Christian Aid is an international organisation of more than 900 staff working to end poverty. They believe that local people in poor countries are the real experts on poverty. So they support more than 700 local organisations, because they’re best placed to understand the causes of poverty and how to fight it.
Fairtrade works with similar aims and in similar ways. It was therefore appropriate that Wycombe for Fairtrade’s chairman and treasurer attended the event that celebrated Christian Aid’s 80th anniversary.
Welcome Address by Vicar of St Martin’s in the Fields to the 80th Anniversary of Christian Aid Lecture
Here I Stand The Christian Aid Annual Lecture – with Mariana Mazzucato St Martins in the Fields Monday 6th October 2025. 7.00 – 8.30pm
Professor Mariana Mazzucato, a world-renowned economist, brings new vision to economics that can tackle global issues and confront international inequalities on our threatened planet.
Prof Mariana Mazzucato speaking at the Christain Aid 80th Anniversary Lecture
She focused on 5 elements that needed to be addressed:
Meaning and direction of the economy
The objectives that need setting
Knowledge sharing and working together at local, national, and international levels.
Transparency and Accountability – Who owns what? Who benefits? How and Why?
Economics for the Common Good, Inclusivity and collective action and more public – private partnerships to include giving marginalized people a voice.
There is an embedded video of the lecture below. It is about 60 minutes long with 30 minutes of questions and answers, some from the floor, but other questions from a former Chief Political and International BBC journalist.
The International Fair Trade Towns Conference is an event that brings together campaigners, organisations, enterprises and communities from around the world to plan together to strengthen the global fair trade movement. It was attended this year by Wycombe for Fairtrade steering group chairman, Mike King, and its treasurer (his wife), Sheena King.
The theme for the conference this year was Your Town, Our World – Fair Trade Communities & Local Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Hosted at The Nucleus Building at the University of Edinburgh’s King’s Buildings Campus, the conference programme is full and aims to meet the following goals:
To bring together local and global stakeholders committed to sustainability and wellbeing to highlight Fair Trade’s role in the drive for sustainable development and a new economy
To share stories that exemplify local action for global change from local Fair Trade procurement, enterprise, political support and campaigning to global trade justice
To platform Fair Trade Nation status as a grassroots campaign that can leverage a local and national commitment to the global goal of fairness, equity and sustainability
Click here for more information on the conference’s programme.
There follows as outline of the event.
Welcome to the International Fair Trade Towns Conference delegates at the Scottish Parliament building on Friday 29 th Aug 2025 by the Scottish Government.
Exterior view of the Scottish Parliament building
Impressive architecture of the Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood.
Mike and Sheena King were among 60 delegates welcomed to Edinburgh by two ScottishMembers of Parliament in the afternoon, Foysol Choudhury SMP, and Sarah Boyack SMP.
They spoke to us in a committee room prior to the tour and were very proud that Scotland has a “Fairtrade Nation” status and that the Scottish government as well as Edinburgh City Council were two of five major sponsors of the Conference. Delegates had opportunities to ask the MPs questions before being taken on the tour of the Parliament building.
Debating Chamber at the Scottish Parliament building in Holyrood, Edinburgh
The light and spacious Scottish Parliament debating chamber.
The semi-circular debating chamber was very impressive and had spaces at the back for public viewing. Fairtrade is an integral part of the Scottish government’s procurement policy.
Welcome to the International Fair Trade Towns Conference delegates at the Edinburgh City Council Chambers on Friday 29 th Aug 2025 at 6.30 pm by the Depute Lord Provost, Lezley Marion Cameron.
Scottish Piper at the entrance to Edinburgh City Chambers
Scottish piper welcoming delegates to Edinburgh City Chambers with the IFTTC banner in the background
Edinburgh City Hall was a very impressive historic building where we were treated to wine and canapes and prior to the speeches, we were piped in by a woman in full highland dress.
