Month: May 2007

Through networking, bigger and better things have come about for the NTFP-EP network. There is renewed enthusiasm in cambodia with the newly established Cambodia Working Group. It is only apt that this issue focuses on networking efforts in Cambodia and the resulting collaborations for NTFP development in Cambodia is on a roll … it seems there is no stopping them! Femy Pinto shares heartening outcomes in our cover story.

Sarim Heang of Cambodian partner CAN-DO talks about taking their organisation’s “first step” of promoting NTFP livelihoods, a critical step in helping disadvantaged communities in ratanakiri province to address the basic issue of food security.

Wahyu Widhi, or Bebek, of Dian Niaga, Indonesia shares his “sweet” experiences on honey processing and marketing during his recent trip to Keystone, learnings which will be useful in his own marketing work in the Indonesian Forest Honey Network.

Meanwhile, the NTFP-EP made the Latin American connection. Discussions took place in Mexico and Brazil to undertake a Latin American adaptation of the NTFP-EP-published manual Steps to Sustainable and Community-based NTFP Management: A manual developed with special reference to South and Southeast Asia. An exciting development is how this triggered the formation of a Latin American NTFP network as shared in the article by Fred Machado of Pesacre, Brazil.

In Europe, Vince Docta joined in a celebration of a long collaboration with NTFP-EP European partner BothENDS. Meanwhile, Abi Aguilar of the NTFP task Force recounts how networking at the local level is crucial in assessing and planning another 10 years using Community-based Forest Management as the Philippine strategy for forest conservation.

I also take this opportunity to give a warm welcome to new (but not unfamilar) faces in NTFP-EP:  Ms. Femy Pinto (Facilitator for Cambodia), Mr. Madhu Ramnath (Regional Facilitator for India) and Mr. Dominic Langat (Coordinator for the Sarawak Project).

Aloisa Zamora-Santos
Email aloi @ ntfp.org

Since its inception in 1986, Both ENDS (Environment and Development Service NGO) has been working towards strengthening environmental NGOs in developing countries. The core of Both ENDS’ activities is making connections – between South and North, environment and development, and between different sectors of society. Both ENDS plays an intermediate role in supporting individuals and social organisations all over the world that focus on ecological sustainability and social justice.

Both ENDS has a long history of collaboration with the NTFP Exchange Programme, providing advisory/guidance and supporting the network’s advocacy, lobby work and fundraising efforts. It has been instrumental in bringing the issues of the network to Northern players that may be able to influence economic and fiscal forces.

To date, Both ENDS has forged partnership arrangements with 16 NGOs and networks, mostly based in Africa, Latin America and Asia, and largely dealing on three thematic areas: integrated water management, sustainable land use and international capital flows. Both ENDS considers these organisations as “innovators” and have included them in the Encyclopedia of Sustainability, an ever expanding, online collection of innovative, people-oriented environment initiatives.

Recently, Both ENDS was conferred with a grant from the MFS (Co-financing) Programme of the Dutch government. This programme, to be implemented from 2008-2010, is envisioned to increase the capacities of NGOs to become more effective in combating poverty, generating sustainable livelihoods, and contributing to more sustainable policy and institutional frameworks. Not only does Both ENDS support inspiring, people-oriented examples of sustainable development and viable alternatives to often harmful mainstream approaches, it also sponsors internships, on-the-job training, action research and related learning experiences. The late Joke Waller-Hunter, former head of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, bequeathed her estate with clear instructions to utilize it for “capacity development of environmental organisations in developing countries.” From it, Both ENDS developed the Joke Waller-Hunter Initiative, a philanthropic program geared towards leadership development of partner NGOs.

As an important milestone for their 21 years of existence, Both ENDS invited its partner NGOs to a week-long celebration, which served as a venue to familiarize partners with the main pillars of their work and the MFS programme as well as to initiate and plan for convergent and synergistic efforts in the coming years. This was participated in by representatives from: South Africa – Forum for Environment (Ethiopia), Focarfe (Cameroon), Environmental Monitoring Group (South Africa), Southern and Eastern African Trade Information Negotiations Institute (Zimbabwe), Environmental Liaison Centre International (Kenya); from Central America – Fresh Water Action Network-Central America (Costa Rica), ECOA and Vitae Civilis (Brazil), Amichoco and Association for Responsible Mining (Colombia); from Asia – Gomukh (India), NGO Forum on ADB and NTFP-EP (Philippines), Telapak (Indonesia), BAPA (Bangladesh); and Poland – CEE Bankwatch.

