GCRF Decent Work: Decent Work in Regional Value Chains: Promoting Public-Private Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Environment, Education and Development
Abstract
The growth of South-South trade involving Southern lead firms and end markets presents critical challenges for the governance of decent work. However, we have limited information on whether the commercial dynamics of domestic and regional value chains (RVCs) coordinated by Southern lead firms undermine decent work. Or do they provide new channels for promoting labour standards through multi-stakeholder public-private alliances based in the global South? Can governance of RVCs in Southern markets become more ethical leading to labour outcomes that support sustainable development? This study aims to address this critical gap by asking: What are the implications of regional and domestic value chains in the global South for public-private governance and regulation of decent work in global production? This has key policy implications for the potential development of Southern-based multi-stakeholder public-private 'ethical trade platforms' to support Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG8) on decent work. The research addresses this question on three fronts.
First, empirically it examines South African and Kenyan retailers that coordinate value chains domestically and across the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region. African producers have long supplied multi-national companies (MNCs) through global value chains (GVCs). MNCs apply private governance of social standards (codes of labour practice and fair trade) as a result of civil society campaigns to hold them to account for decent work deficits in GVCs. However, commercial pressures on suppliers to reduce costs and meet delivery criteria often undermine social standards. Production can shift to suppliers with weak labour rights and intensify use of precarious workers. Private social standards have been largely ineffective in securing decent work for precarious workers, many of whom are women. There are now calls for public governance (national labour regulation and social clauses in trade agreements) to play a greater role. Increasingly SSA suppliers also sell into RVCs coordinated by South African and some Kenyan retailers. This research focuses on sourcing by South African and Kenyan retailers of horticulture and garments from South Africa, Lesotho and Kenya. It assesses the implications for attaining decent work, especially for precarious female workers. It examines whether the spread of RVCs imply greater commercial challenges for labour, or could provide a channel for enhancing public-private governance of decent work.
Second, analytically the research advances global value chain and global production network (GPN) approaches to governance combined with gender analysis of decent work for precarious labour. It adapts polycentric analysis of public and private governance of RVCs to incorporate 'joint and several' accountability for decent work. This extends beyond direct employers, involving wider commercial actors that can influence working conditions, including buyers, suppliers and labour contractors across different value chain tiers. It provides an analytical framework for examining governance of decent work in RVCs that overlap with GVCs. This has important implications for analysis of how linkages between public and private governance can be enhanced to support attainment of SDG8.
Third, policy wise the research combines an inter-disciplinary team working in close collaboration with the UK Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). ETI has strong connections in sub-Saharan Africa through its company, NGO and trade union members, and with MSIs in South African and Kenya. We aim to provide a research informed contribution to examining how Southern-based multi-stakeholder alliances involving government, commercial and civil society actors could be tailored to South African and Kenyan RVCs. The research will inform ETI's 2020 vision of promoting new 'ethical trade platforms' in Africa as a new model of sustainable development in support of SDG8 on decent work
First, empirically it examines South African and Kenyan retailers that coordinate value chains domestically and across the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region. African producers have long supplied multi-national companies (MNCs) through global value chains (GVCs). MNCs apply private governance of social standards (codes of labour practice and fair trade) as a result of civil society campaigns to hold them to account for decent work deficits in GVCs. However, commercial pressures on suppliers to reduce costs and meet delivery criteria often undermine social standards. Production can shift to suppliers with weak labour rights and intensify use of precarious workers. Private social standards have been largely ineffective in securing decent work for precarious workers, many of whom are women. There are now calls for public governance (national labour regulation and social clauses in trade agreements) to play a greater role. Increasingly SSA suppliers also sell into RVCs coordinated by South African and some Kenyan retailers. This research focuses on sourcing by South African and Kenyan retailers of horticulture and garments from South Africa, Lesotho and Kenya. It assesses the implications for attaining decent work, especially for precarious female workers. It examines whether the spread of RVCs imply greater commercial challenges for labour, or could provide a channel for enhancing public-private governance of decent work.