Edinburgh City Council’s commitment to Fairtrade is highly commendable, while there are another 31 local authorities registered as Fairtrade counties, boroughs, towns, etc. who all support sustainable practices, environmental protection, fairness, and endorse the principles of Fairtrade.
Welcome to the International Fair Trade Towns Conference delegates to Edinburgh City Chambers by the Scottish Fair Trade Conference Chairperson.
Welcome inside Edinburgh City Hall to 18th IFTTC 2025.
18th International Fair Trade Towns Conference – University of Edinburgh 29th August to 1st September 2025. Welcome
Mike and Sheena King attended this excellently organized Conference in Edinburgh in late August 2025. Over 250 delegates, from all over the world, attended the 18 th International Fair Trade Towns Conference in Edinburgh. People travelled from as far away as Japan, Nepal, South Korea, Peru, Bangladesh, and from many countries in Africa. The Conference theme was “Your Town, Our World – Fair Trade communities and Local Action” to achieve the 17 United Nations Development Goals. People began networking straight away.
Tabitha Nyariki, head of Scottish Fair Trade opened the conference, stated that “Human Dignity” was at the centre of the Fairtrade movement. Bruce Crowther, founder of the Fair Trade Towns movement in Garstang, Lancashire, and the director of the Fig Tree Chocolate Company stated that when people say “you can’t do that”, he believed that you “SHOULD STEP OUT AND DO IT ANYWAY”!
Group photo of IFTTC Edinburgh Aug2025 delegates at the end of the Conference
“What is the role of Fair Trade in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030?”
Frances Guy, Chief Executive, Scotland’s Nucleus Building International Development Alliance stated that:
Fair trade is not marketing itself enough, particularly in relation to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We need to create a link between sustainable cities and Fairtrade Towns.
35% of SDG targets are not on track for 2030.
We need to tell more personal stories of the Fairtrade producers.
Christina Sotomayor – Hope Jewellery & Crafts, Lima, Peru, reported that:
Hope works with marginalised women, single mums, and young students.
Hope works in the Lima shanty towns and other Andean towns.
They provide flexible working opportunities for women.
They work with Just Trade which sells their products in the UK.
Hope works with partnerships across borders.
For many women, it’s their first opportunity of a job.
They create opportunities for women to upscale into leadership roles.
They started in 2013 with just 13 women working for them and as of 2025, have 45 women.
Laura Cave – Just Trade (Jeweller and Storyteller) UK said that:
She started as a jeweller and storyteller and not a campaigner. Went to Peru and fell in love with the country. Founded Just Trade due to a friendship she made in Peru. The company is based upon the 10 principles of Fairtrade. Just Trade is a member of the WFTO.
Laura believes that you should campaign by doing things well and not just focus on the issue.
They work with Hope, a woman’s artisan project in Peru. Hope created a cat toy based upon Hodge, a rescue cat at Southwark Cathedral, that had 25,000 followers on Instagram. From that they now have developed a whole range of products around Hodge. It combines humour with poverty alleviation, something people can relate to.
They’re now working with a high street retailer who are interested in their quality products and not just because they’re fairly-traded.
Sophie Tack – President of the World Fair Trade Association specified that:
The WFTO had 300 registered Small and Medium Sized Enterprise.
This covered food to fashion, tourism and cosmetics.
WFTO adopted a “holistic” approach going far beyond profit
People and planet before profit.
The Free Market system is broken and ladened with inequalities and environmental degradation.
The WFTO fully adheres to its 10 major principles based on the UN SDGs.
The WFTO is about transformation of the whole supply chain.
It promotes fair prices, wages, democratic decision making, gender equality, human rights, dignity, and political courage.
They seek to challenge the status quo, revolutionize business practices, and promote social responsibility and environmental sustainability.
A “systemic transformation” of the trade is required.
Support comes from the EU Advocacy Office.
Change requires local, national, and international government backing.
This was an amazing conference held for the first time on the African continent.
It was well organized and managed, with many dynamic, positive, and encouraging addresses, presentations, panel discussions, and workshops.
