The Pacific region forms an important part of Fairtrade NAPP's geographic footprint, with producer organisations across these three countries working in coffee, sugar and other commodities under Fairtrade certification. As part of its regular governance and engagement work, the Pacific Regional Conference and Product Network Meeting was successfully convened from 23 to 24 May 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, bringing together producer members from Fiji, Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea.

The Conference proved pivotal in bringing together producer voices, building collaboration, and creating space for shared learning across countries, thereby shaping regional priorities and strengthening producer representation within the Fairtrade system.

Attendees:

• Fairtrade NAPP Task Force Members: Pravakar Meher, Raghavendra Shastry, Shailesh Patel, Rosemarie Sumalinog G and Malik M Jamil
• Leadership: Bindu Sukumarapillai- CEO, Hagung Hendrawan – COO
• Fairtrade NAPP Pacific Staff Members: Programme Consultants – Nestor Josue Messias-Da Conceicao- Timor Leste, Giegere Greg Hedziga- PNG, Abinesh Chand-Fiji
• Kavita Ramesh, Sr. Manager (Board Affairs & Governance) & Permanent Secretary of the Regional Conference
• Pacific Producer Member Representatives.

Opening Remarks by Fairtrade NAPP Board Chair

The Conference began with an opening session by Pravakar Meher- Fairtrade NAPP Chair- Board Chair, confirming that it was convened in accordance with the Constitution and the Regional Conference Charter. He shared an overview of Fairtrade NAPP's achievements and progress during 2025, including the strengthening of farmer and worker livelihoods through Fairtrade Premium investments, expansion of strategic partnerships, progress on sustainability and South-to-South strategies, and the launch of the Fairtrade NAPP Strategy 2026–2028.

Producer-led leadership for the Pacific Regional Conference

A central outcome of the conference was the election of a new Regional Coordinator and Deputy Regional Coordinator who will represent Pacific producers within Fairtrade NAPP for the next governance term. Devan Chand from Fiji was declared elected as the Pacific Regional Coordinator, and Carlito Alves from Timor-Leste as the Deputy Regional Coordinator. Both leaders were elected unopposed after presenting motivation statements focused on strengthening producer representation, improving regional collaboration and building transparency within the Fairtrade system.

In their first remarks, both newly elected representatives committed to working closely with Pacific producer organisations to strengthen producer voice, support compliance efforts and connect cooperatives more directly with Fairtrade NAPP's programmes. A formal handover of responsibilities and governance documents was completed during Day 2, marking the transition into the new governance term.

First Lifetime Achievement Award honours decades of producer leadership

The conference also marked an important milestone for the Fairtrade movement in the Pacific. Fairtrade NAPP introduced its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising long-term contributions and leadership within the Fairtrade system. The award was presented to Bal Subramani of the Lautoka Cane Producers Association, Fiji, in recognition of his 26 years of service to the sugar industry and to producer organisations. His work has supported producer trust, governance, community development and farmer representation across the sugar sector in Fiji.

“This recognition is an emotional and memorable milestone in my 26 years of service to the sugar industry and producer organisations. I remain committed to supporting Fairtrade producers and strengthening the movement in the Pacific region.”

- Bal Subramani, Lautoka Cane Producers Association, Fiji

Update on Fairtrade NAPP Programs and Projects by CEO and COO

The Fairtrade NAPP CEO, Bindu Sukumarapillai, and COO, Hagung Hendrawan, presented updates on Fairtrade NAPP's progress through 2025 and on the Fairtrade NAPP Strategy 2026–2028. The Strategy focuses on producer capacity strengthening, market expansion, innovation and technology, and inclusion and social justice.

The CEO shared key strategic and organisational updates relevant to Pacific producer organisations during 2025. These included the strengthening of producer livelihoods through Fairtrade Premium investments across Fiji, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea, the expansion of strategic partnerships and outreach initiatives in the region, the implementation of a South-to-South strategy aimed at opening newer trade corridors for Pacific producers, and the establishment of NAPP Commercial Ventures to create additional commercial pathways for producer organisations in the Pacific. Producers were encouraged to actively participate in governance processes, regional discussions, and leadership opportunities to strengthen producer representation within the Fairtrade system.

The COO shared updates on Pacific-focused programmes and projects, including producer capacity strengthening, product network interventions, Fairtrade standards and pricing reviews, coffee development projects in Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea, EUDR geolocation initiatives, and producer readiness for market engagement. He further highlighted the importance of stronger producer participation, compliance with Fairtrade Standards, closer collaboration within supply chains, and continued support for gender, youth, and inclusion programmes across Pacific producer organisations.

Gender Matters: Fostering gender equality and inclusion in producer organisations

A dedicated session on Gender Inclusion was facilitated by Sarah Annum, Fairtrade NAPP Manager (Gender & Youth), strengthening producer members' understanding of gender equality, inclusion, and equal opportunities within producer organisations and farming communities. Through participatory storytelling, group discussions and practical exercises, producer representatives from Fiji, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea explored common barriers faced by women and marginalised groups, reflected on the importance of inclusive leadership and decision-making, and examined ways to promote equal participation across all levels of producer organisations.

The session reinforced Fairtrade NAPP's commitment to dignity, respect and non-discrimination, and underlined that gender equality is essential for building stronger producer organisations, sustainable livelihoods and resilient communities. Producer members acknowledged the importance of fostering a more inclusive and equitable Fairtrade movement, with women's participation in leadership and governance identified as a clear priority for the years ahead.

