Up to now, we have focused on making the markets work for sustainability and bringing the UTZ certification approach to
BUILDING CAPACITY FOR CHANGE The sector partnerships program CERTIFICATION AND BEYOND UTZ has an ambitious goal: to create a world where sustainable farming is the norm. Since our launch in 2002, our certification program has grown exponentially, and it now reaches more than a million farmers and workers. Up to now, we have focused on making the markets work for sustainability and bringing the UTZ certification approach to scale. But many issues we are addressing through our code, such as climate change or child labor, have causes beyond the farm level and need to be addressed in a systemic way with governments, civil society and the private sector. With our larger market share comes a stronger reputation and a bigger network, which can be used to influence the sector agenda towards sustainability. Through the Sector Partnerships Program we are strengthening the capacity of farmers (especially smallholders and female farmers) and civil society organizations in producing countries. We are supporting them to work with governments and companies to engage in issues that require a sector wide approach. We want to ensure that: • Smallholder farmers have better access to knowledge, tools and services to increase productivity; • Farmer groups are strengthened and inclusive with regards to smallholders and women; • Farmers adopt climate change adaptation practices supported by companies and improved government policies; • Child labor is eliminated; • There is progress towards a living wage for workers, and the gap between women and men’s wages is reduced; • Women have equal opportunities and do not face discrimination or violence in the workplace.
FOCUS The program focuses on: • Nine Countries: Côte d’Ivoire Ghana Guatemala Honduras Indonesia Kenya Malawi Nicaragua Uganda • Three commodities: Coffee, cocoa, tea • Six themes: Sustainable productivity Child labor Inclusion of smallholder interests & farmer group strengthening Living wage Climate change adaptation & water management Gender equality
For more information on the Sector Partnerships Program visit: www.utz.org/what-we-offer/sector-change
UTZ
BUILDING CAPACITY FOR CHANGE The sector partnerships program
The program (2016-2020) is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs - € 18 million
THEMES
INCLUSION OF SMALLHOLDER INTERESTS & FARMER GROUP STRENGTHENING CHILD LABOR
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTIVITY
= LIVING WAGE
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION & WATER MANAGEMENT
GENDER EQUALITY
THE SECTOR PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM – IN PRACTICE We are building on the strong foundations of certification by increasing our work with actors and initiatives across the sector, particularly civil society – from farmers’ associations to NGOs. Civil society organizations play an important role in driving change, as they represent the interests of local populations and have the legitimacy to advocate on their behalf. They are able to address sensitive issues thanks to their knowledge of and connection with actors in the local context.
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WE ARE: 1) PROMOTING MORE SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES
Cooperating with civil society, governments and companies to improve policy and regulation, and to strengthen sector wide services for smallholders and female farmers.
How?
• Working together with local civil society organizations to build expertise and evidence Effective lobbying and advocacy must be based on solid research and evidence. This can include scientific research but also the perspective of farmers, practical knowledge of service providers, and the political wisdom of policy makers. • Working with company programs or government initiatives Enabling civil society organizations and farmer groups to get more involved in these initiatives. • Working with national and international networks, roundtables and sustainability platforms Ensuring the voices and concerns of smallholder and female farmers are heard.
2) SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A THRIVING CIVIL SOCIETY THAT CAN DRIVE CHANGE Building capacity of farmers (especially smallholders and female farmers) and civil society organizations. How?
How this is done depends on the local context in each country, the resources available and the needs of our civil society partners. In our program it includes training, technical assistance and research, information sharing, and supporting projects financially. For example, a lot of research has been carried out into what constitutes a living wage, but work remains to be done to ensure these benchmarks are widely accepted. The sector partnership program aims at activities such as training auditors on the living wage benchmarks, or building understanding among farmer groups and unions so they can be used within collective bargaining or wage negotiations.
“UTZ certification already benefits more than a million farmers and workers, but we know that we could do more. The Sector Partnerships Program builds on the strong foundations of certification, contributing to our goal of making sustainable farming the norm.” Han de Groot, UTZ Executive Director
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