Second, analytically the research advances global value chain and global production network (GPN) approaches to governance combined with gender analysis of decent work for precarious labour. It adapts polycentric analysis of public and private governance of RVCs to incorporate 'joint and several' accountability for decent work. This extends beyond direct employers, involving wider commercial actors that can influence working conditions, including buyers, suppliers and labour contractors across different value chain tiers. It provides an analytical framework for examining governance of decent work in RVCs that overlap with GVCs. This has important implications for analysis of how linkages between public and private governance can be enhanced to support attainment of SDG8.
Third, policy wise the research combines an inter-disciplinary team working in close collaboration with the UK Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). ETI has strong connections in sub-Saharan Africa through its company, NGO and trade union members, and with MSIs in South African and Kenya. We aim to provide a research informed contribution to examining how Southern-based multi-stakeholder alliances involving government, commercial and civil society actors could be tailored to South African and Kenyan RVCs. The research will inform ETI's 2020 vision of promoting new 'ethical trade platforms' in Africa as a new model of sustainable development in support of SDG8 on decent work
Planned Impact
The main impact intended from this research is to inform more effective multi-stakeholder alliances within the global South, involving companies, civil society and government actors that promote greater synergy between public and private governance leading to decent work outcomes for all workers. Interdisciplinary collaboration between academics at the Universities of Manchester, Cape Town and Nairobi and the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is designed from the outset to maximise impact of the research across key policy, private sector and academic beneficiary groups. ETI is a multi-stakeholder organisation with approximately 100 company members, plus 16 NGOs and trade union federations. We identify 3 beneficiary groups:
First, the policy community concerned with the public and private governance of decent work in shifting regional value chains including: Multi-lateral (WTO, EU) and regional (SADC, EAC, COMESA) trade bodies and trade negotiators. International organisations (e.g. ILO, ITC, UNIDO, UNDP and World Bank). International, regional and national NGOs (e.g. Fairtrade Africa, WoF in South Africa, and KENAFF and CARE in Kenya). Trade unions (e.g. IUF, IndustriALL, SACTWU, SACCAWU, and FAWU). National government agencies located in South Africa and Kenya (e.g. Ministries of Agriculture, Industry, Trade and Labour). It will also inform implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Human Rights (UNGP), linking the state's duty to protect with companies duty to respect labour rights globally, nationally and locally. The intended impact of these activities is greater engagement by public agencies with private actors in Africa.
Second, representatives of the private sector - including regional retailers from South Africa and Kenya, as well as UK/EU based importers and retailers with international operations sourcing products from the selected sectors in SSA. Partnership with the ETI on this project will play a critical role in providing access and engaging companies. The research is aligned and will contribute to ETI's 2020 organisational strategy to support an emerging international network of ethical trade platforms, of which South Africa is a priority (ETI 2105). Such multi-stakeholder public-private alliances based in Africa aim to engage local stakeholders in the decent work agenda, in order to more effectively promote attainment of the UNGP and SDG8.
Third, the academic community in the UK/EU, the sub-Saharan Africa region and also internationally. In particular, this includes academics working in the cognate disciplines of development studies, economic geography, sociology, law and international political economy. An important component involves strengthening the capacity of Southern academic research partners. This will be achieved through convening methodological and training activities for Masters and PhD students at the Universities of Cape Town and Nairobi, as well as facilitating engagement of these institutions in research and policy dialogue. The academic community will further benefit from analytical and methodological advances provided by the project through in-depth examination of commercial and governance dynamics in the context of regional and domestic VCs and the associated teaching resources that will stem from this conceptual advancement.
The research will inform future strategies to scale up public-private alliances in the global South. ETI, associated members and wider labour practitioner networks (e.g. sister ETI organisation networks IEH, ETI Norway, and DIEH, ETI Denmark) will be informed by the implications of these developments for the potential generation of Southern-based multi-stakeholder ethical trade platforms. In sum, the focus on how to establish more effective ethical trade platforms within Africa, involving public, private and civil society actors, will act as a beacon for similar alliances elsewhere in the global South.
