WHAT ROLE FOR SMALL PRODUCERS AND FAIR TRADE WITHIN THE EU AID FOR TRADE STRATEGY

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WHAT ROLE FOR SMALL PRODUCERS AND FAIR TRADE
WITHIN THE EU AID FOR TRADE STRATEGY?

• Hilary Jeune
• FAIR TRADE ADVOCACY OFFICE

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• FLO, IFAT, EFTA, NEWS!
• Key Concerns
• 1) How can Aid for Trade make a difference if the
  underlying rules and concepts remain unchanged?
• 2) How will Aid for Trade reduce poverty?
• 3) Where is the central role for small producers?
• 4) Why does civil society not have a role in
  Monitoring and Reporting?

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1) How can Aid for Trade make a difference if the
underlying rules and concepts remain unchanged?

• Evidence shows that current rules do not deliver
  for poverty reduction and sustainable development
• Development must be at the heart of trade
• First, local and national development strategies
  must be designed to meet local needs

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2) How will Aid for Trade reduce poverty?

• to use trade more effectively in promoting the
  overarching objective of poverty reduction in the
  context of sustainable development. As an element
  of the broader development policies and
  objectives to reach the Millennium Development
  Goals
• Council Conclusions, AfT, 10th May 2007
• Where are the concrete proposals?
• Poor producers and workers need to receive
  decent pay for their work
• Fair Trade can serve as an example
• Recognising the central role of small producers

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3) Where is the central role for small producers?

• Small producers are central for overcoming
  poverty,
• But they tend to loose ground in international
  trade
• AfT Strategy should include
• Access to credit and market information to
  support market access
• Access to finances and information to meet
  standards
• Capacity building
• Support for dialogue in trade policy development

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4) Why does Civil Society not have a role in
Monitoring and Reporting?

• Central role of civil society and private sector
  is acknowledged why not in MR?
• Need to ensure that Aid of Trade has a positive
  impact on the poor
• Local accountability mechanisms must be linked to
  global review mechanisms