The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Fairtrade
Our partnership with The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
We have a history of working with DFAT on programs to develop both ends of the supply chain for Fairtrade products and to promote gender equality, particularly within our region.
Why we are partnering together
Our current work with DFAT is focused on the shared goal of fostering sustainable livelihoods of small-scale producers and their communities in the Pacific and Timor-Leste. This is achieved through the implementation of the Fairtrade model so that fair terms of trade are enabled in a greater number of communities.
Fair for all
What we're doing together
Through DFAT funding we carry out programs in Fiji; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Timor Leste and Tonga. These programs aim to facilitate increased investment in small-scale producers and enhanced trading conditions including fairer prices. We also work to build strong democratic organisations which include a focus on child protection and gender equality. In addition, our programs are directed towards environmental sustainability and climate adaptation.
Examples of our work together
- Supporting the Savai’i Coconut Farmer’s Association in Samoa to replant 9,500 coconut trees so that their farms are as productive as possible;
- Seeking feedback from communities in Fiji about local hazards and addressing them by building bus shelters, water tanks and culverts to help with flood water run off;
- Undertaking a Carbon and Water Footprint Study in Fiji to assess the impact of sugarcane production and finds ways to improve it;
- Running training in coffee processing in Timor Leste and developing plans to implement of Women’s School of Leadership there;
- Establishing and maintaining a local vanilla industry that can compete against kava as a viable crop for farmers in Tonga.