It is a testimony as to what can be achieved by emphasizing fairness, inclusivity, sustainability, with transformational social policies at the local, municipal, provincial and broader state level.
Attended by Mike and Sheena King from Wycombe for Fairtrade. (Only UK Fairtrade Town present)
Mike and Sheena King flew to Switzerland 4 days before the Conference for a short holiday, staying in the Alpine village of Filzback, overlooking the Glarus Valley. Stunning mountain scenery, alpine flower meadows, fresh air, a local chair lift, the sound of cowbells, all made for an enjoyable break.
IFTTC – Day 1 – Friday 22nd September 2023- Morning – Overview.
The IFTTC began with an early 40-kilometer coach trip to the Fairtrade Town of Vaduz, the capital of neighbouring Liechtenstein. Welcomed by the Mayor, the first plenary session and expert panel discussion focused on “Localizing Fair Trade”. Liechtenstein recognized the importance of supporting both tropical products and Fair Trade farmers, but also assisting local producers equally. Vaduz had produced a very useful town map with locations of Fair Trade outlets ass well as independent shops and markets selling locally produced food. Their mantra is “Local and Fair”. Combining Fair Trade sugar with locally grown wheat and maize, Liechtenstein had produced a very nice Fair Trade Beer, which we received as part of our lunch packs. There was also a trip by road train, cut short by the heavy rain, of their “World fields” project. The idea was to grow by organic means arable crops, buckwheat, rice, Ribel maize, and soya, on a 2000 square meter plot to calculate the amount of land needed to support one person. The intention is also to increase biodiversity.
Expert Panel discussions focused on exploring ideas and examples of increasing: –
South – South Fair trade – spurred on by the Covid pandemic when Northern exports were interrupted or halted.
and
North – North fair trade – applying Fairtrade principles to the poorest dairy farmers and wheat growers (France), blueberry growers, (Finland) and small – scale tomato growers (Southern Italy) – all on Fairtrade Terms. Discussion around a Northern Fairtrade logo.
Afternoon – Overview
We arrived at the Lintharena, the main Conference venue on the outskirts of Nafels, in the Glarus Valley.
Welcome and Keynote Speech
2.00 pm The Mayor of Glarus – Nord Canton, totally Fairtrade, welcomed Conference delegates from all over the world. Glarus Nord became a Fair-Trade Zone in 2016. He stressed that Glarus Nord had proved that local businesses and the community can work together to make a sustainable contribution to the fight against worldwide poverty. Glarus has a long history in supporting and legislating for positive social changes, e.g. 1846 bill prohibiting child employment, 1848 bill prohibiting Sunday opening, 1916, the local General Assembly approved the first old age pension scheme in Switzerland. Over 2000 Fairtrade products are now available in Switzerland.
The Impact and Innovation of Fair Trade – 5 Speakers from Fair Trade projects around the world.
Get Paper Industry – Fairtrade Paper Project – Nepal – Please see separate report.
Cotton – Pravakar Meher – Please see separate report.
Tropical Almonds Project – Telmond Foods – Ghana – Dr. Eva Aganda – very innovative and fascinating – Please see separate report.
Fair Picture – Jorg Arnold – Breaking down stereotypical views of underdevelopment, poverty, backwardness of the global South. Please see separate report.
3.45 pm. Fair Public Procurement – Judge Marc Steiner
This Swiss Federal Judge gave a fascinating insight into the changes in Public Procurement since the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement. The EU now recognizes that member states public procurement policies should incorporate sustainable, ecological, environmental, and socio-economic aspects. Public procurement in the European Union alone is worth a staggering 2.5 trillion euros per year. For further details please see the separate report.
4.25pm Global South Spotlight – 3 speakers
1. Get Paper Industry – Nepal – Milan
Milan stressed that Global South producers need a voice with full human rights for workers. The Get Paper Industry, based in Kathmandu, Nepal, is a social Fairtrade certified enterprise, producing handmade paper and stationery, making paper the old way using cotton rags as the raw material, with the paper formed by drying in the sun. Paper, paper bags, cards, and decorative boxes are produced, largely by a female workforce. Priority objectives include: –
Employment of formerly marginalized women
Empowerment of women in the business including management roles
Provide full training, education, and health facilities.
