Ethical Business Services' Events
Africa Now's Ethical Business Services team organises training courses across Africa for suppliers to international retailers. Details of the courses we currently have planned are below.
Details of events will be posted here, or for more information you can e-mail EBS's head office in Nairobi.
Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Conference, October 2008
Africa Now attended the annual ETI Conference on 22nd October 2008 as a member of a global network of organisations seeking to raise awareness of fairer, ethical trade. ETI's tenth anniversary conference 'The Next Decade' celebrated the achievements to date and set out future aims. To hear more about the event and meet Africa Now EBS's East Africa Regional Manager Jane Nyambura watch the video below.
Ethical and Fairtrade Seminar, November 2007
On Friday 23rd November 2007 Africa Now's Ethical Business Services held an Ethical and Fairtrade Seminar in Nairobi, Kenya. Highly esteemed speakers included HE Mr. Adam Wood, the British High Commissioner, and Mr. Mark Bor, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development.
Over 50 export sector investors and their representatives attended a major multi-sector seminar entitled 'Responding to Challenges in Fair and Ethical Trade' hosted by Africa Now. Attendees represented the main export sectors in Kenya; horticulture, floriculture, tea, coffee, textiles and jewellery.
Robert Hale, Africa Now's EBS Director commented "As an organisation offering a range of ethical business services, we could see that exporters are facing many challenges responding to international consumer demands. We have hosted this forum to share best practice and look together on how best we can influence, shape and implement important fair and ethical standards."
Well respected speakers
The seminar featured presentations from Mr. Adam Wood the British High Commissioner and Mr. Mark Bor, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development. Mr. Wood highlighted that British consumers are seriously concerned with ethical issues with 92% feeling that British companies should have a minimal ethical standard from their suppliers. He went on to note that climate change and carbon emissions are particularly at the front of British consumer minds today and that whilst acknowledging that this is indeed an issue that we all need to pay attention to and act on, we must do so in an informed way. "Food miles are only a partial concept" he explained. Mr. Wood put the onus to cut carbon footprints firmly at the door of developed countries, stating that,
"We need to cut our huge carbon footprint, not force Africa to cut its tiny one."
The carbon debate
The debate over carbon emissions is something that has been of great concern to the Kenyan export industry as although it has made leaps and bounds to meet consumer demands for ethical, environmental and quality standards, the fact that fresh produce has to be air freighted cannot be avoided. Mr. Wood showed his support for the Kenyan export industry, as well as the continued smallholder entry and participation, by stating "The British government is promoting a more informed debate - striving for consumer behaviour that works to reduce greenhouse emissions and to make poverty history."
Mr. Bor, provided a much awaited overview on the new labour laws coming into operation by notice. He explained,
"These changes are truly significant as they are the first changes to the labour law since the 1960's. We feel they bring us up to date and reflect contemporary economic and social changes that have taken place in Kenya."
Highlights of the labour law changes include that the Employment Act, 2007, in which the minimum age for entering employment has risen from 16 years to 18 years. Mr. Bor explained this is to "harmonise the definition with that of the Children". Women will be given three month's maternity leave and men given two weeks paternity leave.
The seminar also featured presentations from those working in the export industry sharing experiences in best practice. These included, Samson Lukoba from Oserian, Hassan Ndisho from Socfinaf, Andrew Hardy from East Africa Growers and George Okara from Mirage.
Mr. Mark Bor, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development "Overview of the Changes to Kenyan Labour Laws"
Robert Hale, EBS Director, Africa Now "Local People, Practical Solutions"
Hassan Ndisho, Socfinaf "Mainstreaming Fair and Ethical Trade Practices in Supply Chains"
Andrew Hardy, East Africa Growers Ltd Case Study of "Ethical Trade in Practice"
George Okara, Mirage "Case Study of Ethical Trade in Practice"