Fair Trade Forum India

FTF-I acknowledges the significance of aligning with Governmental initiatives to amplify the efforts of its affiliated members. With over 30% of its membership engaged in the textiles sector, FTF-I launched a social media campaign in consonance with the Ministry of Textiles' IWearHandloom campaign. This endeavour was undertaken to underscore the organisation's dedication to handloom promotion and the principles of Fair Trade. Commemorating the 111th anniversary of the Swadeshi Movement's launch in Kolkata, this campaign was inaugurated on National Handloom Day, August 7, 2016. The FTF-I Facebook page featured periodic posts, and member participation in the campaign was robust, with enthusiastic sharing of relevant images and messages.

In March 2017, FTF-I established a collaborative venture with NEDFi (North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd) with the objective of accrediting and strengthening producer groups in the Northeastern region. As a facet of this cooperative effort, FTF-I organised a workshop within the framework of the Crafts Conclave, with the intent of acquainting participants with the tenets of Fair Trade. This instructive session drew the participation of approximately 40 individuals, representing 35 distinct producer collectives.

FTF-I entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Women on Wings (WOW) to facilitate top-tier capacity-building workshops for its members as part of its Business Development Service. WOW specializes in providing business advisory services to Indian social entrepreneurs dedicated to generating employment opportunities for women in rural India, with a goal of creating one million jobs. This agreement with FTF-I includes members with a workforce of at least 200-250 women employees and artisans, relaxing the previous requirement of 500. The planning meeting for the pilot phase convened on May 26, 2016, in Delhi, with participants from organisations such as TARA Projects, Pushpanjalai Fair Trade (Pvt) Ltd, The Ants, The Child Trust, Eco Tasar Silk Pvt Ltd, Jankala Sahitya Manch Sanstha (JKSMS), and associate member Ms. Renu Sharma.

FTF-I successfully completed the initial phase of the Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS), a significant initiative falling under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Textiles (MoT). This project, launched by the Ministry, was designed with the primary objective of providing high-quality training to the emerging workforce within India's textile industry. Through this effort, FTF-I played a pivotal role in enhancing the skill sets and capabilities of young individuals employed in this vital sector.

FTF-I, in collaboration with Development Wheels (DEW) Bangladesh, jointly submitted an application for the FK Norway South-South Exchange programme. The primary aim of this application was to facilitate a cross-cultural exchange of expertise and insights related to craft processes between the two nations. Through this initiative, FTF-I and DEW sought to promote the sharing of skills and knowledge in the realm of crafts, fostering a mutually enriching experience for both India and Bangladesh.

FTF-I orchestrated a social media initiative titled "A Fair Festival" (#afairfestival) as an integral part of the Fair Trade Fortnight spanning from October 6th to 21st, 2016. The central aim of this campaign was to enlighten its audience regarding the core tenets of Fair Trade and its transformative impact on the lives of primary producers. It placed a particular emphasis on urging individuals to consider gifting Fair Trade products during Diwali, with the intention of boosting Fair Trade product sales during the festival season. Additionally, the campaign sought to educate consumers about how their purchases could pave the way for a brighter future for artisans and primary producers. Messages were meticulously crafted to highlight each Fair Trade Principle, disseminated across all FTF-I social media platforms, accompanied by images featuring member contributions.