Traidcraft Exchange

Description

Traidcraft Exchange is the only UK consultancy focused on making supply chains function for all stakeholders, especially the most poor and vulnerable. We are primarily focused on working within value chains to improve purchasing practices, to improve their ethical outcomes, to increase their positive impact on the most vulnerable within the chain, to strengthen the chain's efficiency and quality performance, and to reduce the risks to brand and reputation.

Taking the role of an expert and critical friend, we work collaboratively with all stakeholders to understand practices, processes and requirements. We then drive the development of plans and programmes to build capacity, increase awareness and to improve supply chain performance and stakeholder engagement.

We are focused on improving practices, behaviours, and sustainability along supply chains as well as the equitable distribution of risks and benefits among stakeholders. Key pillars to this strategy are women's economic empowerment and environmental sustainability.

As well as supporting clients to address issues within existing supply chains, we are also experienced in building new supply chains that address strategic or social requirements as well as carrying out human rights due diligence, addressing concerns and risks around modern slavery, and developing programs around living wages.

We have offices in East Africa, India and Bangladesh and, wherever possible, we try to work via our teams and networks of expert associates. We would rather not "fly in a suit" when there are well qualified and trusted people on the ground that we are proud to work with.

Our programmes and projects have had a positive direct impact on over 300,000 people across South Asia and Africa in 2017/18, raising incomes, building skills and networks, and enabling stakeholders such as farmers, artisans and workers to participate more fully within supply chains. Through this work we have developed a sound understanding of supply chains across more 60 countries and over 100 hundred commodities and sectors including coffee, tea, cocoa, cotton, garments, homewares, charcoal and even coffins!

Our most recently published work on work within the Kenyan horticulture sector, with the UK retailer Marks and Spencer and the vegetable packer and shipper Flamingo, has shown reductions in waste, absenteeism and increases in quality, shelf life, supply reliability, and increased farmer loyalty.