Partnership to Focus on Climate Action, Women’s Empowerment, and Sustainable Cotton
The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) and Better Cotton have announced a new collaboration aimed at delivering greater impact for smallholder cotton farmers across Africa. The partnership will develop joint projects funded by both public and private donors, focusing on key sustainability challenges such as climate change adaptation, soil fertility, biodiversity, women’s empowerment, and the elimination of child labour.
This new phase marks a strategic evolution in the relationship between the two organizations, following a decade-long cooperation that began in 2012, when Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) — an initiative of AbTF — and Better Cotton signed a benchmarking agreement. That arrangement allowed CmiA-verified cotton to be sold as Better Cotton, linking African farmers to a broader network of sustainable textile sourcing.
New Framework for Innovation and Local Impact
Since their initial partnership, both AbTF and Better Cotton have expanded globally and diversified their approaches to sustainability. Recognizing the need for more flexibility, the two organizations have now chosen to end the former agreement and introduce a new model of collaboration centered on project-based cooperation and innovation.
As part of this shift, the sale of CmiA-verified cotton as Better Cotton officially ended in December 2022. Future joint efforts will instead focus on field-level initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to farming communities and their environments.
“The partnership was a joint effort that brought greater sustainability to the cotton and textile industry whilst helping to protect nature and create economic and social benefits for smallholder farmers and ginnery workers,” said Tina Stridde, Managing Director of the Aid by Trade Foundation.
“CmiA has grown strong over the years, and we look forward to continuing our mission for sustainable cotton production in a new form.”
A Shared Commitment to Sustainable Cotton
Better Cotton’s COO, Lena Staafgard, praised the collaboration as a “ground-breaking partnership” that has already supported over one million smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa, connecting them with the growing global demand for sustainable cotton.
“Now is the time to reimagine how we can use our individual strengths to create even more impact together,” Staafgard said.
Both AbTF and Better Cotton reaffirmed their shared mission of making cotton farming more ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible, ensuring that the global textile industry continues to move toward a more sustainable future.
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