National Geographic Explorer Laly Lichtenfeld Joins Aid by Trade Foundation Board of Trustees

The Aid by Trade Foundation is pleased to welcome Laly Lichtenfeld, an internationally renowned leader in community-driven nature conservation, to its board of trustees. After years of researching community-driven conservation, including as a Fulbright Scholar in 1996, she co-founded African People & Wildlife in 2005 with the aim of promoting peaceful coexistence between rural communities and wildlife such as lions and elephants. As an experienced National Geographic Explorer and a multiple award–winning speaker, she brings more than two decades of experience building partnerships that protect biodiversity and support rural communities across Tanzania and beyond.

Aid by Trade Foundation Announces New Head of Business Development

Valéa Vadaleau will join the Aid by Trade Foundation team as Head of Business Development on March 1, 2025. She succeeds Christian Barthel, who will retire in November 2025 after 18 years at the Hamburg-based foundation.

Aid by Trade Foundation Announces New Transparency Standard: Independent Audits Ensure Full Traceability for Sustainable Cotton in Global Supply Chain

The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) will be introducing a new transparency standard. Regulating the use and traceability of sustainable cotton verified under Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) or the Regenerative Cotton Standard® (RCS), the AbTF Transparency Standard will ensure its transparency, safety, and reliability around the world and throughout the textile supply chain, from the cotton field to the finished product. Through this independently verified standard, AbTF will reinforce its existing tracking systems for tracing sustainable cotton in the supply chain. The AbTF Transparency Standard is set to be introduced in the first quarter of 2025.

Farmers in Benin Benefit From Organic Cotton

Launched three years ago with EUR 1 million in total volume, a project called “Growing Benin’s Organic Cotton Sector” aimed to support small-scale farmers in transitioning to organic cotton cultivation in accordance with the Cotton made in Africa Organic standard, to avoid the use of synthetic pesticides, and to further develop the organic cotton sector, thereby securing the future of farming communities.

Annual Report 2023

Our Annual Report offers an important opportunity to reflect on the impact we made in 2023, examine challenges and success in the field and on the market successes as well as stakeholder insights into various topics about sustainability in the cotton and cashmere industry. Above that, we share key financial information how the income we generate through market activities are spent to make a valuable and measurable impact for nature protection, producers’ and animals’ welfare.

BIODIVERSITY IN CmiA
FARMING COMMUNITIES

How much of an impact is climate change having on Africa’s biodiversity? How is it damaging agriculture? To answer these questions, Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), the internationally recognised standard for sustainably produced cotton, worked together with the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute to survey the people whose very existence is under threat by climate change: cotton farmers in Zambia. Beyond observing how the consequences of climate change threaten their work and lives, the survey shows that they also know that there are ways to counteract these consequences effectively.

Aggregated Verification & Implementation Report 2023

Study Shows Cotton made in Africa Boosting Gender Justice

Women play a decisive role in achieving social and economic improvements for entire communities, including those involved in cotton production. Nonetheless, female farmers continue to face systemic disadvantages. CmiA is pursuing gender justice to redress this imbalance, and the results of a recent study reveal significant progress in this regard.

Our CmiA Community Projects

At the heart of our work are the people of the cotton-producing countries in Africa and the environment we are active in. To work with our partners to support sustainable development beyond sustainable cotton cultivation, we launched the CmiA Community Cooperation Programme back in 2015.

Education is not a privilege. It is a human right.

In 2022, together with Highlands Cotton Trading, we refurbished and expanded the Mkhota Community School in Zambia. Over 500 students learn here how to read and write.

We Care About:
Protecting Children

Beyond sustainable cotton production, Cotton made in Africa actively advocates for respect for the children’s rights. The elimination of child labour will require sustainable economic growth to support measures towards social progress & better education.