Covid-19 containment and FUNDOPO Fairtrade projects

Oct 9, 2020

The producer organisation FUNDOPO, our main supplier of cocoa from the Dominican Republic, has set itself the goal of helping all its members to keep Covid-19 under control. FUNDOPO representatives spent weeks visiting almost 100 groups with over 2,400 producers. They gave demonstrations of preventive measures and each producer was given an anti-Covid-19 kit. The response was enthusiastic and FUNDOPO received a lot of positive feedback.

In spite of the pandemic, FUNDOPO is really gaining momentum under the leadership of its new Board of Directors and new administration team. After just a short time, several projects financed with Fairtrade premiums have already been completed and officially launched. A new community centre for 9 associations and around 400 people has been opened in Jamey, San Cristóbal. The same building now also houses the office of FUNDOPO CENTRO. Local residents are hugely excited, especially since the project was started back in 2008 and has only now become a reality, thanks to the new administration. At the opening ceremony, the producers served a wonderful stew, a "Sancocho de Carne".



Other new openings included a new buying station and a training centre in Maluco, San Cristóbal. 29% of the FLO premiums which PRONATEC pays to FUNDOPO for Fairtrade-certified cocoa go directly to the smallholders. 60% is invested in community projects and only 11% is spent on management and administration.