A producer-led network representing 1.5 million farmers and workers

For 20 years, Fairtrade Africa has worked alongside farmers and workers across Africa and the Middle East to build fairer and more resilient agricultural communities.

Since our founding in 2005, Fairtrade-certified farmers and workers have secured fairer prices for their crops and labor, strengthened their resilience to market shocks, and adopted more sustainable farming practices.

Producer organizations have directed more than €650 million in Fairtrade Premium into priorities they chose for themselves - be it building schools or health facilities, advancing women and youth leadership, improving houses or restoring forests. These investments confirm our organizational north star: when farmers lead, resilience grows.

We work in partnership with businesses to support ethical sourcing that meets stringent regulatory and sustainability requirements, while offering consumers the opportunity to choose products that support better livelihoods and environmental stewardship - Fairtrade is for everyone!

Fairtrade in Africa and the Middle East

Fairtrade Africa works within the global Fairtrade system to ensure farmers and workers are not only beneficiaries of trade, but leaders and co-creators of it. We are a producer-led organization representing more than 1.5 million Fairtrade-certified farmers and workers across 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

We aim to:

• Secure better prices and decent working conditions for farmers and workers
• Promote equitable trade and social and environmental justice
• Strengthen farmer and worker organizations through capacity building and advocacy
• Support the strategic use of the Fairtrade Premium to fund community development and climate resilience projects
• Amplify producer voices in global policy and market discussions

At the heart of our work is a commitment to farmer-led development ensuring African and Middle Eastern producers shape the decisions that affect their livelihoods and futures.

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, and fair terms of trade. Connecting those who grow our food with those who consume it, ensuring producers have a meaningful voice in the systems that govern global trade.

Over the years, Fairtrade Africa has:

• Strengthened our regional producer networks
• Promoted climate-resilient farming practices
• Expanded market access for African and Middle Eastern producers
• Advocated for fairer terms of trade for smallholder farmers and workers

The Fairtrade Premium has grown from €21 million in 2013 to €73.6 million in 2023. Now that's tangible impact! 

Fairtrade Africa works to ensure producers receive fair compensation for their labor while building resilient, sustainable farming communities for generations to come. Through fair pricing, strengthened producer organizations, and targeted investment in social and environmental initiatives, Fairtrade Africa helps farmers and workers improve incomes, working conditions, and long-term security.

Our 20-year journey demonstrates that another way is possible; one where trade delivers a fairer return and strengthens both people and the planet.