SoEFT,

After a successful meeting on 12 March 2007, we have formed the group to work and study Fair Trade as social enterprise. The members are determined and committed to link Bangladesh with the world.

In Fair trade, Bangladesh should be one of the main stakeholders, but unfortunately we don't see that much awareness regarding this. SoEFT group has come up with this great idea of world economy.

Our members have attended in the event 'Fair Trade Debate' in NEWI, Wrexham, UK on 6 March, and found that Fair trade could be the best option to balance the world economy.

our members are divided into three groups to look after members communications, sales and marketing of fair trade products and establishment & development.

The dream journey has now just started. we are looking forward to make best success out of it.

Fair trade principles

Fair trade advocates generally support the following principles and practices in trading relationships:

1. Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
   Fair trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system.
2. Transparency and accountability
   Fair trade involves transparent management and commercial relations to deal fairly and respectfully with trading partners.
3. Capacity building
   Fair trade is a means to develop producers’ independence. Fair trade relationships provide continuity, during which producers and their marketing organizations can improve their management skills and their access to new markets.
4. Payment of a fair price
   A fair price in the regional or local context is one that has been agreed through dialogue and participation. It covers not only the costs of production but enables production which is socially just and environmentally sound. It provides fair pay to the producers and takes into account the principle of equal pay for equal work by women and men. Fairtraders ensure prompt payment to their partners and, whenever possible, help producers with access to pre-harvest or pre-production financing.
5. Gender equity
   Fair trade means that women’s work is properly valued and rewarded. Women are always paid for their contribution to the production process and are empowered in their organizations.
6. Working conditions
   Fair trade means a safe and healthy working environment for producers. The participation of children (if any) does not adversely affect their well-being, security, educational requirements and need for play and conforms to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as the law and norms in the local context.
7. Environment
   Fair trade actively encourages better environmental practices and the application of responsible methods of production.

What is Fair Trade

Fair trade is an organized Social Movement which promotes standards for international Labor, ervironmentalism and social policy in areas related to production of Fairtrade labeled and unlabelled goods. The movement focuses in particular on exports from developing countries to developed countries.
Fair trade's strategic intent is to deliberately work with marginalised producers and workers in order to help them move from a position of vulnerability to security and economic self-sufficiency. It also aims at empowering them to become stakeholders in their own organizations and actively play a wider role in the global arena to achieve greater equity in international trade.
Fair trade proponents include a wide array of international religious, development aid, social and environmental organizations such as Oxfam, Amnesty International, and Caritas International.


Ref and Sources:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade
2. http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

What is Social Enterprize

What is a social enterprise?
Social enterprises are businesses that trade in order to pursue a social aim. They:

• produce goods or provide services to achieve their goals and financial self-sufficiency
• have social aims such as employment and training - or provision of services - particularly for disadvantaged groups
• often have a democratic management style with different stakeholders taking part in decision making, eg employees, users of the social enterprise or specially appointed trustees
• often report on their social, environmental and economic impact
• principally reinvest profits in the business or in the community to further their social aims
  

Social enterprises are diverse and operate at many levels. They include community enterprises, social firms and mutual organisations such as co-operatives and large-scale operations operating nationally or internationally. What they have in common is a commitment to meeting social and financial needs, with some also aiming to meet environmental needs.

Sources of finance for social enterprises includes

• trading income
• retained profits
• bank, Community Development Finance Institutions and other loans

Social enterprises may qualify for grants in the same way as other types of business. In addition, social enterprises in disadvantaged communities, or which address social exclusion, may qualify for start-up and capital grants.