2. WeltPartner, Germany, Fairtrade Importer and Wholesaler – Thomas Hoyer. MD.
Thomas Hoyer stressed that social businesses like Get Paper Industry have increased their social impact as well as their business development. WeltPartner has around 60 Fairtrade partners worldwide accounting for over 1500 products, 93% of which are food products. They pride themselves on working only with smaller Fairtrade Cooperatives, getting the highest (fairest) prices possible, developing strong and lasting relationships with producers such as Get paper Industry.
Please view Global South Spotlight report for full review.
3.Tropical Almonds – Dr. Eva Aganda, Extension Services Manager, Telmond Foods,
With the tropical almond, Talmond Foods are introducing a novel, protein-rich food to the plant-based movement whose nutritional benefits are almost identical to those of the conventional almond, however, much more environmentally friendly. The milk from this Fairtrade certified product was initially aimed at the local population, then regionally, and finally internationally. Dr Agana stated that this new industry supported diversification away from traditionally grown products like bananas, cocoa, and palm oil. Talmond have recognized their local and regional customers too in this South – South trading pattern.
IFTTC – Day 2 – Saturday 23rd September 2023- Morning – Overview.
This was a busy full day with plenary sessions, expert panel discussions and workshops.
International Campaigns Updates & Strategies. Sat 23rd September 9.00 am. To 10.00 am.
Jonathan Janssens, Gent Fair Trade Region, Belgium.
Jonathan recognized that the secret to getting things done was to identify the: –
Right people
Right organization
And the right politician
Find out where their interests lie and in turn inform them of the principles of Fair Trade
Fair Trade Town Coordinator. Takashi Kobuki, Japan.
It was common in Japan with Fair Trade Town campaigns to use celebrities, famous athletes, professional footballers with links to a particular town. Famous sportsmen, sportswomen, and media personalities would have their own fan base, which could be influential by spreading the word.
Fleurance echoed the approach of the first speaker, Jonathan Janssens from Ghent Fair Trade. Saarbrucken was the first Fair Trade Town in Germany. Fleurance gave a very enthusiastic and energetic talk highlighting the need to: –
Look for the people who make decisions.
Identify cross-generational influencers and policy makers.
Look across different cultures and identify successful advocates and campaigns.
Identify organizations with good resources like schools, universities, businesses.
Look for sponsorship or backing – No campaign can run without a budget.
Local University Schemes
There is a 10-year scheme running in local universities where interested students are paid to become Fair Trade Ambassadors to devise and deliver campaigns like “Fair For Fair”. However, in this post-Covid environment and cost of living rises, some universities are naturally cutting back on their pool of Fair Trade Ambassadors but are still retaining their “Fair Trade Plus” project. It is hoped that these paid, part-time, young ambassadors will become Full-time activists within the Saarbrucken Municipality. Their training as ambassadors would give them a good insight into how Fairtrade operates and how local Fair Trade Town activists can make a difference.
Rex Asanga, Managing Chief Executive Officer, Bolgotanga Region, Ghana.
There is an annual regional Fair-Trade Festival and Fair with small-scale farmers, medium-sized producers, and local tribal chiefs all serve on the Fair Trade planning committee. These key actors are the major stakeholders. They try to find sponsorship and exhibitors for this annual festival which these farmers and producers really value as an arena and showcase for their products.
Stakeholder Activation in the Fair-Trade Movement. Sat 23rd Sept 2023. 10.00 am. to 10.45 am.
Biance de Wolf gave an interesting and detailed overview of the state of Fairtrade in Belgium. There are around 193 Fairtrade Towns in Belgium, shared between Flanders and the Dutch speaking part of Wallonia in Northern Belgium. The first Fairtrade town in Belgium was Ghent, certified in 2006.
