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Uneven and unequal people-centered development: the case of Fair Trade and Malawi sugar producers

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  • David Phillips

Abstract

This paper advances critical Fair Trade literature by exploring reasons for and lessons from uneven and unequal lived experiences of Fairtrade certification. Fieldwork was conducted in 2007 and 2008 to explore views and develop interpretations from various actors directly and indirectly participating in a Fairtrade certified sugar organization in Malawi. By exploring an embedded social and political context in a production place, and challenging assumptions and expectations of a Fair Trade community empowerment approach, research reveals intended and unintended consequences since certification. Findings propose lessons to adopt more nuanced understandings of place and context in Fair Trade approaches to facilitate more balanced community empowerment outcomes. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

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  • David Phillips, 2014. "Uneven and unequal people-centered development: the case of Fair Trade and Malawi sugar producers," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 31(4), pages 563-576, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:31:y:2014:i:4:p:563-576
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-014-9500-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Manda, S. & Tallontire, A. & Dougill, A.J., 2020. "Outgrower schemes and sugar value-chains in Zambia: Rethinking determinants of rural inclusion and exclusion," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    2. Witness Maluleke & Mandlenkosi Richard Mphatheni & Sphamandla Lindani Nkosi, 2022. "A systematic study on stock theft contributory factors during the South African lockdown," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(2), pages 462-476, March.
    3. Karla Rubio‐Jovel, 2023. "The voluntary sustainability standards and their contribution towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals: A systematic review on the coffee sector," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(6), pages 1013-1052, August.
    4. Filippa Pyk & Assem Abu Hatab, 2018. "Fairtrade and Sustainability: Motivations for Fairtrade Certification among Smallholder Coffee Growers in Tanzania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-18, May.

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