First, the policy community concerned with the public and private governance of decent work in shifting regional value chains including: Multi-lateral (WTO, EU) and regional (SADC, EAC, COMESA) trade bodies and trade negotiators. International organisations (e.g. ILO, ITC, UNIDO, UNDP and World Bank). International, regional and national NGOs (e.g. Fairtrade Africa, WoF in South Africa, and KENAFF and CARE in Kenya). Trade unions (e.g. IUF, IndustriALL, SACTWU, SACCAWU, and FAWU). National government agencies located in South Africa and Kenya (e.g. Ministries of Agriculture, Industry, Trade and Labour). It will also inform implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Human Rights (UNGP), linking the state's duty to protect with companies duty to respect labour rights globally, nationally and locally. The intended impact of these activities is greater engagement by public agencies with private actors in Africa.
Second, representatives of the private sector - including regional retailers from South Africa and Kenya, as well as UK/EU based importers and retailers with international operations sourcing products from the selected sectors in SSA. Partnership with the ETI on this project will play a critical role in providing access and engaging companies. The research is aligned and will contribute to ETI's 2020 organisational strategy to support an emerging international network of ethical trade platforms, of which South Africa is a priority (ETI 2105). Such multi-stakeholder public-private alliances based in Africa aim to engage local stakeholders in the decent work agenda, in order to more effectively promote attainment of the UNGP and SDG8.
Third, the academic community in the UK/EU, the sub-Saharan Africa region and also internationally. In particular, this includes academics working in the cognate disciplines of development studies, economic geography, sociology, law and international political economy. An important component involves strengthening the capacity of Southern academic research partners. This will be achieved through convening methodological and training activities for Masters and PhD students at the Universities of Cape Town and Nairobi, as well as facilitating engagement of these institutions in research and policy dialogue. The academic community will further benefit from analytical and methodological advances provided by the project through in-depth examination of commercial and governance dynamics in the context of regional and domestic VCs and the associated teaching resources that will stem from this conceptual advancement.
The research will inform future strategies to scale up public-private alliances in the global South. ETI, associated members and wider labour practitioner networks (e.g. sister ETI organisation networks IEH, ETI Norway, and DIEH, ETI Denmark) will be informed by the implications of these developments for the potential generation of Southern-based multi-stakeholder ethical trade platforms. In sum, the focus on how to establish more effective ethical trade platforms within Africa, involving public, private and civil society actors, will act as a beacon for similar alliances elsewhere in the global South.
Publications
Barrientos S
(2022)
Regional value chains in the Global South: governance implications for producers and workers?
in Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society
Pasquali G
(2021)
Multichain strategies and economic upgrading in global value chains: Evidence from Kenyan horticulture
in World Development
Pasquali G
(2022)
Correction to: Governance of Eswatini Apparel Regional Value Chains and the Implications of Covid-19.
in The European journal of development research
Pasquali G
(2021)
Governance of Eswatini Apparel Regional Value Chains and the Implications of Covid-19
in The European Journal of Development Research
Pasquali G
(2020)
Understanding regional value chains through the interaction of public and private governance: Insights from Southern Africa's apparel sector
in Journal of International Business Policy
Pasquali G.
(2020)
Apparel Regional Value Chains and COVID-19: Insights from Eswatini
Pasquali G.