Coffee Product Network: Market visibility, Compliance, and Producer support

The Coffee Network Meeting set out a clear set of priorities aimed at strengthening Pacific coffee, particularly from Timor-Leste. Producer representatives shared concerns on limited buyer engagement, the need for stronger international visibility of Pacific coffee, and the difficulty of meeting compliance requirements such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD). Producers also raised challenges around organic certification, working capital, infrastructure, internet connectivity and field-level support.

Based on producer inputs, the network agreed on a set of forward actions that will guide Fairtrade NAPP's coffee support in the Pacific:

• Stronger buyer engagement and market promotion- Producer organisations will be supported to access new buyer relationships and to promote Pacific coffee more visibly in international markets.
• Producer organisation governance and refresher training- Training will be expanded so that producer leaders, board members and staff can confidently meet evolving Fairtrade requirements.
• Improved coffee productivity and quality- Producer organisations will work on improving on-farm productivity, post-harvest handling, and coffee quality to strengthen competitiveness.
• Certification and compliance support- Continued support will be provided on organic certification, EUDR and HREDD compliance, helping producer organisations stay market-ready.
• Greater participation of women in leadership- Producer organisations agreed to take concrete steps to increase the representation of women in governance and decision-making structures.

Producers also noted that donor-supported coffee development projects are expected to continue across the region in the coming years, opening further opportunities to strengthen cooperatives and improve farmer livelihoods.

Sugar Product Network: Protecting Fairtrade sales and Producer resilience

For sugar producers, the Product Network discussion focused on protecting Fairtrade sales and strengthening producer resilience in a challenging market. Producer organisations spoke openly about declining sugarcane productivity, low Fairtrade sales, climate change pressures, certification challenges and the rising cost of production driven by global instability. Sugar producers from Fiji were particularly clear that long-term sustainability of the sector will depend on closer engagement with key stakeholders and consistent investment in productivity.

The network agreed on the following producer-driven actions:

• Closer engagement with key sugar industry stakeholders- Fiji producer organisations will work more closely with the Fiji Sugar Corporation and the Ministry of Sugar to address sector-level issues.
• A Fiji Roadmap document- Fairtrade NAPP will develop a Fiji Roadmap to guide producer organisations and partners over the coming years.
• Productivity-focused use of the Fairtrade Premium- Producer organisations agreed to prioritise productivity enhancement projects when investing the Premium.
• Continued engagement with the buyer and Fairtrade International- Fiji producer organisations will continue engaging with Fairtrade International for future market and project funding.
• Continued commitment to Fairtrade certification- Producer organisations reaffirmed their commitment to remaining Fairtrade certified, with ongoing awareness support from Fairtrade NAPP.

Strengthened governance and clarity on producer responsibilities

Producers also approved the revised Regional Conference Charter Version 2 and the revised Code of Conduct for Fairtrade NAPP Producers Version 2. The documents, shared in advance as pre-read materials, were unanimously approved by the Pacific Regional Conference. Producer members also received a detailed walkthrough of General Assembly procedures, including delegate representation, voting rights, election procedures, proxy voting and the role of the Central Nomination and Election Committee. This gave producer members a clearer understanding of how their representation operates within the broader Fairtrade NAPP system.

Key takeaways for Pacific producer members

• Through the election of a new Regional Coordinator and Deputy Regional Coordinator, Pacific producers have leaders who will represent their realities within Fairtrade NAPP.
• Discussions on EUDR, HREDD and certification gave producer organisations a clearer understanding of what is required and where Fairtrade NAPP support will focus.
• In-person participation allowed producer leaders from Fiji, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea to exchange experiences and explore opportunities for greater collaboration.
• The first Fairtrade NAPP Lifetime Achievement Award sent a strong message that producer leadership and service to the movement are valued and recognised.
• The coffee and sugar network actions were drawn directly from producer-identified challenges, ensuring Fairtrade NAPP's regional support reflects field realities.

Feedback from the conference

Producer feedback noted that in-person participation fostered stronger collaboration, trust and engagement than virtual meetings, creating space for open discussion on field realities and operational challenges, and offering valuable networking opportunities across Fiji, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea.

Way Forward

Following the conference, the new Regional Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator will work alongside Fairtrade NAPP, producer organisations and regional support teams to take forward the priorities set by the coffee and sugar networks. Fairtrade NAPP will develop the Fiji Roadmap, continue donor-supported coffee development projects, and expand producer training on governance, compliance, gender equality and market readiness. The nomination of Ms. Serina Yaninen for the Fairtrade NAPP Board position from the Pacific region will be processed by the Central Nomination and Election Committee.

Producer members also called for continued orientation and awareness on Regional Conference structures, governance processes, leadership roles and nomination and election procedures, so that more producer leaders can step forward in future terms. Fairtrade NAPP will continue working with producer organisations on these areas, while sustaining the regular regional engagement platforms that producers from Fiji, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea have called for.

The Pacific Regional Conference 2026 marks an important point in Fairtrade NAPP's ongoing work alongside Pacific producers. The decisions taken in Kuala Lumpur, from new leadership to revised governance documents and producer-led product priorities, will shape how Fairtrade NAPP supports cooperatives and estates across the region in the years ahead.