Press release on the increase of COVID-19 emergency aid for fair trade

"The pandemic shows us even more clearly the global inequality. To overcome it, we need perseverance and the development of sustainable structures. Nothing less than the future is at stake," said Matthias Fiedler, Executive Director of Forum Fairer Handel, emphasizing the need to support smallholder farms in the global South during the pandemic.

In 2020, the COVID-19 emergency aid for fair trade supported more than 250 producer organizations in 25 countries. This aid was provided by BMZ in collaboration with partners Fairtrade International, Forum Fairer Handel e.V. and Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V. To further support sustainably producing smallholder farms, the initiative is providing an additional 7.1 million euros. The aid is intended to cushion the impact of the pandemic, help local people invest in equipment for hygiene and infection control, and compensate for crop losses due to the pandemic. In addition, the emergency aid was used to distribute food packages and finance awareness campaigns. For implementation on the ground, the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is providing support.

The entire press release of the COVID-19 emergency aid by GIZ can be read here.