How we do itHow we deliver the value promise of Cotton made in Africa, and provide proof

Verification system

The verification system of Cotton made in Africa was developed together with the University of Wageningen, Netherlands, and with the auditing company PricewaterhouseCoopers, the cotton companies in the project countries, and with social, environmental and development policy institutions. Verification checks whether the smallholder farmers and the cotton companies comply with the guidelines of Cotton made in Africa. These guidelines are set out in a criteria catalogue and are at the heart of the Cotton made in Africa label.

Documents

• Aggregated Verification Report
• CmiA Criteria Matrix
• CmiA Verification Governance
• CmiA Verification Process

CmiA exclusion criteria:

• Slavery
• Human Trafficking
• Child labour
• Hazardous pesticides

Exclusion criteria

The criteria catalogue is structured on two levels – firstly, it sets out exclusion criteria, to decide whether smallholder farmers and cotton companies can participate in the Cotton made in Africa Initiative at all. These minimum requirements include for example a ban on slavery, human trafficking, and exploitative forms of child labour. The traditional participation of children in work on their parents’ farms is, however, permitted within the framework of the ILO Conventions and Cotton made in Africa, provided that the children do not take on unsuitable or dangerous work. Such work is excluded from CmiA, under ILO Convention 182. There is also a ban on the use of hazardous pesticides (Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions).

Sustainability indicators

Secondly, smallholder farmers and cotton companies have to observe a series of sustainability indicators. These criteria do not all have to be met 100% right from the start. But the farmers and cotton companies have to prepare plans for improvements, and to demonstrate that they are working more and more in line with these indicators. Compliance with the indicators is assessed by a traffic light system, with the ratings “red”, “yellow” and “green”, whereby green stands for sustainable management. Cotton made in Africa supports smallholder farmers and cotton companies and helps them to achieve continuous improvement. For example, the initiative organises training for smallholder farmers, and promotes projects for improvement of school education.

Verification

Every two years, cotton companies and smallholder farmers producing Cotton made in Africa are checked by independent verification companies (at present EcoCert and AfriCert). For the purpose of this verification process, the cotton company and the smallholder farmers working with it are considered together as the “management unit”. A great many data can be acquired and checked in a concentrated way via the cotton company, which makes verification more efficient and cuts cost. For example, data on deliveries of pesticides, and payment of the farmers. To improve sustainability, the Management Unit together with the verifier sets up a management plan. This plan determines the improvements to be made by the time of the next verification, and how that is to be achieved, and defines what support Cotton made in Africa will provide, for example in the form of training programmes.