Voice & Choice

1. Voice & Choice Collaborative governance at Tanzanian Fairtrade co-operatives Shannon Sutton July 3, 2012

2. Overview • Fairtrade Governance • Case Study: Tanzanian Coffee Coops • Collaborative Governance & EPG Theory • Representation • Gender Equity at KNCU • Methodology & Fieldwork

3. Fairtrade Timeline • 1940s: Alternative trade, world shops • 1980s: UCIRI, Max Havelaar • 1997: FLO established • Today: 1.2 million farmers, €4.3 billion retail sales Definition (FINE, 2001) [Fairtrade] is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South.

4. Voice “A major part of Fairtrade International’s global strategy is to give producers and workers a stronger voice within the system.” • Fairtrade International 2010 Annual Report Governance changes • New producer networks in Africa & Asia • Producer ownership now 50% (12 of 24) • Producer networks on the BoD (4 of 14) Fairtrade Africa • 500,000 producers, 260 orgs, 47 products, 26 countries • 58% of all FT producers

5. Tanzanian Coffee Co-ops Tanzanian coffee co-operatives • #1 country for Fairtrade farmers (148,000) • KNCU & KCU: 60,000-70,000 farmers • Unions of primary societies • Breakaway groups Country context • Colonial rule • Independence and Nyerere’s Ujamaa • Liberalization and competition • CRMP 2005-2015: strong coops, good governance, empowered members

6. Collaborative Governance Fung & Wright (2003): • Empowered Participatory Governance (EPG) • Combines popular participation, decentralized decision-making, practical focus, continuous deliberation and engagement, and cooperation between parties and interests that frequently find themselves on opposite sides of political and social questions. • Institutional vs. substantive participation

7. EPG & Fairtrade

8. Participation & Representation Do we need Fung & Wright plus? Decision-making • Expert knowledge vs. widespread participation (Le Mare, 2008) • Diverse actors with varying interests (Taylor, 2005, Bonin et al 2003) • Marginalized groups (women, migrant workers, landless) less active (Fisher 2007, Leutchford 2007) • Who gets left out?

9. Gender Equity in Kilimanjaro • “The co-operative business is a man’s business in Tanzania. Both men and women participate from the beginning. But when it comes to reaping, it belongs to men.” • - G2 Interview, Moshi, May 2012 • Gender • 1/5 members are female • Few women in leadership positions • Women’s double day • Land laws • 1999 Land Act & Village Act • Tribal and cultural factors • Capacity Building • MEMCOOP: training/empowering members • Breakaway G32 groups: Mamsera

10. Methodology • Participatory research • Reflexivity and flexibility • Interviews • Group I Unstructured key informant interviews (15) • Group II Semi-structured Tanzania interviews (14) • Group III Structured producer interviews producers • Participant observation • Document review • Research Assistant: gender and access

11. Interviews Tanzania: May 2012 (Group II) • Moshi: KNCU, KCU, KDCU, Government officials, Coffee experts, academics Tanzania & Kenya: August 2011 • Exploratory at tea and coffee farms Participant observation • Ghana, November 2011 (Fairtrade Africa Convention) • Germany, February 2011 (BioFach)

12. Thank You! Shannon Sutton Queen Mary, University of London s.e.sutton@qmul.ac.uk