From 6-8 March, workshops and brainstorming discussions led to identifying common working areas and priorities; defining activities, and generating ideas on how to strategically implement the MFS programme based on a shared agenda and a clear division of tasks based on skills, expertise, networks and target groups. On 9 March was the culmination activity – the anniversary meeting at the Kompaszaal in Amsterdam. The occasion convened various environmental and development organisations in Europe which interacted with the partner NGOs from the South. Aside from the usual meet-and-greet, we participated in a creative brainstorming activity where everyone had a chance to talk about global sustainability policies of the Dutch government and “dreaming sessions” on how to inspire a particular Ministry in pursuing sustainability policies.

The event also coincided with the launch of the Joke-Weller Hunter Initiative. Aimed at enabling talented people who work for environmental organisations in the South to develop themselves further, four of the seven fellows were present at the launch. Thabang Ngcozela of EMG from South Africa bagged the Public Choice Award, inspiring the crowd with notable endeavors in his country.

The saying “to make both ends meet” means to “live within one’s means.” Linguists say that the real etymology of the idiomatic expression comes from accountancy where “meet” used to be an adjective, meaning “equal” or “balanced.” The “end” was the end of the financial year in which both profit and loss accounts had to be balanced: the ends had to be met. During this event, I witnessed  how connecting the literal both ends – North and South, rich and underprivileged, powerful and powerless can lead to equal opportunities to meet, greet, share ideas and plan for another 21 years (and more) with Both ENDS.

Email: vince@ntfp.org

by Femy Pinto

The NTFP-EP is pleased to welcome the Cambodia NTFP Working Group into the family! The NTFP Working Group is a loose network of local and international NGOs, including NTFP-EP, concerned with rural livelihoods and environmental conservation and are cooperating to develop initiatives around non-timber forest products (NTFP) livelihood and policy development in Cambodia.

Since May 2006, the NTFP Working Group has been informally meeting to develop initiatives around non-timber forest products livelihood and policy development in Cambodia. These informal talks finally bore fruit with their first initiative to organise the National NTFP Workshop and Seminar, held last 7-8 December 2006 in Phnom Penh. The main purpose of the event was to draw together data and experience related to NTFPs in Cambodia. The event was attended by nearly 100 representatives of government, academia, non-profit and private sector organisations, and local communities concerned with NTFP issues. The workshop and seminar was held in partnership with the Forestry Administration and the Ministry of Environment of Cambodia.

NTFPs play a vital role in sustaining rural communities in Cambodia, particularly those living close to forest areas. NTFPs include a wide array of forest products, such as resins, mushrooms, malva nuts, bamboo, rattan, medicinal plants, wild fruits, and vegetables, as well as firewood and wildlife. NTFPs not only serve as a safety net in times of food shortage, but also as a valuable source of household materials and income. Despite the high dependence on NTFPs among forest users, there are still many barriers inhibiting the generation of greater benefits from these resources.

In Cambodia, such barriers include issues of tenure security, lack of processing skills and limited market access. In order to address these issues, numerous NGOs are working with communities to advocate for national laws and policies that would be supportive of community-based forest management and NTFP livelihood development, and develop skills in processing NTFPs and accessing markets. A number of researchers have carried out studies to try to gain a better understanding of NTFPs in Cambodia and their relevance to local people; NGOs have worked with communities to develop skills in processing NTFPs and accessing markets; and national laws and policies have been put in place, which relate to management of NTFPs.

However, like in Cambodia’s neighbouring countries and elsewhere in the world, Cambodia faces an enormous challenge in developing NTFPs towards livelihood and forest conservation improvement. Following the national workshop and seminar, the NTFP Working Group is committed to respond to a set of recommendations from NTFP livelihood-concerned groups in Cambodia (both in Phnom Penh and more especially from local communities) for NTFP development.

Quite loosely, the objectives of the working group are:
> To provide opportunities for a range of stakeholders to share their experiences, strategies and solutions related to NTFP development in Cambodia;
> To facilitate a mechanism of coordination and networking amongst the broad spectrum of stakeholders at every level (local, regional and nternational) for further exchange of knowledge, technical skills and more holistic responses to NTFP development in Cambodia;
> To keep abreast and take a more informed approach as development and conservation practitioners in addressing the issues and challenges of rural livelihood development and environmental conservation and protection in Cambodia; and
> To facilitate a dynamic and proactive environment of mutual learning and strategy development and implementation around sustainable NTFP livelihoods development in Cambodia.