(2021)
Pulling up or binding down: a review of upgrading trajectories in apparel and agro-processing global value chains for developing countries
in WIDER Working Paper
| Description | Preliminary research conducted in 2019 indicated that complex shifts were taking place to regional value chains within horticulture and apparel in sub Saharan Africa. These have consequences for changes in the private and public governance of labour standards and decent work, which our fieldwork and publications describe (the latter still ongoing). The implications for workers, firms, and policy were examined later in 2019 and in the first months of 2020. Whilst the outbreak of Covid-19 limited the research team's capacity to conduct firework research (including face to face worker surveys and FGDs), a limited number of interviews were conducted virtually. Overall, three major key findings are important: 1. SMALLHOLDERS, WORKERS AND STANDARDS IN KENYAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN HORTICULTURE: Initial research mapping of horticulture value chains within Kenya found: (a) two overlapping value chain channels to retailers within Kenya - global producers employing wage labour applying northern standards (GlobalGAP and ETI Base Code), and selected domestic producers sourcing mainly from smallholders; (b) the Kenyan government has introduced a national standard (KS1758) equivalent to GlobalGAP and ETI Base code, which it is being rolled out to retailers within Kenya, with implications for producers, workers and smallholders in the value chain; (c) the Kenyan government is promoting the organisation of smallholders into Self Help Groups (SHGs), in which membership is based on active involvement in production rather than land tenure (unlike cooperatives where membership depends on land tenure) allowing women who play a critical but often unrecognised role in production to be accepted as SHGs members; (d) as KS1758 standard is rolled out to smallholders, they will need to be organised in SHGs to be certified. In order to capture these developments, the research has oriented more towards smallholders in domestic value chains than wage workers in global value chains, and is examining how enhancing visibility organisation of women in SHGs could contribute towards enhancing decent work and potentially women's economic empowerment. In South African fruit, it was found few African retailers applied social standards covering decent work in their regional value chains, but sourcing overlaps with global value chains meant some workers had limited cover from the latters' social standards, for other workers only labour regulation applies. We found evidence of increasing casualisation of workers in South African fruit, combined with lack of enforcement of labour regulation, resulting in deterioration of labour standards. However, 2 South African retailers (Woolworths and from 2021 Shoprite) now apply social standards under the South African ethical trading platform SIZA. Woolworth sources from suppliers to global supermarkets that have long applied social standards. It is too early to assess the implications of these standards for workers in Shoprite supply chains. 2. APPAREL WORKERS AND REGIONAL VALUE CHAINS (RVCs): Our research across Southern African apparel RVCs shows that, whilst in global value chains (GVCs) decent work is largely dependent on private codes of conduct enforced by global lead firms, in RVCs, it is shaped by a more complex interaction of governments, trade unions, and personal linkages between territorially embedded buyers and suppliers. Despite this difference, preliminary results for Eswatini and Lesotho reveal no significant difference in enabling rights across RVCs and GVCs. Importantly, however, we find variations in both measurable standards and enabling rights across two different types of RVCs: workers at large manufacturing plants directly contracted by South African retailers enjoy overall better scores across all decent work indicators compared to workers in smaller suppliers operating through intermediaries (known as design houses) and feeding into large discount retailers. 3. COVID-19 IMPACT ON WORKERS IN RVCs: in July 2020, the research team conducted online interviews with 7 factories and 2 key stakeholders to update our finding for the Eswatini apparel sector following the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the research drew on transaction-level export data to analyse the economic impact of the crisis on firms. Combining pre- and post-Covid-19 data, the research points to the coexistence of two separate RVCs: the first characterised by direct contracts between South African retailers and large manufacturers (direct suppliers); the second operating through indirect purchasing via intermediaries from relatively smaller producers (indirect suppliers). While direct suppliers enjoyed higher levels of economic and social upgrading than indirect suppliers before Covid-19, the pandemic reinforced this division, with severe price cuts for indirect suppliers. Furthermore, while retailers have provided some direct suppliers with support throughout the crisis, this has not been the case for indirect suppliers, who remain comparatively more vulnerable. In terms of public governance, the negative consequences of the lockdown on firms' income and workers' livelihoods have been compounded by the state's ineffective response. |
