Trade
Trade is an important source of wealth generation and can help create new jobs, raise living standards and lead to reductions in inequity and poverty. However, there are no guarantees that trade brings automatic developmental benefits. Strategies are needed to ensure that trade, whether local, national, regional or international, is fair and ethical and brings about more secure livelihoods for poor people.
Two groups in Africa are particularly hard hit by the inequities of global trade. Small-scale producers are frequently hampered by weak organisational capacity; limited access to markets, a lack of protected private property rights (including intellectual property rights); and lack of secure tenure, finance and information. Inequalities and an imbalance of power and influence mean they are unable to get their voices heard to influence the terms of trade that affect them. Workers engaged in global supply chains are also extremely vulnerable to exploitative employment practices. Many are not guaranteed decent working conditions and are not able to realise their labour and human rights.
Our goal is to contribute to sustainable and equitable wealth creation for small-scale producers and workers in global supply chains.
Target group
The Trade programme focuses on small producers and workers in global supply chains on the basis that these groups have the least power and the greatest need. We are also interested in supporting work which engages partners along the supply chain, whether in implementing countries or internationally, including consumers.
Geographical focus
The Trade programme focuses on any country or region in Africa. The Sainsbury’s Fair Development Fund will primarily focus on Africa but will be open to projects from other developing countries.
Your work will need to deliver one or more of the following outcomes:
- African producers and their organisations are more efficient and productive and better able to add value to their products. As a result, they, their families and communities benefit from increased and more secure incomes.
- African producers increase their engagement in partnerships and networks. As a result, they experience a measurable improvement in their competitiveness and access to market.
- African producers and workers are increasingly engaged in influencing and advocacy. As a result, they experience a measurable improvement in their ability to influence the terms of trade that affect them at a national, regional and international level.
- African workers are increasingly engaged in negotiations with employers and key stakeholders, resulting in a measurable improvement in their ability to realise their labour and human rights.
We are also interested in work which ensures consumers have an increased awareness of ethical and fair trade issues. As a result, the demand for ethically and fairly traded products increases.
Grants available under the Trade programme are as follows:
Project grants – these may be up to £1 million over five years. Organisations are strongly advised to submit applications that are proportionate to their size and capacity, the size and capacity of their local partners, and their track record to date.
Restrictions: none
Research, Consultation and Planning grants – these may be for up to £25,000 and for up to 12 months’ duration. They will enable partners to carry out action research, a needs analysis, a pilot study, and related work that will help applicant organisations to develop a well thought out proposal.
Restrictions: these grants are only available to organisations with an income of less than £1m per year, or Diaspora-led organisations.
Investment grants – these provide long-term, core funding for local organisations, usually over five years. There is no upper limit but Investment grants must be proportionate to the size and capacity of applicant organisations and their partners.
Restrictions: these grants are only available to selected partners with a long history of Comic Relief funding and a track record of success in work related to our Trade programme.
We make grants predominantly to UK-registered charities (including charities registered in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) whose main aim is development and who work closely with local organisations.
We will consider applications to our Trade programme from any registered organisation whose work fits with the aims of our Trade strategy, provided they can show that all profits generated from the project will be ploughed back into the charitable activities benefiting the targeted population. Applicants who are not a UK-registered charity must seek written approval for a potential application from a member of the Grants team before applying.