The working group has agreed on a rotational coordination. Currently the working group is coordinated by Oxfam Great Britain with support from NTFP-EP. The other active organisations engaged in the working group are: Community Forestry International (CFI), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Cambodian NTFP Development Organisation (CAN-DO), Traidcraft, Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) and the CBNRM Learning Institute. The working group maintains close coordination with the Ministry of Environment and the Forestry Administration.  Several opportunities are now surfacing for the working group to cultivate the connections built in recent months and to bridge information, expertise and skills that will be useful for NTFP development in the country. For a start, the working group is coordinating a series of NTFP-specific technical workshops and field trainings and exchanges to facilitate information and knowledge on sharing on sustainable harvesting techniques for honey, resin and malva nuts.

Community-based assessments for the livelihood potential of these NTFPs will be conducted in select villages in the northeastern Cambodia provinces of Mondulkiri and Ratanikiri in 2007. A very promising start for our newest member!

Thank you to Community Forestry international in Cambodia for the photos and layout from the Proceedings of the NTFP Workshop and Seminar in Cambodia.

A PDF of the Proceedings of the NTFP Workshop and Seminar in Cambodia is available at http://www.communityforestryinternational.org/publications/research_reports/Final%20NtFP%20report.pdf

Community Forestry International
#81B Street 57, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel: (855-23) 221 634
Fax: (855-23) 220 714
Email: cfioffice@cfi-cambodia.org.kh
URL:  www.communityforestryinternational.org/cambodia

by Frederico Machado, PESACRE
Translated to English by Consuelo S. Guerrero

The end of February and the beginning of March 2007 was a very beneficial period for the non-timber forest products (NTFP) sector of Latin-America. In this period there were two Latin-American workshops on community-managed NTFPs, the first in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, from the 28th of February to the 3rd of March;  and the second from the 7th to the 9th of March in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil.  The organisers were the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) of the Philippines;  the Grupo de Pesquisa e Extensao em Sistemas Agroflorestais do Acre (PESACRE) of Brazil;  and the Universidad Veracruzana, Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales (CITRO) of Mexico.

WHAT WERE THE WORKSHOPS ABOUT?
The workshops had, as their central objective, the discussion of the manual, “Steps to Sustainable and Community-based NTFP Management:  A Manual developed with special reference to South and Southeast Asia”. This manual was developed after experiences with NTFPs in south and southeast Asia, that were the subjects of presentations in the year 2003 in Asia.  In the workshops of Latin-America, like what occurred in Asia, the discussions were conducted with the intention of summarizing information for the publication of a manual similar to that which was made for Asia, but in a version appropriate for Latin-America.

HOW WERE THE DISCUSSIONS CONDUCTED?
In the Latin-American workshops there were presentations of experiences in the management of NTFPs in different Latin-American countries.  This was followed by a debate on the experiences presented, and plenary discussions participated in by technical people, investigators, representatives of communities, and students present at the meetings.  In the workshops, there were also presentations specific to the manual, which gave information on its content and structure, with intervals for group exercises and reflections.  At these intervals, suggestions were welcomed on how to adapt the manual to Latin-America.

WHAT RESULTS WERE OBTAINED?

As a result of the workshops in Mexico and Brazil, there was a meeting of minds about the relevance of a Latin-American version of the manual, taking into account potential collaboration.  Also, the clarifications in this manual added to the possibility of success in the initiatives of NTFPs managed together with communities.  With respect to the structure adopted by the manual published for Asia, which was written in step-by-step fashion, it was understood that this can be adjusted to the characteristics of Latin-America and tailored to the experiences and conditions proper to Latin-America.

Besides, contents such as legal questions, public policies and commercialization were evaluated as subjects that need to be tackled in a more extended and in depth manner in the future version of this manual.

In general, this manual was considered advantageous for the public to which it is directed—technical people with an academic background and with knowledge of methodologies, who are able to add information and collaborate in a decisive form in work conducted together with communities.  For non-academic technical people or for people in communities, it is important to develop material to make access to this information easier for them—possibly through publications written in simple language and rich in illustrations, or by using videos and other non-written means of communication.  Another point observed, is that the manual, in general, does not present the reality of each region or country.  It is important, for this purpose, that the publication of manuals be more directed to the reality of a local place, and that it can be used as reference for Latin-America, when it is published after the workshops.

