Fairtrade Fortnight

What is Fairtrade Fortnight?

This year's campaign may be over, but our mission continues:

Sign the petition >

Collect signatures with this petition sheet (and post it back to us)>

For two weeks each year, (this year it was Monday 25 February to Sunday 10 March) thousands of individuals, companies and groups across the UK come together to celebrate the people who grow our food, people who live in some of the poorest countries in the world and who are often exploited and badly paid. This year we focused on the people – in particular the women – who grow the cocoa in the chocolate we love so much. 

She Deserves £1.86

£1.86* is the amount a cocoa farmer in West Africa needs to earn each day in order to achieve a living income. Currently, a typical cocoa farmer in Cote d’Ivoire lives on around 74p** a day. Almost all cocoa farmers in West Africa live in poverty.

For the women the situation is even worse. They may plant and harvest on the farm, look after children, carry water, collect wood, cook and clean for the family, and transport the cocoa beans to market but often with fewer rights than men. 

This is why we at Fairtrade are campaigning for a living income to become a reality for cocoa farmers in West Africa. If we can work together with governments, chocolate companies and retailers to make the commitments and policies necessary, then we can make it happen. 

What is a living income?

A living income means enough money to live a simple but dignified life, paying for essentials such as clothing, medicine and school. We believe this is not a luxury but a human right.

For the two weeks of Fairtrade Fortnight 2019, our campaign is telling the story of cocoa farmers in Côte D'Ivoire, through the eyes of women. 

She Deserves running water, She Deserves a doctor, #SheDeserves a living income.

Living income explained

What should I do now?

Here are 5 ways you can get involved with Fairtrade and make a difference to the lives of the people who grow the food and drink we love so much.

1. Sign the petition

Fairtrade is calling on the UK Government to make sure that our trade with developing countries puts poverty reduction first, delivering living incomes for all. 

Sign the petition >

2. Fundraise for Fairtrade

The Fairtrade Foundation is a charity and relies on donations to help us fulfill our mission. Why not organise a bake sale or raffle? Here are some fun ideas for fundraising.

8 great fundraising ideas

Order a fundraising box

Donate online

Find out more

3. Find us on social media

Follow us on social media and share our campaign content to help us raise awareness of the issues. 

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us  on Twitter

Follow us on Instagram

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

4. Choose Fairtrade Chocolate

Perhaps one of the simplest ways to support cocoa farmers around the world, is by buying Fairtrade chocolate and cocoa. While this doesn’t immediately solve all the issues, keeping up the demand allows farmers to sell more of their cocoa on Fairtrade terms thus increasing their income.

15 Fairtrade chocolate choices you can find on the high street

Where to buy Fairtrade chocolate

5. Sign up to email

Thank you for your support and helping to make Fairtrade Fortnight 2019 such a success! Sign up to emails to keep up to date with all things Fairtrade. 

#SheDeserves 

_{*WIP estimation based on the Living Income Community of Practice}

_{**This is the estimated daily income per household member based on a typical cocoa farming household}