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WFTO Europe
WFTO Europe
WFTO Europe, formerly known as IFAT Europe (International Federation for Alternative Trade), is formed by 43 members, amongst them Fair Trade organizations, Fair Trade networks and support organizations. It represents the European chapter of the World Fair Trade Organization. The year 2008 was characterized by internal coordination and networking activities to strengthen the European structure and cohesion between members. Last years European worldshop seminar, brought together both a European conference and a General Assembly. The structure of the WFTO Europe office was also developed through three coordination meetings of the Board of Directors.
Background
The 1980's saw a new approach to the structure of Fair Trade Organizations. They started to work together in a more formal and structured way. WFTO was constituted in 1989 with broad and diverse member organizations. They represent the entire chain of interactions: from the producer all the way to final sale. These organizations also include supporter organizations such as Shared Interest, which provides financial services and support to the producers.
In September 2006 the participants of the WFTO Europe conference in Paris decided and approved the creation of the European regional office. The Constitution was agreed upon and further actions determined. Among these actions was the official establishment of WFTO Europe in February 2007, the formulation of rules and regulations for memberships and a draft strategic plan.
WFTO is the World Fair Trade Organization. Besides its global office, WFTO has four regional networks: COFTA in Africa, AFTF in Asia, IFAT-LA in Latin America and WFTO Europe. Apart from these regional offices, national networks have also emerged such as the Fair Trade Forum ECOTA in Bangladesh or the Kenyan Federation for Fair Trade (KEFAT). In 1998 WFTO started to work with other Fair Trade Organizations (FLO, NEWS! and EFTA mainly), creating the acronym FINE (each letter corresponds to each organization). FINE's objective is to facilitate member and network collaboration in relevant working areas like campaigns, awareness raising and advocacy for high Fair Trade standards.
In total WFTO has more than 350 members worldwide. Most of the members are producer organizations. One of the most important initiatives of WFTO Europe is facilitating a framework for producer assistance and product development by:
- supporting the monitoring process and WFTO system
- serving as a facilitator between members who want to work on producer assistance and product development in a structured and articulated way. Also by facilitating bilateral and multilateral work between them
- facilitating and bridging other initiatives and actors working on these key issues (WFTO regional offices, other Fair Trade Organizations, etc.) and informing southern Fair Trade partners in a structured and articulated way on market tendencies.
Strategic aims of WFTO Europe
1. Support the growth and consolidation of WFTO Global
2. Be the reference of the Fair Trade in Europe, its representative organ and its voice
3. Protect the noble values of the Fair Trade and the 100% commitment to it
4. Support the Fair Trade policies. Support the legality of the office
The structure of WFTO Europe:
- The AGM has the political mandate and sets the strategic priorities.
- The AGM selects the Board of Directos, formed by an independent president and a representative member per each European country of WFTO.
- The Board of Directors of WFTO Europe is in charge of the common objectives and responsibilities. It mainly facilitates the dialogue among WFTO members and takes relevant decisions to implement the AGM mandates, striving for consensus among its membership basis. A specific task of the Board of Directors is to reach out to countries without representatives, and members that have yet to join WFTO Europe.
- The President is the external voice of WFTO Europe.