Fairtrade International announces new executive governance structure

Fairtrade International has restructured its governance structure implementing a single-leadership model to lead the global organisation and its members. The change is effective immediately. Under the single leadership model, the current roles of the Global CEO and Executive Director were replaced by a Managing Director who will report to the Fairtrade International Board of Directors. This change will streamline decision-making and accountability for both Fairtrade International and for its 22 member organisations around the world, ultimately benefitting our partners and the farmers and workers in the Fairtrade system. The Fairtrade…

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Fairtrade International and International Cooperative Alliance join forces to enable more cooperatives and their members to realise sustainable livelihoods

As UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres launches 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, Fairtrade International and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) have signed a joint partnership declaration to drive greater inclusion and sustainability of cooperatives. The declaration, signed by Melissa Duncan, Executive Director of Fairtrade International, and Jeroen Douglas, the Director General of ICA, has solidified the organisations’ commitment to work together to advance the principles of democracy, empowerment, economic prosperity and distribution, and the convergence of economic, social, and environmental components of development.    The announcement was made…

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Fairtrade’s 2023 Annual Report highlights progress towards fairness agenda

Fairtrade International released its 2023 Annual Report today during its General Assembly, showcasing the organisation’s priorities and milestones, including progress on sustainability issues such as tackling deforestation, human rights, and living incomes. Entitled ”Driving the fairness agenda,” the Annual Report highlights the achievements of the Fairtrade system and its partners in the past year, such as its programmes and initiatives that deepen benefits for more than two million farmers and workers from 68 countries around the globe. Fairtrade reported on its first strategic priority of shifting the balance of power…

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Fairtrade International Announces Election of Board Members

The Board of Directors of Fairtrade International announced the election of new Board members during its annual General Assembly. The Board members, who were elected to a three year term, bring diversity and valuable skills. “I am pleased to welcome our new Board members to Fairtrade International, their unique expertise and leadership abilities will be extremely valuable as we move towards our goals of fostering growth and innovation, promoting commercial value with a responsibility lens, and working on social justice through advocacy and partnerships,” said Laurence Tanty, Chair of the…

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A diluted EU due diligence law is still better than none

Fairtrade International and the Fair Trade Advocacy Office statement on the agreement of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive at the Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to the European Union (COREPER). Recently EU Member states finally agreed to give green light to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) during the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER). The Directive, still subject to the European Parliament approval, will be a diluted compromise which was only possible after a frustrating process that has…

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