Key supply chain stakeholders unite to accelerate action against child labour in Malawi’s coffee supply chain
The meeting aimed to finalize a comprehensive sustainability strategy that addresses the critical issue of child labour in the coffee industry, with a keen focus on capacity and financial implications, climate resilience, and inclusion.
26 February 2024
Lilongwe, Malawi, 26 February, 2024 – In a significant stride towards a sustainable and ethical coffee industry, the Mzuzu Coffee Planters Union, Coffee supply chain cooperatives, the Ministry of Labour and the International Labour Organization under the ACCEL Africa project convened a crucial meeting to finalize a sustainability strategy aimed at the elimination of child labour within Malawi's coffee supply chain. This pioneering initiative underscores a collective effort to foster an industry that is not only profitable but also socially responsible and environmentally sustainable.
The meeting aimed to finalize the comprehensive strategy that addresses the critical issue of child labour in the coffee industry, with a keen focus on capacity and financial implications, climate resilience, and inclusion. The strategy is designed to ensure the long-term viability and ethical standing of the coffee sector, setting a precedent for global industry standards, and the handover of the ACCEL Africa project activities to relevant stakeholders from July 2024.
The strategy specifically targets the issue of child labour in coffee farming, aiming to eliminate it and ensure that Malawi's coffee industry meets international standards. It emphasizes ongoing involvement and raising awareness to stop child labour not just on coffee farms but also among other farmers and in different agricultural areas. The plan is to make the coffee industry sustainable, focusing on the well-being of families and the environment, and setting Malawi up as a worldwide example of good practices. It addresses problems like low production that can lead to child labour, fights against vendors who threaten cooperative efforts, and aims to establish national labour standards. This will empower small-scale farmers and guarantee the ongoing ethical production of coffee in Malawi.
The draft "Sustainability Strategy Framework for Mzuzu Coffee Planters Union" emerged as a result of this meeting, setting forth a vision where, by 2030, coffee-growing communities are thriving, free from child labour, with every child afforded the opportunity to pursue education and training. Highlights of the strategy include:
The Mzuzu Coffee Planters Union, along with its partners, stands at the forefront of this transformative journey, committed to steering Malawi's coffee industry towards a future marked by sustainability, ethical practices, and the eradication of child labour. As next step, stakeholders will review the document and begin implementation of the same hand in hand with the ILO from March 2024.
The meeting aimed to finalize the comprehensive strategy that addresses the critical issue of child labour in the coffee industry, with a keen focus on capacity and financial implications, climate resilience, and inclusion. The strategy is designed to ensure the long-term viability and ethical standing of the coffee sector, setting a precedent for global industry standards, and the handover of the ACCEL Africa project activities to relevant stakeholders from July 2024.
The strategy specifically targets the issue of child labour in coffee farming, aiming to eliminate it and ensure that Malawi's coffee industry meets international standards. It emphasizes ongoing involvement and raising awareness to stop child labour not just on coffee farms but also among other farmers and in different agricultural areas. The plan is to make the coffee industry sustainable, focusing on the well-being of families and the environment, and setting Malawi up as a worldwide example of good practices. It addresses problems like low production that can lead to child labour, fights against vendors who threaten cooperative efforts, and aims to establish national labour standards. This will empower small-scale farmers and guarantee the ongoing ethical production of coffee in Malawi.
The draft "Sustainability Strategy Framework for Mzuzu Coffee Planters Union" emerged as a result of this meeting, setting forth a vision where, by 2030, coffee-growing communities are thriving, free from child labour, with every child afforded the opportunity to pursue education and training. Highlights of the strategy include:
- Zero tolerance to child labour: At the core of the strategy lies a zero-tolerance policy towards child labour, ensuring adherence to international labour standards.
- Integration with global frameworks: The strategy aligns with key sustainability frameworks, notably the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the Malawi Alliance 8.7 Roadmap to ensure a holistic approach to sustainability within the coffee sector.
- Comprehensive foundational pillars: The strategy is built on robust pillars encompassing Institutional sustainability, stakeholder engagement, environmental sustainability, and financial sustainability, each tailored to address the multifaceted challenges and opportunities within the coffee industry.
The Mzuzu Coffee Planters Union, along with its partners, stands at the forefront of this transformative journey, committed to steering Malawi's coffee industry towards a future marked by sustainability, ethical practices, and the eradication of child labour. As next step, stakeholders will review the document and begin implementation of the same hand in hand with the ILO from March 2024.