ECOTA Fair Trade Forum   ECOTA Fair Trade Forum

ECOTA Fair Trade Forum
6/1, Block-A (4th floor)
Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207
Bangladesh

Tel: +880-2-8126593/94
Fax : +880-2-9110451
E-mail: info@ecotaftf.org

 
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ECOTA Projects

Ongoing Projects:

EIS Project Components in EFTF

“Enterprise Information Services EIS” has launched by ECOTA Fair Trade Forum with the financial and advisory assistance of German Technical Corporation GTZ.

This project is aiming to face the post MFA era in developing countries. Primarily, the project has started from June 2005 and ends at December 2007. Objective of the component is “Increased Use and Improved Supply of Demand-Led Enterprise Information”.
The highlights of activities are

  • Develop a business contacts management system
  • Integration of new data and existing (important) data sources
  • Identify and establish new information delivery channels
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Information value addition and dissemination
  • Develop innovative delivery channels
  • EFTF participated “Information Management” Workshop

“Creating awareness of design and product development as a tool of obtaining competitiveness” Joint Project with Design and Technology Centre (DTC):

ECOTA Fair Trade Forum was made a partnership project with DTC to increase realization on the need of product design services for the member organization of ECOTA Fair Trade Forum. The overall objective of the programme is to improve the competitiveness of the private sector and its ability to cope with challenges of the post MFA scenario.

Main Activities:

Training on product design to the Trainee designers by local and international experts.

Design & product development in the following product sectors;

1. a) Jute products b) Basketries c) Handmade paper products

2. Arranging a local exhibition combined with a seminar

3. Publication

Support to Fair Trade Handicraft Entrepreneurship Development

The aim of this proposal is to stimulate cooperation between EU and Bangladesh through promoting the Fair Trade handicraft export and by capacity building of the actors in the sector. More specific objectives are to contribute to support Fair Trade handicraft export, cooperation between European and Bangladeshi Fair Trade actors especially the women engaged in the sector.

Immediate objective

Enhancing the Fair Trade Handicraft Entrepreneurship towards Quality Production and Market Promotion

Overall objective

Fair trade Entrepreneurship development to foster compatible employment in the handicraft sector of Bangladesh

Implemented Projects:

  • An overview of CAPI (Crafts and Producer Improvement) Project Download
  • An Overview of BEMAP (Bangladesh Export Market Assistance Programme Download
  • An overview of LAGMI (Linking Artisans to Global Markets via Internet) Download
  • An Overview of NETWORK PROJECT Download

Implemented Project: An overview of CAPI (Crafts and Producer Improvement)

01. Background

ECOTA Fair Trade Forum started its work since 1990. Advocacy and Lobbing work formally started at August of the year 2000 and end at December 2001.Objective of this work is to promote fair and ethical trade concept in our country.

02. Objectives

An objective of the project is to increase the income opportunities of the indigent artisans of handcrafted sector. Moreover immediate objective are to improve the condition of the grass-root level artisans, lobby and advocacy with various GOs, NGOs, media persons both printing and electronic and other organizations.

03. Activities

To obtain the objectives ECOTA identified few activities for the artisans under its CAPI project. Accordingly the activities and results are explained in here. Following issues were done.

  1. Translation of fair trade booklet & printing in Bangla (November 2000)
  2. National Seminar on Fair Trade in Bangladesh
  3. Exposure tour in India (15th – 30th January, 2000)
  4. Artisans Capacity Building and Artisans Gathering At Banaj-Barnali and Development Wheel on 24 February 2001 and 25 March 2001
  5. Regional Level Artisans Gathering and Gender Workshop (30-31 July 2001)
  6. Study on Producers livelihood Vs family and social violence (2001)
  7. Press Conference and Media Coverage (19th November 2000)
  8. Corporate gifts (November 2000)
  9. Artisans Workshop on Jute and Terra Cotta
  10. Partners/Members organization visit (2000-2001)  
  11. Artisans Exchange Visit (2000)
  12. Workshop on Bamboo, Cane and Grass (March 2001)
  13. Video Documentary (July 2001)
  14. Tele cast the video documentary: (5th November 2001)
  15. Publishing article on fair and ethical trade on the dailies (2000-2001)
  16. Artisans case study and fair trade organizational profile on the newspaper
  17. Lobby for Fair Trade Code of Conduct
  18. Relationship with printing and electronic media

Staff Capacity Building

  1. Training on Art of Advocacy (May 28-June 2001)
  2. Training on English Course (October – December 2001)

An Overview of BEMAP (Bangladesh Export Market Assistance Programme)

01. Bacground:

In April 1998, a project was initiated by ECOTA Fair Trade Forum and Traidcraft Exchange (TX) namely Bangladesh Export Market Assistance Programme (BEMAP) with the financial assistance of Department for International Development (DFID). Initially this project was designing for four year and expected to complete within April 2001. Due to some unavoidable circumstances and on the basis of clients’ demand the project had to be extended until September 2004. Here state that, the BEMAP project has covered 80% of total annual activities of ECOTA Fair Trade Forum.