Another result of the workshops is the formation of a network that would communicate through the internet. This network is called the NTFP Network in Latin America (Red Latinoamericana de PFNMs).  The network communicates electronically through the red_latinoamericana_de_pfnm@yahoogroups.com.  This network, among other things, is a way to exchange ones work and photos, and to feature discussions aimed at the subject of NTFPs.  Doubtless, there will be opportunities for an exchange of ideas and information through the organization of future meetings.

At this time, even if the workshops have already ended, the collaboration of persons and institutions for the production of the manual continues.  After the meetings ended this collaboration took place on the Internet and they have as reference, questions by the author of the manual, Mary Stockdale.  The case studies should be useful as much for these general ideas which will be brought out in future version of the manual, as for being a sort of ‘box” for presentations of actual experiences.

Another fruit of the discussions in the workshops was the development of a proposal to hold another Latin-American meeting to deal with the theme of commercialization of the NTFPs.  The thinking is that this meeting should be held in the state of Amazonas in Brazil.  The negotiations with the government of this state have already begun, and there are strong indications that in 2007 the state will host this meeting.  The proposal to the government of Amazonas is being made by the Secretary of the Sustainable Development of Amazonas (SDS) with the support of PESACRE.  Aside from the proposal to the government, other members of the network are working towards obtaining funds for this meeting.

In Brazil, there was another significant result after the visit to the “Tierra Indigena Apurina, which happened on the third day of the workshop.  Among the workshop participants who visited the indigenous land was an indigenous leader, a representative of the Federacion de los Pueblos Indigenos del Rio Negro (FOIRN).  This leader evaluated the relevance and quality of the work of the NTFPs of the Apurinas; and pledged that in 2007 he would try to bring indigenous people of the Rio Negro region to get to know and exchange experiences with the Apurinas;  and conversely, for the Apurinas to get to know and experience the region of the Rio Negro.

HOW WERE THE WORKSHOPS EVALUATED?

In the evaluation of the workshops, on the part of the public, one criticism was that the meetings were too short  with not enough time for some discussions to be conducted in a more open and profound manner.  In general, however, the rest of the evaluations were quite positive, with the public considering the discussions relevant not only for the development of the Latin-American version of the manual, but also for getting together professionals and institutions from different countries. This also led to an exchange of experiences, contacts and knowledge, and the opening of possibilities between institutions indifferent regions of the continent.

Original Spanish:

Tallares Latino Americanos Sobre Productos Forestales No-Madeables – PFNMs, Mexico Y Brazil 2007

El final de febrero y empiezo de marzo de 2007 fue un período muy provechoso para el sector de productos forestales no-maderables – PFNMs de Latinoamérica. En este período se pasaron dos talleres latinoamericanos sobre manejo comunitario de PFNMs, siendo el primero en Xalapa, Veracruz, México, del 28 de febrero hasta 03 de marzo y, el segundo, del 07 al 09 de marzo en  Rio Branco, Acre, Brasil. Los organizadores fueron el Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme – NTFP-EP de Philippines, el Grupo de Pesquisa e Extensão em Sistemas Agroflorestais do Acre – PESACRE de Brasil y la Universidad Veracruzana, Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales – CITRO de México.

De qué trataron los talleres?
Los talleres tuvieron como objetivo central la discusión del manual “Steps to Sustainable and Community-based NTFP Management: A Manual developed with special reference to South and Southeast Asia”. Este manual fue desarrollado a partir de experiencias con PFNMs en el sur y sureste de Asia, que fueron presentadas durante un taller en el año 2003 en Asia. En los talleres de Latinoamérica, así como sucedió en Asia, las discusiones fueron conducidas con la intención de recolectar informaciones para la publicación de un manual semejante al hecho para Asia, pero en una versión propia para Latinoamérica.

Como se dieron las discusiones?
En los talleres latinoamericanos hubo presentaciones de experiencias con manejo de PFNMs en diferentes países de Latinoamérica, continuando, en seguida, con el debate de las experiencias presentadas, a través de discusiones en plenaria con participación de técnicos, investigadores, comunitarios y estudiantes presentes en los encuentros. En los talleres hubo también presentaciones específicas del manual, informando sobre su contenido y estructura, con espacios de grupo para su ejercicio y reflexión – estos espacios fueron abiertos para la construcción de sugerencias directas que pudiesen colaborar con la adaptación del manual para Latinoamérica.

