Involvement

Technical Providers
Our GPS division aims to alleviate poverty by raising money from outside the Fair Trade supply chain to invest in capacity building projects that strengthen producer organizations. GPS’s primary roles are:

1. Identifying potential projects and assessing the needs of our producer partners;
2. Securing external investments, primarily from foundations and organizations that have access to public funding focused on international development;
3. Setting project scope based on producer needs and their market opportunities;
4. Selecting good partners for credit provision and on-the-ground implementation; and
5. Linking added producer capacity to market opportunities so that producers and investors see immediate and meaningful returns on their invested time and money.

We do not have the geographical presence or the experience of managing complicated on-the-ground engagements with producers. There are organizations far more expert at this work than we are. We are seeking long-term partnerships with international and local NGOs in the following areas:

1. Organic conversion
2. Business training
3. Risk management
4. Financial literacy
5. Cooperative and member management

We work very closely with our producer partners to select mutually agreeable technical providers to work with us on GPS projects. If your organization works in one of the aforementioned areas, and you would like to learn more about GPS’s work, please contact our Director.

Get more information about our Areas of Focus

Latin America Cocoa, Fresh Fruit and Sugar Farmers	Africa Coffee & Cocoa	India Basmati Rice and New Fair Trade products	Asia / SE Asia Coffee and New Products Development