| Exploitation Route | We are making recommendations, in collaboration with the Ethical Trading Initiative, to companies, civil society organisations and governments in South Africa, Kenya, Lesotho and Eswatini. Our original plan was to hold three large stakeholder workshops in Kenya, South Africa and UK. These were combined into an international webinar (with different sessions targeted at RVCs and decent work in horticulture and apparel in South Africa, Kenya, Lesotho and Estwatini) in November 2021. The advantage of a professionally facilitated webinar workshop is that it was more easily accessible to those based in multiple African countries and the UK, and allowed diverse stakeholders from all five countries to jointly participate in discussion of the findings and policy recommendations. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Retail,Other |
| URL | https://www.gdi.manchester.ac.uk/research/groups/gpn-trade-labour/shifting-south/ |
| Description | In apparel, our research output on Eswatini's participation in apparel regional value chains caught the interest of two large apparel retailers in South Africa, which source an important share of their garments from Eswatini. Our research points to the severe impact of Covid-19 on a specific group of small CMT suppliers operating via intermediaries. We further show how the presence of intermediaries reduces the effectiveness of retailers codes of conduct on monitoring labour standards. Furthermore, we analyse the insufficient response of the Eswatini government. In a private email sent to the research team, a large South African apparel brand reacted to our research: 'These are very relevant and important insights and confirmation in terms of sourcing structure types. It is very concerning to see the price pressure recorded, as this is unacceptable in an environment trying to recover from a pandemic, that indicates continued distress, especially as firms are not able to work at full capacity [...] It seems from the paper, that the Eswatini government is not coming to the rescue, yet my understanding was that they have been very supportive of the industry in the past, through some form of subsidised support. I cannot help but think that there is so much more to understand in this south-to-south trade relationships, and as pointed out on the blog, definitely unique learnings that do NOT necessarily align to the learnings from the north.' In horticulture, research on smallholders, gender and standards informed Flamingo Plc on the potential to adapt existing standards in order to enhance visibility of women working at smallholder level. Research findings from both the GCRF Decent Work project and pilot with Flamingo under the WOW programmes will jointly inform feedback to key private sector, public and civil society stakeholders in Kenya, UK and Europe. If successful, this has potential to encourage other companies and stakeholders to scale up collection and recording of gender disaggregated data, and inform initiatives to enhance decent work and women's empowerment in smallholder production linked to global and regional value chains. We held two virtual workshops (horticulture and garments) with representatives of key companies, government departments, civil society organisations in South Africa, Kenya, Estwatini and Lesotho in November 2021. There was a high level of engagement in discussing research findings and policy implications, informing finalisation of the two Policy Briefs (horticulture and garments) and formulation of key policy recommendations on promoting decent work in African regional value chains being made public. |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Retail |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | As part of the course 'Globalisation, outsourcing and the governance of global value chains', Dr Matthew Alford delivered a lecture to 120 MSc International Business and Management students, as part of the core International Business Strategy MSc course unit at the Manchester Alliance Business School. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The case study material used by Dr Matthew Alford in the lecture drew directly upon the Shifting South project findings, by demonstrating the increasing significance (and ethical implications) of emerging country multinationals in governance value chains in Sub-Saharan Africa. |
| URL | https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/list/12805/msc-international-business-and-managem... |
| Description | E-mail by large retailer positively reacting to our research outcome |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | In a private email sent to the research team, a large South African apparel brand reacted to our recent research on Eswatini apparel and Covid-19. In the words of the retailer head of sustainability: 'These are very relevant and important insights and confirmation in terms of sourcing structure types. It's very concerning to see the price pressure recorded, as this is unacceptable in an environment trying to recover from a pandemic, that indicates continued distress, especially as firms are not able to work at full capacity [...] It seems from the paper, that the Eswatini government is not coming to the rescue, yet my understanding was that they have been very supportive of the industry in the past, through some form of subsidised support. I cannot help but think that there is so much more to understand in this south-to-south trade relationships, and as pointed out on the blog, definitely unique learnings that do NOT necessarily align to the learnings from the north.' |
| Description | Guest lecture to postgraduate course: Work and Employment in the Global Economy (University of Manchester, Module Code: MGDI60131) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Presentation to Fairtrade International |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | South African Portfolio Committee |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | GCRF and Newton Consolidation Accounts The University of Manchester |
