BEYOND FAIR TRADE (BFT) Initiative

Feasibility Study and International Forum, Senegal

Visit the Earth Rights Intern in Senegal, Kayla's blog

Earth Rights Institute (ERI) and the EREV (Earth Rights Eco-Village – Senegal) have been working together, establishing Eco-villages in response to the need of rebuilding communities that have been ravished by war, environmental degradation, and famine in Western Africa.

Our project is the first step to developing an “Eco-Village” trade model, an integrated approach in creating a socially, economically and ecologically sound community, in West Africa that empowers communities to locally determine development direction based on needs, community values and the 3BL* framework. (*people, planet and profit) 

By facilitating the creation of the infrastructure needed for small villages to trade among themselves, the Beyond Fair Trade (BFT) program will be a strategy for the eradication of poverty in marginalized communities. Our goal is to decentralize and localize economic power for a fairer distribution of wealth and create a meaningful base for economic security and independence in West Africa. 

We will address the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and localized distribution in order to facilitate the reduction of carbon emissions and combat climate change. The results of the research and lessons learned in the pilot shall serve as basis for the application of the “Beyond Fair Trade” paradigm around the globe.

 Objectives:

• Expand existing trade networks
• To empower communities by diffusing knowledge
• To provide stakeholders, such as local businesses with access to information
• To network and build alliances
• To increase economic activity and diversity in eco-villages. 

The Team:

Annie Goeke: Co-Director ERI

Nola: ERI BFT Program Director

Kayla: ERI BFT Intern in Senegal

Brittany: ERI BFT Intern in the USA

 Updates:

Kayla, ERI intern in Senegal, attended the 2011 World Social Forum in Dakar, representing the ERI and our BFT initiative.

Kayla visited eco-villages in the south of Senegal with the Foundation Inspire in order to see the economic activities that are happening within the region and to meet with leaders in the local community.  

She did 16 days in Kédougou on a mission for Bioessence to continue preparing for organic certification.