longitudinal impact assessment study of sugar producers in malawi

1. Introduction
This study reflects the increasing demand to measure and demonstrate the
difference that engagement with Fairtrade has had on participating producers and
workers, their families, the Producer Organisations (PO), and the wider community in
developing countries – in other words the impact of Fairtrade.
This demand comes from a variety of stakeholders including consumers, the media,
political authorities, funding donors and supply chain actors (licensees and retailers)
who have a legitimate interest in learning whether the Fairtrade labelling system is
meeting its aims and objectives and improving the situation of smallholder producers
and plantation workers.
There is also a need to promote ongoing learning and accountability amongst the
organisations involved in Fairtrade – the PO, Fairtrade Foundation (FF) and other
Labelling Initiatives (LI), Fairtrade Labelling Organisations (FLO), Fair Trade
Organisations, (FTOs), commercial actors and Non-Governmental Organisations
(NGOs) - about the effectiveness of the tools and processes used to achieve the
objectives of Fairtrade labelling. This enables the PO itself to learn on a continuous
basis about its progress towards its stated objectives and how participation in
Fairtrade is facilitating this. It also provides a useful and systematic way for POs to
work in partnership with the Foundation and feed systematically into the Fairtrade
labelling system their perspective of what is going right and wrong and why, and to
ensure that lessons are learnt and positive change is effected.
2. Objectives of the study
The overall objectives of this sugar impact assessment study were to:
Understand the context and environment in which Fairtrade in the Malawian
sugar industry is operating
Understand the aims and objectives of the PO in terms of their sustainable
development and empowerment,
Assess the extent to which Fairtrade as well as other organisations or
networks, have assisted the PO in achieving its objectives
Compile baseline information against which to monitor progress and impact in
the future
The initial study will be followed up after 2 and 4 years (i.e. in 2011 and 2013) to
provide a longitudinal assessment of:
The longer-term impact, both positive and negative, that being part of
Fairtrade has had on producers, their organisations and the wider community
The longer-term impact that Fairtrade has had on the local economy
How Fairtrade organisations (especially FF and FLO) can support producers
more effectively to achieve their goals in the future
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