02. Objectives Of This Project:

There are three specific objectives that are given below

Long Term

  • To enable a significant number of SMEs in Bangladesh to participate in both local and international trade in a sustainable way which benefits their employees and the local community.
  • For BEMAP to be sustainable, professional and independent, based on fair trade principles and to be located within a nationally respected local institution.
  • For fair trade practices to be adopted by SMEs and wider business.

Medium Term (after 2 years)

  • To stabilise the declining sales of the principal client group, the members of the ECOTA forum, and to find new export markets and sales opportunities for as many client groups as can be serviced.
  • To promote and further establish the range of BEMAP services.
  • To strengthen the fair trade influence of ECOTA through increasing its membership. To raise awareness of employees and SMEs’ rights, the problems they face, and to lobby for ethical business practice in Bangladesh.
  • To review progress made by BEMAP and if necessary make amendments to both BEMAP and ECOTA-TX partnership in order to meet the on-going needs of Bangladeshi SME clients.

Short Term

  • To establish the Bangladesh Export Marketing Assistance Programme (BEMAP) as a new function within the ECOTA Forum. To appoint, train and equip staff.
  • To provide TX on-going support for BEMAP director, Staff and the ECOTA board.
  • To clarify this project document with BEMAP staff, agree upon implementation strategy and monitor indicator for establishment and service delivery.
  • To establish the needs of all potential clients groups (through a baseline study)
  • To establish a Market Information Service (MIS) in Dhaka. This will provide detailed, timely and appropriate information on western export markets. Market information supplied will initially cover the handicraft, textile, garment, handmade paper and food market sectors.
  • To assist BEMAP to prepare and deliver its services to clients.
  • For BEMAP to participate in international networking opportunities.

03. Changes During This Project

The Mid-Term Review of the BEMAP project has revealed that the advocacy function (“public goods”) of EFTF has to be separated from its service provision (“private goods”) and the latter has to be developed with a commercial mandate.  Accordingly, EFTF has separated its “public goods” and “private goods”. The private goods will be rendered by a for-profit, private limited company and EFTF, as a company limited by guarantee, will have the mandate to deliver public goods.

In the past, among the target clients, the NGOs were the members who had the privilege to act as the Board of Directors and the private businesses were welcomed only in buying services. But now that scenario will be replaced by a policy, which aims to make EFTF as a forum of fair traders, irrespective of whether they are development organisations or private businesses. The targeted ratio of NGO members & Private Business members will be 60:40 by the year 2002-3 and 50:50 by the end of 2003-4.

During the last few years, EFTF has provided business development services on four major areas that are (a) capacity building, (b) marketing and trade facilitation, (c) networking and co-ordination and (d) advocacy. The target clients for these services were both NGOs and private businesses with fair & ethical trade principles.

During the project period, EFTF also has experienced several changes in its human resource department and some ups & downs in management and policy. The previous positions have been replaced by new comer Officers who will be responsible for their specific arenea.

04. Achievement Of The Project Purpose:

Project Purpose:

To promote ethical and more effective business performance among all BEMAP clients, leading to increase exports sales.

Indicators and Actual at completion

Indicators

Actual at Completion

1. A minimum 10% overall sales growth for all BEMAP clients achieved each year from start of year

Achieved

2. Identifiable change in management and employment and employment practice among BEMAP clients

Achieved. EFTF has made some awareness programme to promote fair trade standards. As a consequence, the management of BEMAP clients are believed in fair and ethical trade. They have grown themselves as a fair trade practitioner instead of only profit.

05. Project Output:

OUTPUT 01: BEMAP is established as a programme

OUTPUT 02: BEMAP becomes an efficient institution able to recover increasing percentage of operating cost

OUTPUT 03: BEMAP providing demand led training and TA services to a range of clients (ECOTA and Non members)

OUTPUT 04: BEMAP organising promotional ventures for clients to gain market access

OUTPUT 05: Reorganisations and restructuring of ECOTA carried out as per action plan

Indicators and Actual at completion
Indicators Actual at completion
Business plan produced under BEMAP
Detailed business plan produced to achieve target of BEMAP project in every year. 		Achieved.
ü      Business plan 1999
ü      Business plan 2000
ü      Business plan 2001
ü      Business plan 2002
ü      Business plan 2003-4
Operations manual, financial systems, impact assessment, M & E system (including appropriate benchmark) in place Achieved.
All manuals and assessments have prepared and approved by Executive Committee.
Market research Achieved.