| Amount | £450,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/X527932/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | Ethical Trading Initiative |
| Organisation | Ethical Trading Initiative |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The research informs ETI's 2020 vision of promoting new 'ethical trade platforms' in Africa as a new model of sustainable development in support of SDG8 on decent work. Specifically, our research provides an informed contribution to examining how Southern-based multi-stakeholder alliances involving government, commercial and civil society actors could be tailored to South African and Kenyan regional value chains. |
| Collaborator Contribution | ETI has strong connections in sub-Saharan Africa through its company, NGO and trade union members, and with MSIs in South African and Kenya. So far, it has provided the research team with access to numerous stakeholders (including producers, exporters, unions and retailers). |
| Impact | The organisation of three workshops was facilitated by the ETI. Two were organised in 2019 in Nairobi (Kenya) and Cape Town (South Africa) to kickstart the project. In this respect, the contribution of ETI was critical to enable stakeholders' participation. In February 2020, another workshop was held at the ETI headquarters in London to provide some preliminary evidence from our 2019 fieldwork. This workshop was internal to the ETI. A second workshop with ETI members (including a number of UK and European retailers) is expected to take place in November 2021 at the ETI headquarters. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | University of Nairobi |
| Organisation | University of Nairobi |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our research group at Manchester has established a partnership with Prof Maggie Opondo at the University of Nairobi to conduct fieldwork research in the Kenya avocado and green beans value chains. In collaboration with Prof Opondo, our research group has designed all research tools (including questionnaires and interview schedules) and it ensured stakeholder participation through the organisation of a workshop in 2019. The University of Manchester is also fully funding the involvement of Prof Maggie Opondo, who was nevertheless part of the team that was awarded the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof Maggie Opondo has led the fieldwork research in Kenya, including interviews and focus group discussions with smallholder farmers, workers, retailers, and other stakeholders in the avocado and green beans value chains. The fieldwork was interrupted because Covid-19, as it was about 80% complete. The remaining 20% is due to be conducted in 2021. |
| Impact | Two working papers (to be elaborated into journal articles) are presently being drafted in collaboration with Prof Maggie Opondo. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | 'What do shifting global trade dynamics mean for ethical trade?' Blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Alford, Matthew 'What do shifting global trade dynamics mean for ethical trade?', Alliance Manchester Business School, Original Thinkers Opinion Article, November 2021 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/original-thinking-applied/original-thinkers/what-do-shiftin... |
| Description | 'When trade shifts South' VoxEU CEPR Commentary |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Pasquali, G., Krishnan, A. and Alford, M. (2021) 'When trade shifts South: New upgrading prospects for horticulture suppliers in the Global South', VOXEu CEPR - Research-based policy analysis and commentary from leading economists, July 2021 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://voxeu.org/article/new-upgrading-prospects-horticulture-suppliers-global-south |
| Description | Africa Policy Workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Two virtual policy workshops were held (one on garments, the other on horticulture) in the same week for invited audiences drawn from representatives of retailers, government officials, producers, manufacturers, NGOs and trade unions within South Africa, Kenya, Lesotho and Eswatini, plus the International Labour Organisation. The aim was to feed back provisional research findings to key practitioners and stakeholders engaged in African regional value chains and decent work, and to discuss key policy recommendations coming out of the research project. The workshops informed finalisation of two Policy Briefs on Horticulture and Garments, to be made publicly available on the Shifting South website. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.gdi.manchester.ac.uk/research/groups/gpn-trade-labour/shifting-south/ |
| Description | Coop Future of Food Session |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Stephanie Barrientos (PI) was invited to give a presentation at the Cooperative Supermarket 'Future of Food Ignition Session: Treating People Fairly'. This is an internal Coop working group strategising on the company's position on the future of food, made up of senior Coop personnel. Group participants include Coop Head of Agriculture, Head of Ethics, Sustainability & Policy, Head of Value Chain and Head of Customer Strategy & Proposition. Other external speakers were CEO Oxfam GB and CEO, World Fairtrade Organisation. Stephanie was asked to talk on key global changes taking place in agricultural value chains, with a focus on promoting gender equality and decent work in Africa. