Localised safety nets: reflections on how Fairtrade smallholder producer organisations in Asia responded to COVID-19

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 has had significant impacts on value chains, with disruptions and lockdowns posing threats to livelihood security for producers. Utilising case studies, this article reflects on how Fairtrade small producer organisations (SPOs) are responding to COVID-19, supporting local responses to the pandemic and participating as humanitarian agents. Conclusions on these reflections indicate how private certification systems can contribute development and crises flexibly.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• Fairtrade
• humanitarian
• small producer organisations
• co-operatives

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the stories and resilience of producers experiencing livelihood disruptions through COVID-19. The authors also wish to acknowledge the support of the UNSW Institute for Global Development and the Fairtrade Network of Asia Pacific Producers.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kayla A. Lochner

Kayla A. Lochner currently works at UNSW’s Institute for Global Development. She has undertaken research on Fairtrade coffee production in Indonesia, focussing on the role that small producer organisations play in the value chain. She is interested in understanding how economic partnerships and certification schemes manifest and the opportunities they provide for development.

Intan S. Wahyoe

Intan S. Wahyoe has worked at Fairtrade Network of Asia and Pacific Producers as a program consultant for Indonesia since 2018. Her main role and responsibility is facilitating the Fairtrade small producers organizations in Indonesia to fulfil their economic potential and social rights while respecting the environment, as mandated by Fairtrade through its standard.