News and publications

Freight transport and CO2: a complex and paradoxical relationship

February 24th 2022

With the climate crisis in the back of their minds, more and more consumers are trying to limit their footprint. This means they’re looking at where the products they buy come from. The rule of thumb is: the greater the distance it travels, the more polluting the transport. This is generally the case, but sometimes it is inconsistent with the complex, even paradoxical reality of our globalised economy.

Cocoa farmer and coach: the inspiring journey of Djakaridja Bitie

February 15th 2022

In 2017, the Ivorian cocoa cooperative ECAM received coaching in financial, business and marketing management from the TDC (Enabel’s Trade for Development Centre). At the end of December we spoke to Djakaridja Bitie, one of the members of ECAM. We asked him to reflect on the development of the cooperative, and about his own professional future as a TDC coach.

Cooperative, participative supermarkets

December 21st 2021

An example of inclusive fair trade? Ever heard of cooperative or participative supermarket projects? These citizens’ initiatives break with the tradition of mass distribution and

Aba Sholi: quality leads the way

December 20th 2021

Aba Sholi in Rwanda produces internationally recognised coffee. Thanks to the help of Valérie Vangeel, one of the coaches at Enabel’s Trade for Development Centre, the cooperative has made a lot of good progress. They’ve learnt how to optimise their costs, guarantee the excellent quality of their coffee, and help their members in the fight against climate change. The cooperative has also improved its infrastructure and been able to attract more members.

Chéry Faso: direct fair trade with African women

December 20th 2021

“The first time I got off the bus in Boni, the driver looked at me strangely,” recalls Trui Rachels. But the residents of this village in Burkina Faso immediately agreed to work with her. This is how Chéry Faso came about: a non-profit organisation that tells the real story of African mothers through pure shea butter. Trui is happy to share her experiences.

Annual report TDC-Enabel 2020

July 13th 2021

2020, the year that will be etched into our collective memory as the Covid-19 year. Proximity plays an important role in the TDC’s activities, in our coaching programme and the Fair Trade Week. So, 2020 therefore was a year in which a lot of flexibility had to be shown. Read the annual report and discover how we did that and what successes the TDC achieved in a difficult year.

Voedselteams: a movement of conscious consumers and innovative short-chain producers

June 4th 2021

Short chain is about much more than ‘a few kilometres between the producer and the consumer’. It is firstly about the autonomy of farmers, about

Fair Cobalt Alliance: sector opts for sustainable cobalt mining

May 31st 2021

Cobalt: you never see it, but it’s there in many of your home devices. Cobalt is an important raw material that makes batteries last longer.

Brussels residents and fair trade

May 25th 2021

Between 30 June and 2 August 2020, Incidence, on behalf of Enabel’s Trade for Development Centre, carried out the 2020 edition of the fair trade barometer, a survey that aims to assess the awareness of fair trade in Belgium and the opinion and behaviour of Belgians in this area.

Webinar Local Fair Trade initiatives in Europe

May 11th 2021

The Trade for Development Centre (Enabel) and the Fair Trade Advocacy Office, in cooperation with FASS-food project, would like to invite you to our webinar ‘Local Fair Trade initiatives in Europe’ the 27th of May. Check the agenda and register here!