The annual Fair Municipalities Meeting Day brings together everyone involved in the campaign to discover, inspire, network, and look ahead. The meeting intends to offer fresh ideas, new insights, and concrete examples to rejuvenate, expand, renew, or connect the local campaign with other sustainability themes in the fair municipality or city. And there is plenty of time and space to network with each other!
Young and older committed volunteers, members of the council of aldermen, civil servants: everyone will find something to their liking here.
Fair Trade Flanders did a SWOT analysis of Stakeholder needs and aims revealing
4 main findings: –
Connecting with other Fair Trade Towns in Flanders
Broadening Fairness
Rejuvenating Steering Groups who were all ageing with younger people.
Renew approach with animated and real “Fair Trade Town Tours Tours” with Fairtrade prizes.
Stakeholder Activation Expert Panel Session.
(Bianca De Wolf, Flanders Fair Trade; Giorgio Dal Fiume, WFTO, Italy; Jonathan Janssens, Ghent Fair Trade; Takashi Kobuki, Fair Trade Forum, Japan; Fleurance Laroppe, Fair Trade Saarbrucken; Jatta Makkula, National Coordinator Finland.
Expert Panel Conclusions: –
It is not easy to invent something new or introduce a new approach
Public procurement covers a wide area in addition to food. Fairtrade producers make handicrafts, textiles, clothes, paper, cosmetics, gardening gloves etc.
There are always new actors/stakeholders that may want to be involved, especially in new sustainable and ethical areas.
Create and share a joint vision with other stakeholders.
Form alliances with sustainability, environmental, ecological, and local business groups.
Always seek to engage and incorporate young people into discussions and plans, listening to their ideas and views.
Local Campaigning Roadmap – Workshop, Main Lintharena. 11.15 am to 12.30 pm.
Speakers and workshop focused on Fair Trade Network across Europe, Asia and the Pacific region, as well as Africa. The session looked at best practice, ideas, and challenges faced by local campaigning groups.
Speakers and workshop attendees agreed that local campaigns must be: –
Fun and enjoyable – Fair Trade Wales has an online resources and practical help section to assist the 30 Fairtrade Groups operating in Wales.
Engagement with the public – this will vary according to different stakeholder groups. Local or national government political support is very useful to have.
Inclusive – especially significant engagement involving young people across a range of sectors including schools and colleges.
Utilize resources available from sponsors, local authorities, schools, and colleges, as well as the online resources of the UK Fairtrade Foundation itself.
Promoting Fairtrade products and logo. 93% of UK consumers are thought to recognize and trust the logo knowing that farmers will get a fair price for their purchases. Fair Trade challenges the existing sub-optimal free market trade conditions and associated social and economic inequalities.
Local Fairtrade campaigns should also make connections that Fairtrade champions: – – gender equality – female empowerment – sustainable farming practices – organic production – reforestation – measures that mitigate climate change.
Youth Driving Fair Trade. Plenary Session. Sat 23rd September 2.00 pm.
Lisbeth Perez, Commercial Manager at Maquita Productores, Ecuador. Online
Lisbeth sited examples of young women becoming involved in Fairtrade cocoa production. Fairtrade has been instrumental in women acquiring and developing skills to obtain management and leadership roles in cocoa cooperatives in addition to working in community development projects like clean water, community health, and education. This has boosted the self-esteem of women and improved their basic human rights.
The Board of the company try to keep spaces and jobs for youth to learn by doing and to encourage Fairtrade advocates by: –
Instigating training programmes for young people who want to learn.
To reserve spaces for youth to gather and to encourage them to be “community minded”.
Allow youth to be advocates of their own projects e.g., an affordability programme to transition to a greener approach for food production.
Include youth in policy making and decisions.
Youth are welcomed in Fair Trade Town movements in Ecuador as they are the future.
Youth Driving Fair Trade. Panel Discussion. Main Lintharena. 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm.
