Cooperatives are the thread that runs through nearly all of Fairtrade’s work around the world. Central to our theory of change is the belief that farmers understand their own needs best, and by uniting within cooperatives, those collective needs can be heard and met. 

Fairtrade traces its lineage to pioneers of labor organizing; farmworkers and craftspeople who came together to demand equitable treatment and force corporations to acknowledge their humanity. That legacy continues today, as all smallholder farmers engaging with Fairtrade are organized into cooperatives, where each individual farmer has a voice within that group; one person, one vote. They can give input on what policies and practices the co-op will adopt as it grows, how they market their goods and how Fairtrade Premium funds earned by the co-op are invested to support their local community. For example, among Fairtrade cocoa and coffee co-ops, over 30% of the Fairtrade Premium funds they earned went towards organizational sustainability and capacity building.  Today, we support nearly 1,900 farmer organizations, the majority of which are cooperatives.

Central to our model is working directly with these cooperatives to build their financial, organizational and leadership capacities to advocate for themselves in a global market. Through our ongoing programming, such as the West Africa Cocoa Program, we provide direct training to Fairtrade cooperatives. Our approach utilizes an inclusive lens, like the implementation of the Women’s School of Leadership, which has been implemented in 20+ countries, building women’s financial and leadership skills to take on leadership positions within their cooperatives. This work ensures that not only are current co-op leaders equipped with the tools they need to advocate for their fellow farmers, but a next generation of leaders is forming as well, ready to continue the progress of those who came before them when the time comes. Simultaneously, co-ops also receive support to grow their crops more sustainably, so that when the future leaders take the reins, there is still a viable future ahead. Many of these programs employ a train-the-trainer model, in which co-op members who have received education on a topic then become mentors for their peers. Finally, Fairtrade understands that there is no greater source of capacity for co-ops than a strong community at its base, and investments in regional infrastructure, healthcare and education allow co-ops to continue building on the momentum they generate through Fairtrade sales. 

The commitment to cooperative values and farmer representation extends to Fairtrade’s internal structures as well. Our organization is committed to maintaining at least 50% producer representation in our international General Assembly. This means that when governance decisions are made, at least half of the votes come from farmers; they are actively guiding our priorities and actions, as they should be. 

So, as International Cooperative Day was celebrated this weekend, we want to take a moment to acknowledge these groups for their strength, their leadership and their commitment to providing for the unique needs of each individual that makes up the whole. As Fairtrade co-ops prove every day, we are stronger together.