion for oneself, others and the environment (COOE) and (b) desire for sustainability awareness (DSA). In this study, we contribute to the literature by developing two new scales to measure these unique qualities. Online surveys were distributed to 1,197 individuals and 258 respondents make up the sample. An Exploratory Factor Analysis, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Varimax Rotation was administered on all items, which made up both scales to determine discriminant validity. Scholars and practitioners can use both new scales to holistically analyse and identify the attributes that motivate consumers to purchase Fair Trade apparel.

Keywords: Compassion, consumer motivation, corporate social responsibility (CSR), Fair Trade, fashion, sustainability, COOE scale, DSA scale

The last five years have seen an increased scale of investment by companies in social and environmental initiatives. They are responding to new international agreements designed to eliminate poverty and conserve the natural environment to combat climate change and to a stronger citizen voice pointing out how commodity production and trade impact people and the planet and calling out companies that have damaging impacts. In this context of being more rigorously held to account, companies are changing the way they interact with their supply chains and making public commitments to deliver positive social and environmental results from their operations, or at least to remove negative ones. The civil society and certification organisations that advocate for poor people and nature now operate in a more supportive but also more competitive environment, in which large companies that control most commodity trade have developed their own programmes to deliver their commitments. The article considers whether such programmes are meeting Fair Trade’s mission and how the Fair Trade movement is adapting to the change. It concludes that, despite the challenge to Fairtrade certification from company programmes, Fair Trade remains as relevant as ever and can demonstrate that by focusing on the impact of its achievements.

Keywords: Fair Trade, climate change, sustainable development goals, sustainability, company programmes, certification

Abstract: This paper aims to explore challenges of COVID-19 in achieving sustainable development goal (SDG) 1 ‘no poverty’ by Fair Trade (FT) enterprises. The authors used focus group discussion (FGD) with seven members of World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) – Asia, from six different countries: Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Findings suggest that COVID-19 has posed bigger challenges to FT enterprises in achieving the SDGs since the pandemic has created challenges not only to the economic aspect but also to the health, education, safety and security of the communities. Due to COVID-19, the progress in attaining SDGs has slowed down, as global unemployment surged, global markets collapsed with a catastrophic economic downturn, which could eventually push more people to the pit of poverty. Stronger collaboration among the stakeholders is needed to achieve the SDGs.

Keywords: COVID-19, enterprises, Fair Trade, sustainable development goals