The Palestine Fair Trade Association

Jenin Old City, West Bank , Palestine
Tel-fax: 972(0)42501512
Email: info@palestinefairtrade.org

 

Who we are

Palestine fair trade association (PFTA) is a national union of fair trade producing cooperatives, producers , and exporter. The association was founded in 2004 in Jenin and maintains offices there .

PFTA’s mission is to provide social and economic empowerment of small, marginalized ,and excluded Palestine communities through the concept of fair trade.

By definition, fair trade is commercial partnership based on dialogue, transparency, and respect. The goal of fair trade is equality in commerce which leads to sustained development and safeguards marginalized  producers and workers. To that end, fair trade organizations commit to heighten public awareness and form a network committed to campaign for international trade rules and practices which benefits small and marginalized commercial enterprises word wide.

As a result , fair trade is both sustainable and socially transforming. The fair trade exchange of goods and services is much more than a financial transaction; it engenders positives social, economic, and environmental benefited. Fair trade increases economic value in the community , reduces poverty and inequality, regenerates the resource base that produces the original products , and engages producers and workers to participate in their organization. The organizational structure ensures that this activity occurs in an open , accountable system.

Strategic objectives of fair trade are 1)to move marginal producers and workers from vulnerability to economic security ,2)to engage producers and workers to participate in their organization, 3) to assist producers and workers to build commercial capacity.

 

WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL

 -promote social accountability through fair trade production and trade practices

- establish and adhere to locally relevant , internationally recognized fair trade guidelines and standards applicable to production of Palestine products.

- Pre-qualify Palestinians producers and products for internationally recognized fair trade certification.

-Create a forum where producers, processors, and exporters can sort out matters of joint interest related to production and trade of their products.

-enable women and other marginalized groups, especially in rural areas, through economically and socially empowering commercial production

-develop international markets for Palestinian fair trade and natural products.

-promote environmentally friendly farming practices and support conversion to certified organic farming.

-create opportunities for Palestinian grassroots producers to cultivate international support through person-to-person contact and non- commercial solidarity network sales

-disseminate information about Palestine’s excellent products and capable, dependable commercial community.