Solidaridad Network

🚨 The European Commission’s #Omnibus proposal includes sweeping changes to the #CSDDD, removing the support for the livelihoods of 600 million smallholders worldwide. In response, 40+ CSOs and smallholders’ representative organisations present our joint position calling on the Members of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to ensure that any revision to the CSDDD: ✅ Covers and proactively assesses risks across all supply chain tiers ✅ Provides support for smallholders ✅ Ensures responsible disengagement as a last resort ✅ Mandates engagement with all relevant stakeholders, including NGOs ✅ Implements an EU-wide civil liability regime ✅ Requests proportional and targeted data ✅ Encourages cost-sharing between companies and suppliers It is essential to ensure that any attempts to simplify sustainability legislation safeguard long-term European competitiveness and supply chain resilience, which can only be achieved if all supply chain actors are included in companies’ human rights and environmental due diligence processes. 📢 Check out our joint position 👉https://loom.ly/rdfXgi8

Development challenges persist, but so do Bossman Owusu, Charlotte Golly & Nonsi Nkomo, as they advocate for and with small-scale farmers & partners to build resilient, sustainable supply chains that reward and recognize the vital contributions that farmers make to global food security and stability. Check out Bossman's recap of the Marmalade Festival from last week below & learn how you can partner with Solidaridad for farmer prosperity in the comments! https://lnkd.in/gDXiFSCQ

#WeekendRead: Meet Henry Jelaman of Malaysia. This former crane operator changed careers 10 years ago & converted 4 hectares he inherited from his father into oil palm. Like many smallholders, Henry found that the productivity of his palms and price paid for the fresh fruit bunches can provide for a resilient income. Now he is improving his small farm with support from Solidaridad Asia's Smallholder Support Programme, part of the #NISCOPS initiative. He's learning (and applying) good agricultural practices (GAPs) and farm management methods that help him deal with farming challenges. Read his full story here https://lnkd.in/g3KCezYU *** #SustainablePalmOil #ResponsiblePalm #SmallholderAgriculture #Malaysia #SustainablePalm #SustainableAgriculture #FarmersFirst IDH, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Shatadru Chattopadhayay, Law Chu Chien, Kritika Banerjee, Solidaridad Malaysia 

#FridayPhoto: Once dependent on rain-fed agriculture alone, some Zambian farmers are finding financial stability with poultry production! 🐔👩🌾 "I used to only grow maize and soybeans," reports project participant Fatness. This posed major challenges: income was only available at harvest time and climate fluctuations threatened her harvest. Today, Fatness is part of the K'fuya project, which supports 410 Zambian farmers in rearing chickens. She receives robust Sasso chicks and training on how to raise them properly. The result: financial independence and a secure future! Another project participant named Jenala proudly explains: "With the additional income, I can pay for clothes, books and school fees for my children." The project, which is implemented by Solidaridad Deutschland and Solidaridad Southern Africa, aims to establish a local value chain for Sasso chickens and improve the living conditions of Zambian households, especially rural women working to feed their families. Learn more about the stories of Fatness and Jenala by following Solidaridad Deutschland! *** #ChickenFarming #WomenInAgriculture #SassoChickens #SmallScaleFarming Kvuno, Shungu Kanyemba, Nonsi Nkomo, Mpazi Siame, Vincent Mofya, Candice Kroutz-Kabongo 

🥇 Great story out of Côte d’Ivoire where we have teamed up with the organization, IMPACT, to scale up responsible practices in the artisanal gold supply chain. Together, we’re testing how digital tools – like Solidaridad's Extension Solution – can support traders and the artisanal mines they source from to operate responsibly.   Find out how COOPEDA, a cooperative of artisanal and small-scale miners, is improving their internal processes and transparency to meet legal & regulatory requirements, and partnering with exporters to create a better supply chain for gold. Read the story here https://lnkd.in/eJMjApTc **** Jennifer Horning, Boukje Theeuwes, Rosemary Addico, Violaine Laurens, Bram Verkerke #SustainableGold #ResponsibleSupplyChains #ArtisanalGold #SmallScaleMining #ARM #ArtisanalAndSmallScaleMining

🇺🇬 💡 Congratulations to Alex Amanya, who was recently appointed Country Manager for Uganda by Solidaridad East and Central Africa. With over 12 years of experience spanning development projects and the private sector, he will oversee country operations, provide strategic leadership, and drive growth & value chain development initiatives. “I am delighted to announce Alex's transition to the role of Uganda Country Manager. His exceptional contributions to Solidaridad over the past three and a half years, coupled with his extensive industry experience and unwavering commitment to positive change, will be vital as he leads our efforts to enhance impact in Uganda and the wider region,” said Rachel Wanyoike, Managing Director, Solidaridad East and Central Africa. Read the full release here https://lnkd.in/gzQWDswm

#FridayPhoto: Joy abounds, the voice of farmers is on the rise in Ghana. Earlier this month the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association Ltd. (World Cocoa Farmers Organization) launched with a celebration attended by hundreds. At big events, there's a tendency to focus on the speakers, the pageantry and the pomp, but for today's Friday Photo, we're sharing the collective joy of small-scale cocoa farmers. The power of this association lies in its members, the small-scale farmers from 73 cooperative unions in nine cocoa-growing regions who banded together to advocate for their own interests. A landmark event worth celebrating, #ChangeThatMatters.

🎯 Finding the positive in turbulent times: Though the headlines can seem grim, there are people all around us making a positive difference. Check out the latest edition of the Solidaridad newsletter. Together with our partners, we continue to advocate for equality and a greater voice for all, working alongside small-scale farmers as they shape their own future and produce in balance with nature. Read the newsletter here! 👀

Next week, Solidaridad will be attending the Marmalade Festival and TheSidebar at the Skoll World Forum Week in Oxford (1-4 April, 2025)! Our team - Charlotte Golly (Foundations Partnership Manager), Nonsi Nkomo (Business Development Manager) and Bossman Owusu (UK Country Representative) - will be actively engaging in discussions on climate finance & digital solutions and cross-sector partnerships. We’re looking forward to connecting with like-minded changemakers, exchanging ideas and sharing insights on Solidaridad's work. If you’re attending, let’s connect! We’d love to exchange ideas and explore potential collaborations. For more information on the discussion sessions, check out: https://lu.ma/ixj8vifn and https://lu.ma/1ejngow5 #SkollWF #MarmaladeFestival #SideBar

Let’s reward farmers for their global ecosystem services and strengthen the #biochar business case! Solidaridad is working with farmers in Zambia, Tanzania, Nicaragua, Uganda, Ethiopia, and India to produce biochar from agricultural biomass, improving soil health while acting as permanent carbon dioxide removal. Our goal: C-Sink Accreditation (according to the Carbon Standard International)! In partnership with Planboo, we leverage digital Measurement, Reporting & Verification (dMRV) to register and certify biochar carbon dioxide removals and sell it on the international voluntary carbon market — where 50% of carbon sales go directly to farmers, supporting their vital role in climate action. 🔜 Next step: Completing the Global Artisan C-Sink certification by Carbon Standards International!