BOTSWANA PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

Course description

 

 

Voluntary standards (or 'private standards') are standards developed by non-governmental entities such as businesses, not-for-profit organizations or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders. Some of the better-known voluntary standards include Fairtrade, Organic, Rainforest Alliance and GlobalG.A.P.

 

Voluntary standards vary widely in their objectives and scope. Some standards address a single commodity while others apply to dozens of products. Standards also have various objectives, such as protecting social rights, ensuring a minimum price, conserving the environment, promoting good agricultural practices, regulating supply or ensuring food security.

 

The emergence of a 'conscious consumer', who demands more product information, and the globalization of supply chains are reasons why your buyer will ask yuot be certified in one of several voluntary standards.

 

The certification leads producers to improve management and monitoring systems, increase productivity, implement good farming practices, improve resource management and have a better access to credit.

 

In some sectors, certified production and trade have already moved beyond market niches and these growth rates are likely to continue.

 

 

This training will make you aware on how voluntary standards influence exports and which ones are more suitable for your products.

 

We will cover the main private standards demanded by EU firms (organic, fair trade, GlobalG.A.P, etc) and how to get certified.

 

We will also use the ITC’s Standardsmap on practical exercises to compare standards and make simulations.