World Refugee Day 2024: Building Welcoming and Inclusive Economies through Fair Trade

Western life is filled with terms. Terms like “economic inequality”, “climate change”, and “refugee crisis”. Terms so widely used, that we often forget the real people behind them. We talk about the “refugee crisis” as if it is a crisis for our system, instead of a crisis caused by the system. But in reality, it is a humanitarian crisis; one that affects millions of people, who are called to pay the price of an unjust socioeconomic order and the violence, war and destruction coming from that.

The numbers are staggering – according to UNHCR, in 2022, 108.4 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide, the highest level ever recorded. And while numbers can be impactful, it is crucial to remember that each represents a human story – a family fleeing a war-torn country or a drought-stricken land.

The reasons behind mass displacement – violence, war, climate change – aren’t random occurrences. They’re among the bitter fruits of an extractive, exploitative economic system. Our relentless pursuit of profit has dehumanised our societies and neglected our planet. We view people and resources as tools for short-term gain, leading to a vicious cycle: unsustainable resource extraction sparks conflicts over land and water. Environmental disregard fuels climate change, causing droughts, crop failures, and food insecurity, forcing people from their homes. Wealthy nations often exploit resources in economically disadvantaged regions, hindering local development and fostering instability that erupts into violence. This very system, designed for profit maximisation, births the crises it claims to be ill-equipped to handle.

But what if we could break this cycle of exploitation?

Photo credits: (from left to right): MADE 51/ Tight Knit Syria, WasteStudios Yadawee, Yadawee

WFTO advocates for alternative business models, operating under a set of 10 Principles, our 10 Principles of Fair Trade. By demonstrating these viable and effective alternatives, Fair Trade Enterprises like Silaiwali, WEAVE, Artisan Links and many Fair Trade initiatives, pave the way for a future where social, economic, and climate justice are woven into the fabric of society.

Photo credits: Silaiwali, Yadawee, Earth Heir

WFTO is also a proud partner of UNHCR, through the MADE51 initiative. MADE51 creates direct livelihood opportunities and sustainable income for refugees with artisanal skills. Here’s how:

• Partnerships: MADE51 partners with Local Social Enterprises (LSEs) in 23 host countries, ensuring Fair Trade standards are pursued. In doing so, WFTO supports the LSEs with capacity building dedicated technical assistance, guiding them throughout key critical processes such as LSEs onboarding and introduction to the MADE51 pathway, seed funding, artisan training-knowledge transfer, production scaling and operations, and market readiness. 
• Fairness: This means ensuring respect for our planet, fair wages, and good working conditions, in direct collaboration with the refugee groups.
• Market Access: MADE51 supports market access for refugee-made products, creating economic opportunities for refugees and showcasing their cultural heritage.

Photo credits: Weave, Yadawee, Weave Yadawee

While Fair Trade Enterprises are already demonstrating the power of this model, we still believe that collaboration is crucial. We strongly call governments, policy-makers, and Fair Trade advocates in a shared conversation, to re-think and rebuild our economic landscape.

As we join the global conversation for World Refugee Day, we would like to invite everyone to imagine a world where displaced people are not burdens, but valued contributors with unique skills and rich cultural heritage. This is the world Fair Trade Enterprises are striving to create.

By Valia Almpani