Sustainability Consulting, Agricultural Development
Sustainable Supply Chain Development: Agriculture, Mining, Textiles
Certification Programs: Fairtrade, Organic, UTZ
Capacity Building: Training for Farmers and Workers
Advocacy: Policy Influence for Sustainable Practices
Solidaridad Network is a global civil society organization dedicated to fostering sustainable and inclusive supply chains. Headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands, Solidaridad works across agriculture, mining, and textile sectors to improve livelihoods, promote environmental stewardship, and drive systemic change in global value chains. Operating through regional offices across five continents, Solidaridad collaborates with businesses, governments, and communities to build socially responsible and economically viable ecosystems.
Founded in 1969, Solidaridad was among the earliest proponents of ethical trade and played a foundational role in the development of the Fairtrade label. Over the decades, it has evolved into a leading international development organization focused on sustainability, resilience, and inclusive growth.
Solidaridad employs over 1,000 staff globally and has regional centers in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America, facilitating localized strategies aligned with global sustainability goals.
Solidaridad’s mission is to transform production practices in key commodity sectors by making them more sustainable, fair, and profitable for all actors in the value chain. The organization supports:
It integrates sustainability into supply chains spanning coffee, cocoa, palm oil, tea, textiles, sugarcane, soy, cotton, gold, and more.
Key areas of intervention and services include:
Sustainable Supply Chain Development:
Certification and Standards Implementation:
Capacity Building:
Advocacy and Policy Engagement:
Solidaridad operates as a not-for-profit but maintains financial transparency through annual audited reports. Key figures from the 2023 Annual Report include:
The organization’s funding comes from institutional donors (60%), private sector partnerships (25%), and co-financing models (15%).
While Solidaridad does not export goods, it facilitates inclusive trade by empowering smallholder producers to meet market standards and access export-oriented value chains. Examples include:
These interventions have a cascading effect on international trade by improving supply reliability and ethical compliance.
Solidaridad targets:
Its cross-sectoral, multi-stakeholder approach ensures impact at every level of the value chain.
Solidaridad provides technical support and prepares producers for multiple internationally recognized certifications:
Programs are routinely aligned with UN SDGs, OECD Due Diligence Guidance, and IFC Performance Standards.
Though individual endorsements are generally featured in impact reports, representative testimonials include:
“Solidaridad's landscape approach helped us strengthen both yield and biodiversity. We now see sustainable farming as a business, not a burden.” — Coffee Farmer, Kenya
“Their expertise allowed us to develop traceable and ethical cocoa supply chains that meet European buyer expectations.” — Sustainability Manager, Global Confectionery Brand
“Working with Solidaridad has been critical in aligning our sourcing with our climate goals.” — Corporate Partner, Fashion Retailer, Germany
Solidaridad Network continues to drive global progress toward a just and inclusive economy—where production respects people and planet, and everyone benefits from sustainable value creation.