ü        BEMAP: Textiles Market Research, 1999

ü        Market Research on Handmade Paper, 1999

ü        Market Research on storage item, 1999

ü        ECOTA BEMAP Project: European Market Research, 98

ü      Baseline Study Including Need Assessment & Client profile
Cost recovery
Target in 1999 is Tk.302,160
Target in 2000 is Tk.725,696
 
 Achieved in 1999 is Tk.403,427
Achieved in 2000 is Tk.774,778
 
Demand for different services per client group Achieved.  Services provide as per the requirement by the client group
Different service delivered per year
ü      Training 
ü      Technical Assistance
ü      Product development 
ü      Market information services
ü      Growth in number and range of client served
 Achieved. These services have provided through maintain a schedule all over the year 
Increasing number of buyer contacts made for BEMAP clients Achieved. A mentionable number of buyer met with BEMAP client s during the project period and beyond also
ECOTA general body formalises the decision to open a new company Achieved. But still it is not operationalised in true sense though it commence to start from 2001
Market feasibility study carried out by end of 2001 Achieved.
ECOTA ltd. Company starts operation by May 2002 Yet it is not achieved due to some unavoidable circumstances.

06. Lessons Learned From The Project:

Project Design Process

ü      The project was well designed, drawing strongly on previous export experience in strategic planning and capacity development of members and ECOTA Fair Trade Forum also.

ü      Technical support from TX was helpful for retaining an output of this project & management and to keep track of the ECOTA-TX Partnership.

ü      It has too tough to work for artisans without coordination of a potential development partner like Traidcraft Exchange Uk.

ü      It is very necessary to maintain a comprehensive network for the development of crafts sector also increasing export in Bangladesh.

Project Execution

ü      During the BEMAP project period, the export sales were decreasing due to some global reasons and political situation in Bangladesh though BEMAP fought against the global trends. So, in the next time project planning process it will be consider in future so that there have alternatives within the project to shift its focus and to gain the objective ultimately.  

ü      Due to decreasing export sales, EFTF has separated its ‘Private’ and ‘Public’ goods services according to a Mid Term Review and a Forward Strategy suggestion. ECOTA General Body has decided, a Private Limited Company gives ‘Private Goods’ service and ECOTA NGO will have a mandate for ‘Public Goods’ service. So, ECOTA under the Limited Company intended to establish a common display and sales centre for our member/partners from where they will be benefited through product sales. But still it is under consideration due to some constraints.

ü      In our country have a large number of small entrepreneurs involved in crafts business. By changing the global phenomenon, it has realised that the overall development of craft is not possible without enrichment of small entrepreneurs. So, another change in the policy is the opening of membership for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well.

ü      Close cooperation and frequent communication between the ECOTA team and Traidcraft Exchange (TX) helped to ensure success in this project. Attention to detail and rapid correspondence were key parts of this, and so it was crucial for our country. Nick Kightly, Programme manager in UK was able to allocate the necessary time. However, as this report makes clear, the support given has in fact largely technical.

ü      The advice and support from Mr. Frank Matsaert, DFID as a donor with an exceptional level of commitment to seeing projects succeed, were essential to overall success. In addition to member organization staffs of ECOTA, whose contribution to the success of the project was greatly appreciated. Mr. Javed Shakhawat and Shashi Satyal provided crucial advised throughout and often, often by giving guidance directly to the BEMAP team during the project period and especially in the time of preparing of ECOTA forward strategy.  

07. Next Step:

It has identified through a research of ECOTA Fair Trade Forum under the BEMAP project. So, ECOTA is planned to make advocacy on behalf of them. The major requirements of crafts people in Bangladesh is given below.

ü      Preparing a specific National Craft Policy for the betterment of marginal artisans.

ü      A Information Bank need to be established where all the information’s are storing including artisans profile and the area where available of crafts raw materials, training centre information, exporter profile etc.

ü      Establish a Design and Technology Centre compiling with a training cell, design cell and an advocacy cell. There also need a coalition ECOTA, EPB and other crafts organisations worked actively in Bangladesh.

ü      Advocacy to promote Eco-friendly raw materials.  Along with encouraging artisans to use locally available raw materials.