Mayqueen focused on Africa’s Share in the Global Chocolate industry.
Many chocolate brands with the Fairtrade label provide a high incentive to cocoa farmers. However, many farmers have large families, so when children come to inherit their families land, the parcels of land grow smaller and farm size decreases. FairAfric pays around $2400.00 per tonne of raw cocoa. If this cocoa was processed into chocolate to add value, the price per tonne would increase to $10,000.00.
The price must be fair to the consumer as well as to the producer who grew the cocoa.
Simon thought that environmental and sustainable production needed to expand by investing in: –
Biodegradable packaging and wrappers.
Solar energy
Climate neutral
Reforestation schemes to improve soil fertility and retain water.
Totally Organic production (this requires a higher premium to be paid to farmers)
Create more cocoa production jobs in Ghana with gender equality built in.
Create truly sustainable cocoa farming.
Add new products.
Retain greater control of cocoa production at source.
Sell more Fairtrade cocoa to Fairtrade Chocolate companies like CLARO Fair Trade.
In 1997 the Claro fair trade cooperative was transformed into an Aktiengesellschaft according to the Swiss law. claro fair trade claims as ultimate goals the continuous improvement of the social, economic, and environmental situation of their producers. These include the minimization of middlemen in favour of direct cooperation with local partners and supporting social projects. Whenever possible, the products are certified by the Max Havelaar Foundation. This Business to Business direct transaction is becoming more popular.
By now you may have heard the news: Traidcraft, the fair trade pioneer and our close partner for many years, is going into administration.
Those are painful words to write, but I wanted to pass on the news personally and share some reflections at this difficult time.
Many of you will have supported Traidcraft for years and do not need me to tell you that today marks a huge loss. After an exceptionally difficult few years, one of the founders of the trade justice movement is closing its doors.
Since 1979 Traidcraft has reimagined the relationships between producers and consumers, putting justice at the heart of trade. It’s no exaggeration to say that the fair trade movement as we know it would not exist without Traidcraft.
But what now?
When we changed our name to Transform Trade, Richard Adams, the founder of Traidcraft said…
“Transform Trade have picked up the baton with their new strategy and name… the work is not done yet.”
We didn’t realise at the time just how relevant those words would be, only a few months down the line. Together, we must pick up the baton.
The good work that Traidcraft has done over the years will not disappear. Instead it must be built upon.
Our mission it to transform trade so that everybody benefits. As we continue this work, our focus right now is on two things.
1. Supporting producers Over the years, Traidcraft did incredible work with smaller producer groups – helping them find a route to market where no one else could. We’re working on plans to expand our work supporting small groups of artisans and farmers, like those Traidcraft was originally set up to help, in order to fill the gap they leave behind.
2. The system Trading ethically within a system that is unjust is always going to be difficult – especially during a cost of living crisis. From the start, the odds were stacked against Traidcraft. Our campaigning and advocacy work aims to level the playing field by demanding change to the entire trading system. We’ve shown in the past that it can be done, but we must press on with renewed energy.
I firmly believe that there is hope for the trade justice movement.
The good work that Traidcraft pioneered cannot and will not be undone. We are committed to transforming trade – and I am so grateful that you stand with us.
Fairtrade Wales and Fairtrade Africa take a look behind the scenes at Fairtrade storytelling and its progression over the years. This online event also discusses the ethics of promotion in the Fair Trade movement, with exciting speakers!
Fairtrade Fortnight 2023 is from Monday 27th February to Sunday 12th March.
Read more about this event and register to watch it without charge at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fairtrade-storytelling-behind-the-scenes-tickets-486899689077.
The event is live from 1pm on Wednesday 25th January. If you can’t attend it live, register anyway to watch the recording.
Check out these events to hear from the Fairtrade farmers and representatives speaking live at COP27. If you haven’t already, please sign your local Community Declaration in support of their global campaign for climate justice.
Event one: Money where it matters: Driving climate finance to achieve human and environmental right
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