A project aimed at improving the livelihood of workers in coffee and flower farms in Ethiopia was launched on Monday by Fairtrade Africa under the theme “Dignified Opportunities Nurtured through Trade and Sustainability (DONUTS)”. The project, which is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, will give voice to the workers in the improvement of their socioeconomic and ecosystem conditions.

Adugna Debela (PhD), Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority Director General, said that the better performance in export in the current Ethiopian year was attributable to improved protection of workers’ rights and provision of appropriate benefits.

Adugna Debela also stated that the achievement in the export of coffee during the last fiscal year which enabled the country to gain USD 1.4 billion was realized as a result of activities that were being carried out to change the lives of farmers. DONUTS is a four-year project with a budget of USD 1 million.

Fairtrade Africa is owned by its members who are African producer organizations certified against Fairtrade International Standards producing traditional export commodities such as coffee, cocoa, tea, flowers, cotton, bananas, cane sugar, wine, fresh fruits, herbs and spices and non-traditional commodities including shea butter and rooibos tea. The organization’s Secretariat is located in Nairobi and has 50% ownership of the Fairtrade system. It currently represents over 1 million producers across 28 countries in Africa.

Source (including image): The Ethiopian Herald

Additional source: Fairtrade Africa