Ergon mapped and engaged with social partners and NGOs across six African countries as part of a feasibility study for the Better Work Programme looking at African export agriculture.
The object of the assignment was to produce recommendations on possible countries and sectors for potential activities under the Better Work Programme, which seeks to promote labour standards, build the capacity of labour stakeholders and thereby improve export competitiveness.
The project was carried out in two phases and the focus countries and sectors studied were: Phase I: Mali (horticulture), Zambia (sugar and wheat), Madagascar (horticulture, sugar, essential oils and rice), Uganda (sugar, dairy, tea and oil seed). Phase II: Uganda (coffee, flowers), Kenya (coffee, horticulture, flowers), Tanzania (coffee, flowers)
For each country, we assessed the circumstances of the relevant sector against Better Work criteria. Each phase included:
- - desk research into the commercial situation of the sector and any specific or endemic labour standards deficits;
- - mapping of key stakeholders at national, sectoral and local level;
- - country visits to meet stakeholders and test initial desk research findings. Stakeholders included government ministries, social partners, NGOs farmer groups, commercial supply chain actors;
- - external stakeholder engagement with key buyers, international NGOs and trade unions;
- - compilation of final report with assessment of feasibility against BW criteria and recommendations.