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Covid support programme for vulnerable workers in Kenya and Ethiopia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | July 14th, 2021. Partner Africa has recently been working with UK retailers, FCDO and the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI) on a Covid support programme for vulnerable workers in Kenya and Ethiopia. From this it has emerged that there is a real need to provide suppliers with more info on the ethical trade standards required by national and International buyers. This webinar was aimed at this. About 50 among charities, businesses, and policy makers attended the webinar. The Shifting South research team (Stephanie Barrientos, Giovanni Pasquali, Maggie Opondo, and Margaaret Visser) presented their research with a focus on: • Providing an overview of the salient human rights and labour rights issues within East Africa • Hearing directly from new research findings on how the changing nature of trade is impacting private and public labour standards policy • Jointly with other African suppliers and stakeholders exploring opportunities for broader collaboration on responsible business conduct in Africa, which is good for business and good for workers • Discussing and contributing to recommendations for future ethical trade forums in East Africa |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqc-iqrzgvHNEbalPPbPI-i0eQL3ot1HEI |
| Description | Development Studies Association Conference 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The research group organised and managed panel P04 at Development Studies Association Conference 2021. The panel was held online on June 28th and 29th. A total of 60 participants (including policy makers and academics) were involved. 12 papers were presented on the topic of trade in regional value chains, decent work, and Covid-19. Five papers presented evidence from the present research project. These were: Governance of Eswatini apparel regional value chains and the implications of Covid-19 (Pasquali & Godfrey) Private governance of overlapping global, regional and domestic value chains: the case of South African apples (Alford & Visser) Multichain strategies and economic upgrading in global value chains: Evidence from Kenyan horticulture (Pasquli, Krishnan, & Alford) Labour conditions and regional value chains: insights from Lesotho and eSwatini apparel workers (Godfrey & Pasquali) Smallholder access and outcomes in shifting domestic and regional value chains - the case of Kenya horticulture (Opondo & Barrientos) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.devstud.org.uk/conference/conference-2021/programme/#10000 |
| Description | ETI Food & Farming COVID-19 Risk Forum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | On 2nd April, 2020, Dr Maggie Opondo presented and discussed the project's results in relation to the Kenya horticulture component. The audience included most of ETI private sector and civil society members, as well as number of external key stakeholders including UK supermarkets, importers, FNET, Amfori and BSI. Dr Opondo further gave an update on how COVID-19 has accelerated the shifting trade to the global south due to restrictions that hampered horticultural trade with Europe. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | IAWA Webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Stephanie Barrientos gave a keynote presentation 'Fair Trade and Decent Work in Agrifood Value Chains: standards, rights and gender' in an international webinar organised by the International Association on Work in Agriculture (IAWA) on 'Transformations in food systems and agrifood value chains: How do work and employment come into play' held in December 2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.workinagriculture.com/IAWA-Activities/December-1st-2022-IAWA-Webinar/Webinar-Program |
| Description | LSE Seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Stephanie Barrientos (PI) gave an academic seminar at the London School of Economics on 'Public Governance in Kenyan Horticulture Value Chains: implications for smallholders supplying global and domestic retailers'. The seminar was attended by academic staff and postgraduate students |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | National Farmworkers' Platform South Africa |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Stephanie Barrientos (PI) gave a plenary presentation (virtually) at a strategy/planning conference of the National Farmworkers' Platform organised by the South African NGO 'Women on Farms'. The focus of her talk was on women farm workers in global and regional agricultural value chains, and promoting gender equality in decent work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Policy Briefs: Garments and Horticulture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Two Policy Briefs were produced, one on garments the other on horticulture regional value chains and decent work in sub Saharan Africa. Drafts of the two policy briefs were circulated to and discussed with participants in the Policy Workshops attended by representatives from government, retail, industry associations, suppliers, trade unions and NGOs in South Africa, Kenya, Lesotho and Eswatini, plus the International Labour Organisation. The workshops informed subsequent revision of the policy briefs and final policy recommendations arising from the research project. The Policy Briefs are being made publicly available on the Shifting South website. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.gdi.manchester.ac.uk/research/groups/gpn-trade-labour/shifting-south/ |
