Board of Trustees

Dr. Michael OttoChairman of the Board of Trustees,
Chairman of Supervisory Board of the Otto Group

“Cotton made in Africa is innovative, because it activates market forces and creates an ongoing win-win situation for all players at all stages of the value chain – from cotton farmers to consumers.”

Dr. Michael BornmannDeputy Chairman of Board of Trustees,
Member of Management Board of Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG)

“The Aid by Trade Foundation aims to help people in Africa to earn a reasonable income using their own resources. “Cotton made in Africa” works with hundreds of thousands of cotton farmers for the introduction of sustainable production methods. That fits in perfectly with the mission of DEG as a development financing agency to promote meaningful investments by private companies, in order to help achieve better conditions of life in developing countries. We contribute to these efforts, drawing on our decades of experience with cotton projects in Africa – for high-quality competitive cotton, giving income and perspectives to as many people as possible.”

Eberhard BrandesManaging Director WWF Germany

“Our goal is to stop the global destruction of natural resources and the environment, and to create a future where humankind and nature can live together in harmony. What we want is effective action for conservation of nature and protection of the environment, coupled with sustainable development of the African countries – that is why we are promoting sustainable business activities. Cotton made in Africa is designed both to link cotton farmers in Benin and consumers in Europe via trade, and to ensure sustainable management of the land.”

Nicholas EarlamExecutive Chairman and Owner of Plexus Cotton Ltd.

„Cotton made in Africa offers the opportunity to build value and strength to all stages of the cotton value chain whilst respecting the ideals and integrity of the participants within it. It is a visionary project that recognises the changing face of the African continent and one that will help the countries within the programme to build their own economies in a sustainable manner.“

Olaf GieselerManaging Director CURATAX Treuhand GmbH Steuerberatungsgesellschaft

“Cotton made in Africa is a useful, innovative initiative. I am delighted to be able to make a contribution to setting up the legal and fiscal conditions for it, and to help in the internal organisation of Cotton made in Africa.”

Dr. Wolfgang JamannChairman of Management Board and Secretary General of Welthungerhilfe

“I am pleased to be a member of the Board of Trustees of CmiA, because I firmly believe that the only way to overcome hunger and poverty in Africa is for NGOs to work alongside government development organisations, companies and businesses, in accordance with social and environmental criteria, for active support to smallholder farmers in the third world. It is also vital for us to change our behaviour as consumers; production and purchasing of clothing made from CmiA cotton is a great opportunity for us to do that. The work in the Foundation is an enrichment because we are working across the dividing lines of the various sectors, and getting into discussion with one another.

Ibrahim MalloumHonorary President and member of the Executive Board of ACA

“The cotton sector in Africa needs a partnership that respects the values and cultures of each partner. That is what the initiative Cotton made in Africa embodies. I am completely attached to its esprit and approach. CmiA enables the cotton farmers to increase their yields, strengthens the capacities of the cotton growers and improves the quality of the fiber. That are necessary measures in order to reinforce the purchasing power of the farmers. I think that this is exactly the way towards a sustainable development.”

Andreas ProkschHead of Africa Department, Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

“The reasons for my commitment to Cotton made in Africa and the Aid by Trade Foundation? I want to support cotton producers in Africa, that is the low-income smallholder farmers and their families, and help them to live a better life – not by making donations, but by integrating them in an economic cycle, and giving them fair prices for good products. And I want to help enabling us in the industrialised countries to buy products that were manufactured under sustainable ecological and social conditions. The work of the Aid by Trade Foundation meets both these requirements – it creates links between producers and consumers in a virtual network of responsible action.”

Uwe SchröderHonorary member of the Board of Trustees,
Chairman of Advisory Board Tom Tailor Holding AG

“Every partnership is made up of giving and receiving. In this case we can really achieve something by giving – with long-term effect. In return, we get high quality cotton produced by ecological methods. That is the key principle of the AbT Foundation – giving long-term support by means of aid.”

James ShikwatiDirector of Inter Region Economic Network (IREN Kenya)

„I applaud Cotton Made In Africa’s effort to involve African farmers in value added exchange of products with European markets“