Cuales son resultados obtenidos?
Como resultados de los talleres en México y Brasil, hubo una congruencia de pensamientos sobre la relevancia de una versión latinoamericana del manual, considerándose las potenciales colaboraciones y esclarecimientos que el puede traer para aumentar las posibilidades de suceso en iniciativas de manejo de PFNMs junto a comunidades. A respecto de la estructura adoptada para el manual publicado para Asia, la cual está dividida en forma de paso a paso, se comprendió que ella puede ser perfectamente ajustable a las características de Latinoamérica, solamente con la necesidad de adecuación del contenido para el contexto de experiencias y de condiciones propias a Latinoamérica. Además, contenidos como, principalmente, marcos legales, políticas públicas y comercialización fueron evaluados como temas que deben ser abordados de una forma aun más amplia y profunda en la futura versión del manual.

De manera general, se consideró que el manual está provechoso para el público al cual está dirigido, o sea, técnicos con formación académica y con conocimientos en metodologías participativas, pudiendo traer muchas informaciones y colaborar de forma decisiva en trabajos conducidos junto a comunidades. Entre tanto, para técnicos de nivel no académico o para comunitarios es importante que sean desarrollados materiales que les pueda ser de más fácil acceso – posiblemente a través de publicaciones en lenguaje más sencilla, más ricas en ilustraciones y, quizá, utilizándose de videos y otros instrumentos de comunicación no escrita. Otro punto observado es que el manual por ser general, no presenta la realidad de cada región o país, siendo importante para este fin la publicación de manuales más direccionados a la realidad local, que pueden, inclusive, tomar como referencia la versión para Latinoamérica que será publicada a partir de los talleres.

Como resultados también fue construida una red de comunicaciones a través de la Internet, llamada Red Latinoamericana de PFNMs, ubicada en la dirección: red_latinoamericana_de_pfnm@yahoogroups.com. Esta red, entre otros aspectos, se pone como un espacio de exposición de trabajos y fotos, de discusiones apuntadas para la temática de los PFNMs y, por supuesto, de posibilidades de intercambio de ideas e informaciones para la proposición y organización de futuros encuentros.

En este momento, aunque ya haya pasado los talleres, siguen las colaboraciones personales e institucionales para el manual. A partir del encerramiento de los encuentros estas colaboraciones pasaron a ser hechas principalmente a través de Internet y tienen como referencia demandas indicadas por la autora del manual, Mary Stockdale. Los estudios de casos deberán ser aprovechados tanto en las ideas generales que serán expuestas en la futura versión del manual, como en forma de box con presentación directa de algunas experiencias.

Como otro fruto de las discusiones de los talleres, se está desarrollando una propuesta de realización de un nuevo encuentro latinoamericano, ahora para tratar el tema de la comercialización de PFNMs. La perspectiva es que él acontezca en el estado de Amazonas, Brasil. Las negociaciones con el gobierno de este estado ya empezaron, habiendo fuertes indicativos de que aun en 2007 el estado deberá realizar este encuentro. La propuesta al gobierno de Amazonas está siendo hecha por la Secretaria de Desarrollo Sostenible de Amazonas – SDS, con apoyo de PESACRE. Además de la propuesta al gobierno, otros integrantes de la red están se movilizando para el auxilio en la captación de los recursos necesarios para la realización del encuentro.

En Brasil, otro resultado importante se dio a partir de la visita a la Tierra Indígena Apurinã, visita que sucedió al tercer día del taller. Entre los participantes del taller que visitaban la tierra indígena había un líder indígena, representante de la Federación de los Pueblos Indígenas del Rio Negro – FOIRN, este líder evaluó la relevancia y calidad del trabajo con PFNMs de los Apurinãs y garantizó que aún en 2007 pretende traer indígenas de la región del río Negro para conocer y intercambiar experiencias con los Apurinãs. Se propuso también a llevar a los Apurinãs para conocer tierras indígenas y sus experiencias en la región del río Negro.

