Aid by Trade Foundation /Cotton made in Africa

The Aid by Trade Foundation was established in 2005. Under the credo to help people help themselves through trade it stands for an innovative approach that focuses on activating market forces instead of relying on charity Cotton made in Africa is the largest standard for sustainable cotton from Africa, working with more than one million smallholder cotton farmers across the continent. CmiA leverages the global demand for cotton to improve the social, economic and environmental livelihoods of these farmers through trainings, improved agricultural extension and qualification programmes. CmiA and its partners also support co-investments in sustainable cotton production in cooperation with African cotton companies to help more farmers benefit from sustainably produced cotton. To finance its activities in Africa CmiA builds up an alliance of international textile companies and brands that buy the sustainably grown CmiA cotton, process it into textiles worldwide and pay a license fee to the foundation. The proceeds from licensing fees, in following with a social business, are reinvested in the project regions and  More information at www.cottonmadeinafrica.org/en.