FTIS 2018

Call for Papers

The aim of this conference is to investigate the ethics and practice of fairness that constitute the processes, goals and indicators of sustainable development. We encourage researchers and practitioners to use the SDGs as a lens to explore and assess Fair Trade's contribution to date and potential to support a global agenda towards sustainable development.

FTIS 2018 Conference Themes:

SDG 1 - No poverty: How can Fair Trade contribute to the overarching goal of ending poverty in all its forms everywhere?  How can researchers and practitioners measure and assess Fair Trade’s impact on poverty reduction? Can researchers measure changes in poverty reduction by putting a value on poverty reduction, what metrics might be used to measure impact beyond financial benefits?

SDG 2 - Zero hunger: How does Fair Trade support sustainable agriculture and food security? To what extent do Fair Trade interventions increase standards of living and reduce vulnerability of smallholder farmers and workers?

SDG 5 - Gender equality: How does Fair Trade ensure that women receive equal pay to men? Do Fair Trade organisations enable women to participate fully in decision-making? What can Fair Trade contribute towards the changing of social norms in supply chains leading to increased female producer empowerment, including involvement in cooperative and union leadership?

SDG 8 - Decent work and economic growth: How can standard-setting approaches, such as Fair Trade, improve working conditions and livelihoods in global supply chains? How do differences in market structures and institutional networks affect the dynamics and efficacy of Fair Trade programmes?

SDG 10 - Reduced inequalities: How does Fair Trade seek to address issues of inequality in international trade? How can Fair Trade address imbalances in power and influence between stakeholders in the Global North and Global South?

SDG 12 - Responsible consumption and production: How does Fair Trade support a policy and market environment that promotes sustainable consumption and production? What does ethical consumption look like in ‘emerging economy’ contexts, and how does this inform existing notions of Fair Trade? To what extent are public policies on sustainable production and consumption addressing the fairness dimensions of sustainability? What are the risks and opportunities of governments engaging with Fair Trade?

SDG 13 - Climate action: How does Fair Trade promote sustainable farming practices? What is the balance between climate change mitigation and adaptation? What are the opportunities and challenges in the generation of ‘carbon credits’ by Fair Trade producers and how might this encourage or hinder sustainable development?

SDG 16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions: How does Fair Trade support inclusive societies, access to justice and accountable and effective institutions? What role can Fair Trade organisations play in influencing the accountability of institutions at a national and international level?

SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals: How has Fair Trade developed local and global partnerships? What are the challenges of shaping and influencing a multi-stakeholder initiative? What is the place of Fair Trade in the adoption of regulations and incentive structures by states to attract investments and reinforce sustainable development? Fair Trade is a multi-stakeholder partnership, what private or public governance models (within or beyond the Fair Trade movement) are best equipped to maintain a producer-oriented transformative agenda for Fair Trade? 

This list is indicative of some of the topics and questions that we consider will be of interest to Fair Trade scholars and stakeholders – however, we also encourage papers that explore alternative approaches and new perspectives on SDGs beyond those identified here. 

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