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2. Closing the Divide in Malawi: How to Reduce Inequality and Increase Prosperity for all
- Author:
- Clare Coffey, Jessica Hamer, and Chiara Mariotti
- Publication Date:
- 04-2018
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Inequality between the richest and the rest in Malawi continues to rise, with poverty remaining extreme and endemic. Climate change is compounding the challenges, with recent droughts and floods likely to have worsened poverty, resulting in one in three Malawians relying on humanitarian assistance in 2016. Economic inequality threatens to undermine the hard-fought and important progress on some aspects of human development in Malawi. This report presents a vision, roadmap and policy recommendations for a more inclusive, equitable and prosperous Malawi. It shows that inequality is not inevitable but the result of policy choices made by those with power. Breaking out of slow and unequal growth requires government, development partners and institutions to work for all, especially for those living at the margins, rather than serving powerful vested interests.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Climate Change, Gender Issues, Inequality, and Tax Systems
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Malawi
3. Land But No Freedom: Debt, poverty and Human Suffering in the Philippine Banana Trade
- Author:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Publication Date:
- 06-2018
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Poverty is widespread among the small-scale farmers and workers who produce and process our food, in an industry worth billions of dollars. Oxfam’s new campaign highlights the systemic inequality and human suffering in food supply chains – and shows how action by supermarkets, governments, small-scale farmers and workers could lead to a decent and dignified standard of living for millions of people. This case study reveals how many banana farmers in the Philippines are being pushed deeper into poverty by the companies who buy their bananas for export. While many have gained ownership of their land through the government’s land reform programme, they are now locked into contracts with banana buyers that, in Oxfam’s opinion, are grossly unjust. Without action, these one-sided deals will keep banana farmers and their families in debt for generations – while company profits continue to rise.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Poverty, Food, and Farming
- Political Geography:
- Philippines and Indo-Pacific
4. Supermarket Responsibilities for Supply Chain Workers’ Rights: Continuing challenges in seafood supply chains and the case for stronger supermarket action
- Author:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Publication Date:
- 06-2018
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- International food supply chains provide employment for tens of millions of women and men around the world, demonstrating the potential for private sector actors to fight poverty and inequality. Yet far too many work in appalling conditions. The ongoing challenges in seafood supply chains are illustrative of the problems that can arise and the need for stakeholders to tackle their root causes. This is one of a series of in-depth studies to supplement Oxfam’s global campaign report, Ripe for Change: Ending human suffering in supermarket supply chains. This report assesses recent progress in realizing workers’ rights in seafood supply chains originating in Southeast Asia; provides new evidence of ongoing workers’ rights challenges in US and European supermarket shrimp supply chains beginning in Indonesia and Thailand; and explores the need, in particular, to address the buyer power of supermarkets and other lead firms to squeeze value from their suppliers.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Food, Private Sector, Farming, Labor Rights, and Supply Chains
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Indonesia, Asia, North America, Thailand, United States of America, and Indo-Pacific
5. Human Suffering in Italy’s Agricultural Value Chain
- Author:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Publication Date:
- 06-2018
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Poverty is widespread among the small-scale farmers and workers who produce and process our food, in an industry worth billions of dollars. Oxfam’s new campaign highlights the systemic inequality and human suffering in food supply chains – and shows how action by supermarkets, governments, small-scale farmers and workers could lead to a decent and dignified standard of living for millions of people. This case study reveals endemic economic exploitation of farm workers in Italy who supply fruit and vegetables to supermarkets across Europe. It highlights the particular vulnerability of women and migrant workers, many of whom are recruited by gangmasters and forced to live and work in inhumane conditions. Wages are deducted in return for transport, food and accommodation. Workers express fear of sexual harassment, violence and exploitation.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Labor Issues, Food, and Supply Chains
- Political Geography:
- Europe
6. Tuzamurane Pineapple Cooperative, Rwanda: Empowering Small-Scale Farmers to Benefit from the Global Market
- Author:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Publication Date:
- 06-2018
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Poverty is widespread among the small-scale farmers and workers who produce and process our food, in an industry worth billions of dollars. Oxfam’s new campaign highlights the systemic inequality and human suffering in food supply chains – and shows how action by supermarkets, governments, small-scale farmers and workers could lead to a decent and dignified standard of living for millions of people. This case study looks at the positive example of the Tuzamurane Cooperative in Rwanda, which has enabled women farmers to access the lucrative international export market for dried pineapple. The combination of a community-focused business model and a positive relationship with an ethical distributor has enabled these farmers to move out of poverty, with benefits for the wider community.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Poverty, Rural, and Farming
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Rwanda
7. Taking a Fresh Approach: Enabling Local Producers to Meet Rising Demand in West Africa’s Dairy Sector
- Author:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Publication Date:
- 06-2018
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Poverty is widespread among the small-scale farmers and workers who produce and process our food, in an industry worth billions of dollars. Oxfam’s new campaign highlights the systemic inequality and human suffering in food supply chains – and shows how action by supermarkets, governments, small-scale farmers and workers could lead to a decent and dignified standard of living for millions of people. This case study describes the challenges facing small-scale milk producers across West Africa. Despite growth in demand for dairy products, they face significant inequalities in accessing their markets, including lack of government investment and competition from cheap imports of powdered milk from Europe. However, there are opportunities for change in the dairy sector, which could see small-scale producers gain a greater share of revenue from milk production. This paper offers recommendations for government and market interventions to support the development of local markets and help smallholders earn a decent living.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Food, Inequality, Local, and Farming
- Political Geography:
- Africa and West Africa
8. A Fair Share for Georgia’s Grape Growers
- Author:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Publication Date:
- 06-2018
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Poverty is widespread among the small-scale farmers and workers who produce and process our food, in an industry worth billions of dollars. Oxfam’s new campaign highlights the systemic inequality and human suffering in food supply chains – and shows how action by supermarkets, governments, small-scale farmers and workers could lead to a decent and dignified standard of living for millions of people. This case study describes how, despite the rapid growth of Georgia’s wine industry, small-scale grape growers are continuing to live in poverty and are unable to develop their businesses or to profit from the industry they supply. It analyses the strengths and failings of previous and current government interventions, and offers recommendations on how they could be improved for long-term impact.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Poverty, Inequality, and Farming
- Political Geography:
- Russia, Europe, and Georgia
9. Empowering Women Through the Mentorship Programme: The case of the Fisherfolk Enterprise
- Author:
- Mark Vincent Aranas
- Publication Date:
- 06-2018
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- In many communities in Southeast Asia, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are crucial drivers of local development and growth. They can play a key role in improving the livelihoods of smallholders, especially women. However, SMEs often do not survive because of the challenges they face in accessing finance and developing logistics and management systems.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Gender Issues, Women, Fishing, and Empowerment
- Political Geography:
- Asia and Southeast Asia
10. Sahrawi Livelihoods in Algeria: Building Self-sufficiency
- Author:
- Philippe Massebiau and Mohamed Ouchene
- Publication Date:
- 09-2018
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- Over 40 years ago, Oxfam began working with Sahrawi refugees living in extremely harsh conditions in camps in the Saharan desert of western Algeria, who had fled their homes as a result of ongoing disputes over territory in Western Sahara. Since then, the Sahrawi refugees have been largely dependent on humanitarian aid from a number of agencies, but increasing needs and an uncertain funding future have meant that the agencies are having to adapt their programme approaches. Oxfam has met these new challenges by combining the existing aid with new resilience-building activities, supporting the community to lead self-sufficient and fulfilling lives in the arid desert environment.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Humanitarian Aid, Refugees, and Resilience
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Algeria