Trading

A4R is an established ethical business trading in quality art craft products.
The business was started in order to embrace the skills of the local young people
in Rwenzori and Kampala region to produce quality products suitable for export.
The business concept has been developed to ensure that the group of young people doing
the art craft receive a fair income in a sustainable enterprise.

“act local think global

• To develop a sustainable enterprise that adheres to Fair Trade and Ethical Principles in all areas of production, product design and business development.
• To use sustainable and eco/organic materials in product design and development where possible.
• To continue to research and develop methods of production in an environmentally sound manner.

Africa4rafiki comprises a large number of youth from the Rwenzori and Kampala region in
Uganda, and focuses on providing employment opportunities for these youth, many of who are
at risk and would not otherwise have a means of livelihood. Africa4rafiki have a team of skilled artisans
who have received education through Art Schools and University in Uganda, and east Africa,
who comprise Africa4rafiki production team.
The A4R team receive a fair wage, as well as access to loans and medical assistance when required.
Africa4rafiki has training workshops on a regular basis to empower the youth to learn further skills as well
as gaining more of an understanding of the demands of the trade incl. export market and
product design and color combinations.

IFAT/COFTA [see www.wfto.com] is a federation to promote fair trade and a forum for the exchange of information to help members increase benefits to producers. IFAT aims to improve the livelihoods of disadvantaged people in developing countries by linking and strengthening organisations that offer just alternatives to unfair trade structures and practices and Africa4rafiki aims zto have fair trade accreditation by the end of 2009.

In Uganda cocoa production has grown to 10,006 tonnes in the 2006/07 financial year from 3,700 tonnes in 2001 and the earnings have also hit $20m from $3.7m in 2001 www.New Vision.ug  The earnings are projected to grow to $25m next year. As a result, the farmgate price has also risen to sh2,000, from just about sh500 a few years ago, making some farmers in the cocoa-growing districts to almost abandon coffee for the lucrative product. Ugandan cocoa suffers little pests and diseases, so it can be grown organically, which fetches higher premiums so Ugandan farmers are now engaged in cocoa production to supplement their household incomes and Cocoa presents Ugandan smallholder farmers with relatively strong commercial opportunities. Mr. Mugenyi, the cocoa manager of Rafiki Cocoa project, A4R, are increasing the capacity to buy raw bean to be used in the manufacture of chocolates and beverages and A4R plan to export from Bundibugyo. Mr. Mugenyi says that a kilogramme of dried cocoa goes for Shs1, 800, payment terms are negotiable, and drier the cocoa bean are the better the quality. Bundibugyo district accounts for 60 per cent share of all the cocoa grown in Uganda. In order to maintain the quality of cocoa Rafiki project. Have to established a factory in the area to dry the beans to good standards. Rafiki project have to set up a base in Bundibugyo to be closer to the farmers and be able to offer them training on how to maintain the quality of the cocoa.

Since most of the farmers in Bundibugyo do not have the means to transporting their cocoa to potential buyers Rafiki project business will be to buy the cocoa from farmers and sell to potential cocoa exporters in Kampala. Rafiki Cocoa project marketing and distribution strategy for the moment will focus on potential cocoa buyers in Kampala, although Rafiki Cocoa Project are aware of that farmers have less or no other choice; they do not have the office infrastructure with computer facilities to keep track of the business and to better serve their customers. Rafiki Cocoa Project will capitalise on these weak points in order to gain a bigger market share and will also focus on strong points to sit on the boundary of the competitive envelop. Rafiki Cocoa Project will also be price strategic when buying from the farmers; we would buy at a slighly higher price from the farmers as compare to our competitors; from this point we can help farmers to develop and our business improve the local living standards; reduce the rate of rural to urban migration of the youths and work force, reduce the rate of uneducated children by eradicating poverty in the rural communities. Finally, the spin-off impact of Rafiki Cocoa project is great, since the likelyhood for its replication is very high. Many more cocoa producer can be organized, providing higher incomes to farmers and gatherers in Bundibugyo after some years.