Cómo fueron evaluados los talleres?
En la evaluación de los dos talleres, por parte del público, una crítica que quedó fue que los encuentros se realizaron con corta duración, habiendo restricción de tiempo para que algunas discusiones pudiesen acontecer de manera más libre y profunda. Entre tanto, de forma general, fueron bastante positivas las demás evaluaciones, teniendo el público considerado los talleres como relevantes  espacios de discusiones no solamente para el desarrollo de la versión latinoamericana del manual, como también para el encuentro de profesionales e instituciones de diferentes países. Un espacio de intercambio de experiencias, contactos y conocimientos y de abertura de posibilidades de acercamento de acciones conducidas en este momento por diferentes instituciones en distintas regiones del continente.

Cambodia NTFP Development (CAN-DO), local partner of NTFP-EP will participate in the 1st World Fair Trade Day celebration in Cambodia hosted by the Cambodia Fair Trade Forum on May 12. The celebration is expected to attract over 400 producers working in handicraft, fashion and food enterprises across Cambodia. Each producer group is invited to bring their own ‘kroma’ to the celebration, where it will be sewn together to create what is estimated to be the largest ‘kroma’ in Cambodia – a distinctly Khmer symbol of Fair Trade.

Official Press Release:

Cambodia is set to host its first ever World Fair Trade Day on Saturday May 12^th, joining with over 70 nations from around the world to celebrate the difference that ‘Fair Trade’ makes to the livelihood of producers in developing countries.

The event, organised by the Cambodia Fair Trade Forum, will take place at the National Cultural Center in Phnom Penh and looks set to be one of the most creative public gatherings of the year, with special Fair Trade-themed dance and drama performances from Sovanna Phum Art Association along with a guest appearance from the “Ray Charles of Cambodia”, Master Kong Nai.

The celebration is expected to attract over 400 producers working in handicraft, fashion and food enterprises across Cambodia. Each producer group is invited to bring their own ‘kroma’ to the celebration, where it will be sewn together to create what is estimated to be the largest ‘kroma’ in Cambodia – a distinctly Khmer symbol of Fair Trade.

“Fair Trade has definitely arrived here in Cambodia,” says Men Sinoeun, Director of the Artisans’ Association of Cambodia (AAC), an NGO supporting producer groups across Cambodia that are working with disadvantaged people. “This day will show the rest of the world that not only can Cambodia produce beautiful, high-quality products, we can also use the trade of these products to alleviate poverty in our nation and bring hope to those on the margins of society.”

The aim of World Fair Trade Day, which has been celebrated around the world over the past six years, is to raise awareness of the aims of Fair Trade and of the possibility of greater justice in the world through trading fairly.  Fair Trade is a way of reducing poverty through the buying and selling of products that have been made in a dignified environment, where often-disadvantaged workers are provided with good working conditions and fair wages and where profit is not maximized at their expense.

Through speeches by local dignitaries, international representatives and local producers, the first World Fair Trade Day in Cambodia will highlight both the successes of Fair Trade in Cambodia to date and address the need for further implementation of Fair Trade principles amongst businesses, social enterprises and NGOs working in Cambodia.

The event has been organised by the Cambodia Fair Trade Forum, a collection of local and international organisations working together to promote the principles and practices of Fair Trade in Cambodia. These organizations include the Artisans’ Association of Cambodia (AAC), Traidcraft Exchange Cambodia, Village Focus International (VFI), Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), Rehab Craft Cambodia, AFESIP Fair Fashion and Baskets of Cambodia.

• Please direct all press enquiries to Nina Howard at the Artisans’ Association of Cambodia on 092 202 510 or by email at nina.aac@online.com.kh
• The World Fair Trade Day celebration will take place between 8am – 12midday on Saturday May 12^th at the National Culture Center, opposite the Buddhist Institute, in Phnom Penh.
• World Fair Trade Day is coordinated by the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) with the Network of World Shops (NEWS). For further information about World Fair Trade Day events taking place around the world, visit www.wftd.org
• For further details about the principles of Fair Trade, as outlined by IFAT, please visit http://www.ifat.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=14
• Fair Trade turnover currently stands at over 1 billion Euros per year and growing. In Europe, there are over 70,000 Fair Trade retail outlets, including 3,000 world shops, 33,000 supermarkets and 50 supermarket chains. More than 2,000 staff and 100,000 volunteers are employed by Fair Trade Organizations in Europe alone. Half the UK population is now aware of Fair Trade and there are similar figures for other European countries, with accompanying growth in sales (e.g. in 2005, 102% growth in France; 50% in Belgium and 60% in Italy).