Fair Development Fund by Comic Relief and Sainsbury’s is a unique partnership that combines Comic Relief’s expertise in awarding grants with Sainsbury’s 145 years of experience and knowledge in farming and food to help producers in developing countries thrive.
LONDON, 2014-11-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — This means that farmers and workers have a better chance of building a sustainable income and brighter future for themselves, their families and their communities.
£4 million has been committed since it started in 2007. The funding provides long-term economic, environmental and social support to farmers and their communities within the Sainsbury’s supply chain.
Judith Batchelar, Director of Sainsbury’s Brand said: “Fair Development Fund is a great way of bringing together Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief to create a partnership that benefits thousands of famers and their communities. What’s really unique about the partnership is the valuable time and expertise offered by Sainsbury’s. This hands-on approach really improves the fund, and extends how the farmers benefit.”
“I’ve seen first-hand what a difference our investment in farmers and small producers around the world can have. The fund not only benefits the farmers, it extends out to their families and communities which is an important factor to making a sustainable difference in our supply chain, and having a positive impact in the areas we source from.”
Richard Graham, Head of International Grants, Comic Relief, said: “Fair Development Fund is unique as it brings together the expertise of Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief, which producers really value. The producers overseas get fantastic help and support from Sainsbury’s so they better understand the demands of the market. They get Comic Relief’s extensive knowledge of funding small and medium enterprises, together with long term funding.
As a result, the Fund really helps businesses to thrive and grow, deliver real benefit to poor producers and make sure their work is environmentally sustainable.”
Malawian cotton growers
Through the Fair Development Fund £250,000 has been committed to help 7,800 cotton farmers in Malawi work towards producing sustainable Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) cotton for our use over the next three years. The aim is that producer income will also increase by 35% over the three years through good agricultural, environmental, and social practices.
How we’ve helped:
Coffee Sustainability Project, Uganda
This joint initiative between coffee roaster Matthew Algie, ethical trading organisation Twin and the Gumutindo Coffee Cooperative will improve farming practices in Uganda for the benefit of local communities and develop top quality coffee for customers in Sainsbury’s cafes.
Tanzanian tea farmers
The Fair Development Fund has allocated £250,000 to a project in Tanzania involving 11,000 small scale tea famers. The main objectives are to rehabilitate a growing area and to provide training to the farmers on the latest good agricultural and environmental practices.
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