Key Message
Targetted financing is, and will continue to be, essential for ensuring that those most in need are not excluded from the market as demands for the adoption of verifiably "sustainable" practices continues to grow.
Financing
Seeking universal access to sustainable markets
What's New in Financing?
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Finance Alliance For Sustainable Trade Launches Global Membership Drive: Attracts Funding Support of US$225,000 (PDF - 130 kb)
FAST celebrated its first year anniversary in May 2008, with the successful launch of its global membership drive and fundraising campaign.FAST is a trade association, launched in May 2007, following discussions co-facilitated by IISD on the need for increased access to SME finance as a stimulus to the development of sustainable markets in agricultural commodities.
A needs-based approach to sustainable development must place a high priority on ensuring that sustainable development is accessible to and serves those most in need. Many of the world's poor depend on agricultural commodities for their livelihoods. While the development of markets for sustainable products open new avenues for generating higher revenues for commodity producers, poorer producers are unable to make the front-end and seasonal investments required to supply sustainable markets. Ensuring that all producers, and particularly those most in need, have access to the financing required for entering sustainable markets is a core priority of the SMART initiative.
Contents
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Finance Alliance for Sustainable Trade (FAST)
The Financing Alliance for Sustainable Trade is a trade association which sprung out of discussions co-facilitated by IISD on the need for increased access to SME finance as a stimulus to the development of sustainable markets in agricultural commodities. FAST, which aims to reduce transaction costs in the delivery of finance, develop a financial literacy toolbox and facilitate access to guarantees on "social loans", was officially launched in May 2007.
Our Knowledge
» Themes
- Adaptation and Risk Reduction
- Climate Change and Energy
- Economics and SD
- Foreign Investment for SD
- Governance for Sustainable Development
- Internet and Technology
- International Trade
- Measurement and Assessment
- Natural Resources
- Networks & Partnerships
- Security
- Sustainable Markets
- Tomorrow's SD Leaders
» Initiatives
- Water Innovation Centre (WIC)
- The Sustainable Commodity Initiative (SCI)
- Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI)