| Description | Presentation Global Conference on Economic Geography |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Matthew Alford presented a conference paper on: Regional Value Chains and Governance of Decent Work in Sub Saharan Africa, 7-11 June 2022, Global Conference on Economic Geography (GCEG) 2022 conference, University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin, June 2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation SASE Conference 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Matthew Alford presented a paper 'Shifting South: Regional Value Chains and Decent work in Sub Saharan Africa', on behalf of the full research team (Barrientos, Alford, Nadvi, Godfrey, Visser and Opondo) in July 2022 at the Society for the Advancement of Socio-economics (SASE) Annual Conference 2022, University of Amsterdam. An outcome was agreement with colleagues at the University of Edinburgh (Dr Andrew Bowman and Dr Hazel Gray) to organise a workshop in Manchester in 2023 bringing together UK and international researchers on African agri-food value chains to (a) plan a special journal issue on the topic; and (b) plan a future research agenda. This workshop was then funded by an ESPRC grant (see further funding), and is also reported below. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Project inception workshop in Nairobi, Kenya |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | About 40 people (including business in the apparel and horticulture sectors, and civil society organisations) attended an inception workshop in Nairobi to explain the project agenda and collect feedback. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Public Lecture Manchester 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Public lecture given in person by: Alford, Barrientos, Nadvi; joined via zoom by: Godfrey, Visser and Opondo. 'Regional Value Chains and Governance of Decent Work in Sub Saharan Africa', Global Development Institute (GDI) Public Lecture Series, University of Manchester, March 2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.gdi.manchester.ac.uk/connect/events/gdi-lecture-series/ |
| Description | Public Lecture QMUL |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Matthew Alford invited to give a Public Lecture 'Shifting South: Governance and decent work in regional value chains: transition towards polycentric governance in sub-Saharan Africa?', School of Business and Management, Queen Mary, University of London, March 2023 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.qmul.ac.uk/busman/newsandevents/events/items/regional-value-chains-and-governance-of-dec... |
| Description | Research Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A virtual end of project Research Workshop (separate from the Policy Workshops) was held for an invited audience of academics, researchers, postgraduate students and 3 leading policy experts. The aim was to disseminate and discuss research findings, focusing more on the analytical and methodological aspects of the project, and inform finalisation of academic research outputs from the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Shifting South Workshop in Cape Town |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | About 40 people (including business in the apparel and horticulture sectors, and civil society organisations) attended an inception workshop in Cape Town to explain the project agenda and collect feedback. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Shifting South: Garment and Horticulture Podcasts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Two podcasts (approx. 40 minutes each) were produced, one on garments the other on horticulture value chains and decent work in sub-Saharan Africa. The podcasts involved discussion between leading researchers on the project, examining key findings on the challenges and opportunities plus policy options for promoting decent work in regional value chains within these sectors. The podcasts are aimed at an informed but wide ranging international audience. The podcasts to be made publicly available on the Shifting South project website, and promoted via social media through the Global Development Institute at the University of Manchester. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.gdi.manchester.ac.uk/research/groups/gpn-trade-labour/shifting-south/ |
| Description | Society for Advancement of Socio-Economics (SASE) Conference 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | 3 papers from the project were presented at the SASE Conference 2021 in front of an audience of 50-100 academics, postgraduate students, and policymakers. The papers sparked questions and debate that has helped us to shape our outputs for future publication. The papers presented were: Private Governance of Overlapping Global, Regional and Domestic Value Chains: The Case of South African Apples (Visser & Alford) Smallholder Access and Outcomes in Shifting Domestic and Regional Value Chains - the Case of Kenya Horticulture (Opondo & Barrientos) Labour Conditions and Regional Value Chains: Insights from Lesotho and Eswatini Apparel Workers (Godfrey, Pasquali & Jacobs) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://sase.confex.com/sase/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Search/0?sort=Relevance&size=10&page=1&searchterm=b... |
| Description | Workshop with Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) in London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Workshop hosted by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) in London at which Prof Barrientos and Dr Pasquali provided initial feedback on preliminary research findings and initiated policy discussion. Research collaborators from South Africa and Kenya joined remotely via zoom. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |