Fair trade used to promote quality craftwork in Mali

In developing countries, craft is often a way to complement income from agriculture. This income helps people get through inactive periods in the farming calendar. For some people, crafts has become an activity in its own right.

ami&co has decided to work with craftspeople in order to boost continuous job creation, to promote traditional handicraft methods, to generate additional income by improving work tools, building capacity and getting access to markets.

The crafts sector is characterised by a primacy of work over capital, which makes it a job creation sector, particularly for women. Women play a decisive economic role in the crafts sector while doing their share in the education of tomorrow's adults. However, there is a significant discrepancy between the role played by women in society and the benefits they get. Gender inequality is still a relevant issue, particularly in the areas of schooling, health, nutrition and even more when it comes to participating in the economic and political life.

ami&co works by preference with women's groups in order to strengthen their financial autonomy.

Nevertheless, ami&co doesn't exclude men because in some cases men are the ones producing the crafts. Such is the case with weaving and leatherwork in Mali.

The arrival on developing markets of cheap industrial products has worsened the position of the crafts market as they need little investment and technical know-how.

There is a potential for increased sales on the conventional and fair trade European crafts market. This market is characterised by a clear predominance of Asia and a progressive marginalization of Africa. If they want to benefit from this potential, craftspeople must specialise in their area in order to offer quality products in all price ranges.

To measure up to the competition from cheap industrial products, ami&co counts on the improvement of the quality of the products, by calling on partners with various skills.

In the crafts sector, financial and technological investments are rather low compared to industrial production. The crafts industry is based on know-how passed down through generations with little training to improve their skills.

Most of the crafts produced worldwide come from the informal sector. Craftspeople who master the techniques of production are mostly independent producers who don't call on paid labour.

By adopting a fair trade approach, ami&co is calling on financial and technical partners prepared to invest in the crafts sector and promote the integration of craftspeople in this modern economic world by getting them specialised structures to help with their management and organisational skills.