MM Flowers , in partnership with Fairtrade Foundation and retailers , are part of a consortium that has won one of the eight subsidisation from the Department for International Development ( DfID ) and UK Government £ 6.85 m Vulnerable Supply Chains Facility ( VSCF ) . Their project will will help Kenyan flower farms and thousands of flower growers tackle COVID-19 . It shows MM Flowers dedication to follow out responsible line of work solutions and to working collaboratively with others to secure resilient supply chain and fairer trade .
prime worker at Fleurafrica Farm , Naivasha , Kenya
Kenyan FlowersTheir project is focused on Kenya and Kenyan flower because flower sale and the Kenyan people have been off hard since the onset of the pandemic . The Kenya Flower Council estimates that it will take at least a class for the sphere to recover . Over 2 million people , immediately and indirectly , are estimated to be employed and endure by the industry .
Some flower workers are vulnerable to a numeral of broker ; these include food insecurity , want of PPE , pitiful access to hygiene , lack of transport and chore insecurity – all exasperate by low or no wage and non‐existent savings . Many of the actor in the industry are cleaning lady and they face extra barrier such as deficiency of access to finance , sexual molestation , step-up in domesticated ferocity and increased care provision . Our projection will help to support worker in the current crisis to meet their immediate motivation , but also to promote a more sustainable efflorescence sector and bolster longer - term resiliency .
Phil Whelan , manage Director at MM Flowers allege : “ I am charmed that MM Flowers , working in partnership with Fairtrade Foundation , have been successful in secure this DfID funding . To be work in collaboration with Fairtrade and other partners shows our commitment to creditworthy business solutions and to lick to ensure resilient supply chains and fairer swop .
We are gallant to be partnering with Fairtrade , M&S , Tesco and Coop , as well as Coventry University , FNET , Women Working Worldwide and Partner Africa on build resiliency in flower supply chains . I sleep together just how badly off our cultivator in Kenya have been , and the engagement of some of our key retail partner testify the commitment to helping raiser and farm workers hardest hit by the devastating impacts of COVID-19 . “
The partnershipFor this project , a partnership has come together to make on existing workplace and relationships . This consortium represents the intact provision chain , from commercial collaborator , to NGOs and credential bodies , as well as education and industry forums . MM bloom and Fairtrade will co‐manage this project and work closely with Co‐op , M&S and Tesco in advisory roles , as well as FNET , Coventry University , Women Working Worldwide and Partner Africa as livery collaborator .
The projectThe undertaking will help to safeguard flower manufacturer and prole against the impact of COVID‐19 , include go a COVID-19 health and prophylactic communications campaign to attain 150,000 prole , offering wellness packages and supply kitchen garden equipment to over 6,000 workers . enquiry will be undertaken to understand the potential benefits of supporting fairly traded good through time value chains that gain all involved in them . The project will also provide germ funding for 2 sustenance gardens , farm diversification and income diversification for over 100 workers , alongside promoting proficient practice in sustainability and fair purchasing practice in flower time value chains in the UK .
The project has been awarded £ 200,000 DFID financial support , which , together with £ 75,000 of cash peer funding from Co‐op , M&S and Tesco , and almost £ 70,000 of in - kind funding from all partners , will help actor battle COVID-19 , especially women , youth and those with disablement , improve living and develop resiliency in the heyday supply chains in Kenya .
If you are concerned in screw more about this undertaking and our study with our Kenyan growers please reach out to the MM Sustainability Team : Caroline Downey,[email protected]or Lauren Welch,[email protect ]
For more informationMM Flowerswww.mm-flowers.com
