Fairtrade Africa has organised a 3-day virtual advocacy workshop to create more awareness and capacity building for its members in Ghana from the 20th to 22nd January 2021. The training was organised with the Fair Trade Ghana Network with funding from the European Union. Participating Fairtrade certified producer organisations were from different commodity sectors namely citrus, mango, banana, cocoa, pineapple and artisanal crafts.
The current global, national and regional markets present unprecedented challenges as well as opportunities for producers trading in traditional and non-traditional export commodities. Farmers and producers in developing countries are most often not heard in the key decision making that influences policy. It is important to empower producer organisations to speak and advocate on issues affecting them.
The participants were taking through the advocacy process issue prioritisation, policy analysis, stakeholder mapping and analysis, building an advocacy strategy, monitoring and evaluation.
Prior to the workshop, Head of Region of Fairtrade Africa West Africa Region, Edward Akapire reiterated that Fairtrade Africa is committed to providing value enhancing to its members in order to help build strengthened producer organisations in line the company’s strategy for 2021 to 2026. “One of our key strategic areas is to help farmers build strengthened producer organisations, by helping to build a strong advocacy for our members to create positive action around the concept of fairer trading, pricing, and favourable policy environment”.
Speaking at the opening of the three-day virtual training, Advocacy Officer for Fairtrade Africa, Martin Mubisi mentioned the relevance of the training in helping producer organisations to be empowered to make their voices heard on issues affecting them, with the relevant stakeholders.
At the end of the training participants were able to come up with advocacy plans for key issues affecting their sector, for further engagement with the appropriate stakeholders. Fairtrade will work together with the producers on their advocacy plans.
President of the Fair Trade Ghana Network, Mr. Johannes Koumedjro was positive that the training will support members in their advocacy efforts by equipping them with the right tools to influence policy making and implementation on matters within their sector relating to trade facilitation, sustainable production, and social impact.
He called on all relevant stakeholders in government, private sector and the media to champion the rights of farmers and workers by working together to provide the framework legislations and policy environment to help farmers earn a decent livelihood.