ü      Preparing a Design Protection Rule so that no one can make copy exact from another.

ü      A Common Display Centre for ECOTA member’s organization is necessary to increase sales of crafts product in home and abroad.

ü      Maintain a Digital Archive in the ECOTA’s web-site so that both (buyers and producers) are benefited from it.

An overview of LAGMI (Linking Artisans to Global Markets via Internet) Project

01. Bacground:

ECOTA Forum has been running a project titled ‘Linking Artisans to Global Markets via Internet’ (LAGMI) for the last two years under the technical and financial help of PEOPLink, a US based NGO with donor funding from USAID. The duration of the project has two years, April 2000 – March 2002.

The Internet is an increasingly popular and effective means of communication and promotion.The LAGMI project has seen the development of a web site for ECOTA and resulted in institutional learning on using the Internet for the promotion of crafts and specifically the successful development of the ECOTA web site with products from all its members displayed on the site

02. Project Objective:

  1. Ensuring the institutional skills for website development aren’t lost in this area and training is undertaken for other staff in ECOTA
  2. Developing the website and Internet facility as part of the product development process - market feedback on new products developed as a result of ECOTA's activities.
  3. Continuing the work in developing the web site particularly as a successful promotional tool
  4. Combining its activities with the new market information service being developed as part of ECOTA's current activity.
  5. Extending range of products on website to cover all ECOTA partners and their products
  6. Using the website and Internet as a means of networking and advocacy
  7. Encourage and collaborate partners to use computer in product design & development.
  8. Assisting partners in computer based product design archive.
  9. Maintenance & troubleshooting the computer related problems of ECOTA.
  10. Developing computerised MIS Library of ECOTA Forum.

03. Project Activities:

  1. ECOTA forum and its various activities through Internet.
  2. Compiling various event information of ECOTA Forum and put them into the web.
  3. Collecting ECOTA partners organisational profile and put them into the web
  4. Taking photograph of various products and place them into the web along with the product related information.
  5. Produce catalogue for ECOTA Forum to use as a promotional tools by scanning and digitize Product Photo’s of partners’ in various events.
  6. Creating database of new products developed Promoting the Products developed through design inputs and others product development support services carried by ECOTA Forum.
  7. To maintain & archive new photos’ & Products through an inventory system.
  8. Develop a comprehensive database of Producers, Product range and buyers (ATO’s and Commercials).
  9. Searching Internet and provide marketing/sales connected information to relevant to partners/producers and assist to encourage them for business deal.
  10. Develop Computerised MIS of ECOTA Forum.
  11. To develop computer software for partners and ECOTA to meet their need of automation.
  12. To visit projects and partners in order to coordinate the IT activities among the stakeholders of ECOTA.
  13. Assisting/ advising ECOTA partners in various IT related problem,

Network Project: An Overview

Bacground:

In order to develop new products, improve product process and effective marketing of Bangladeshi handicrafts. EFTF has worked for providing continuous digital imaging services to its members-partners. Digital imaging helps ECOTA’s stakeholders to promote their new product through Internet specially in US market and Fair Trade buyers. It has also introduced modern marketing technology that ultimately increases the export of handicraft through Website. Under the component of Networking & Coordination EFTF has operated an extension project namely NETWORK PROJECT from the mid year July 2004. It has funded by Traidcraft Exchange UK, which will continue up to 30 June 2005.

Objectives of the Project

  1. Providing technical support services to the member organisations
  2. Capacity building through training and guidance
  3. Developing catalogues (print and electronic version) for the member organisations to promote their products
  4. Having broad band connection for faster communication through internet and reduce cost
  5. Providing Market Information System (MIS) through  Fashion Magazines, Catalogues, Story Board, Color Charts etc. to have recent market trends
  6. Providing buyer information and other relevant information on fairs, products etc

Overall Activities of the Project:

  1. Providing technical support services to the 31 member organisations
  2. Capacity building of the member organizations through two design & new product development workshop and time to time services as per their requirement
  3. Developing catalogues and profiles: individual catalogues and a CD version of the catalogues, profile of the members
  4. Provide Market Information System (MIS) Services to all members.

Learning Points

  1. Need based activities help a lot to the organizations
  2. Market awareness tours are very helpful, though it does not always generate huge sells or ensures instant orders but the acquaintance, experience, and exposure helps a lot later on
  3. Implementation of learning and sharing is important from the tours, because it is not possible to arrange tours for each and every member organisations and artisans
  4. Developing website is not enough; if it is not marketed properly little benefit will be derived
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