Sector Promotion

Country: South and Eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda)

Sector: Textile and Garment

In Cooperation with: CDE, EU and ACP

2004-2006

One of the initial 3p projects with CDE was a three year training program which incorporated quality improvement, support for investments, upgrading technologies and institutional capacity building as well as addressing environmental issues in the textile and garment sector in South and Eastern Africa starting in Kenya in 2004. The aim was to get prepared for the European market and its standards as Africa has been concentrating on the less discerning North American market.

First of all 3p screened the weak and strong issues of the sector before concentrating on focused selected key companies. 3p Institute made a status analysis of the structural conditions of the contemplated sector these 15 selected companies and its trade conditions with a view to European standards and drew up a EU-trade manual in cooperation with the CDE and ACP. Besides the aptitude of upgrading the selected companies` social and environmental performances, opportunities for niche products made of organic cotton should be provided and the sustainable sourcing of raw materials should be devised. Several buyer´s visits have helped to introduce companies from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to promote their products and capacity.

Qualification of suppliers with regard to social and environmental standards

Country: Bangladesh

Sector: Textile and Garment

In Corporation with: DEG, Arcandor (former KarstadtQuelle) and BCAS

Since 2005

A ground-breaking PPP-Project of the 3p Institute and Arcandor tested and evaluated 20 Bangladeshi apparel companies for their social performance. As the apparel sector is the most significant in Bangladesh, necessity and demand are immense.

Thus plans of adjustment on the method of Integrated Management Systems were created which were realized in cooperation with local staff of the Bangladeshi organization BCAS. Ways of dispersing and long-term integrating information flow, comprehension and volition of continuity were paved. The program has reached 20.000 people and is still making a substantial contribution to sustainable development and backpedaling of compliance of the country.

Sustainable Shrimp Production

Country: Bangladesh

Sector: Fishery and Aquaculture

In Cooperation with: DEG and gsm

Since August 2007

This program resulted originally from the current PPP-project between 3p, DEG, gsm Institute and a European wholesaler. It sat a new benchmark for the ethical production of aquaculture in developing countries. The reputation of the Bangladeshi shrimp sector in the last ten years has been negative. The violation of food standards had regularly alarmed international authorities to ban the import of Bangladeshi shrimps.

Shrimp farmers in Bangladesh want to produce their products in good quality in order to achieve a fair price and maintain long-term business relations. To achieve that the trade must minimize his risk and fulfill consumers’ requirements. The main principle has been the appropriate interconnection of existing methods and best practice considering a set of criteria which has been market driven and even beyond it. The traceability of the entire supply chain assures the whole approach towards consumers. The key quality issue in that sector has been the access to ice or ice water for chill-kill the shrimps.

3p Institute has bridged the gap between the different supply chain participants through identifying weak points, networking with the right partners to close the supply chain, training the people in the field through local experts, communicating the criteria and monitoring the corrective action to obtain the traceability needed about the process.

Digital Learning System on CSR in Vietnam

Country: Vietnam

Sector: Textile, Garment, Food, Footwear

In Cooperation with: DEG and SLH

Since December 2007

3p has conducted a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in cooperation with the German software company SLH to establish a Digital Learning Software on CSR issues for the middle management of Vietnamese companies coming from the Garment-/Textile-, Footwear- and food processing sector. As a member of WTO Vietnam is obliged to comply with training on CSR in Vietnam has a growing demand and organizations are promoting this issue among the industry. To avoid disregard on putting knowledge into practice, to support the management in successful implementation of learned skills and to provide necessary documentation formats, the software bridges the gaps between the on-site trainings and individual consultancy by 3p and its local experts./