PDF generated on 08 Feb 2023

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Standard profile for

Cotton made in Africa

Full profile online

Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) is an Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) initiative that was Label
established in 2005. Its objective is to help smallholder farmers help themselves through
Business to Consumer and Business
trade and to improve the social, ecological, and economic living conditions of smallholder
to Business
cotton producers and their families in Sub-Saharan Africa. The trademark "Cotton made in

Africa" (CmiA) is sold to buyers and consumers as a baseline sustainability concept with
Purpose
the aim to improve the livelihoods of African cotton farmers and to work for more
Best practices and guidelines
sustainable cotton production in African countries. The CmiA sustainability claim focuses
on the supply and value chain in the participating African countries, i.e. the growing and
Typology
ginning of cotton, and thus the standard provides the basis for uninterrupted traceability…
Private Standard

Sector(s)

Agriculture

Product(s)
Cotton & fibers

Geographical scope Value chain focus

For origin
11 countries in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana,
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Mozambique, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania…
Production Manufacturing

For destination
49 countries in Japan, South Africa, Australia, New
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Zealand, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El…
Distribution Consumption

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Facts & figures
Latest highlights Interesting facts

Figures in March 22: - 21 cotton companies - ~40 % of African cotton

production is CmiA verified - 10 growing countries - 1,000,000 smallholders

- 1.84 ha average land size per farmer - 690,000 mt total CmiA cotton

harvest (ginned) - 946 kg/ha average yield (seed cotton) of smallholders -…

The year it was established

2005
This standard potentially contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainability requirements
Focus by sustainability pillar Focus by sustainability theme

Requirements by time to comply

How to comply How is the standard governed
Minimum level of conformity assessment of the standard The standard owner shows independence from its certificate

is: holders or members.

3rd party
Supply chains actors, NGOs or civil society do not participate
Verification cycle:
in the standard's decisions.
1-2 years

Are the verification costs available?

The standard is revised Every 5 years , through a public
Yes publicly available
consultation
What is being checked:
Crop,Field,Farm,Production unit,Factory Annual report: Yes
, through: Field visit (incl. office visit & doc. review) Documents and policies: Yes

Sources

The following document and policies were explored to collect and reference information about this standard.

- Cotton made in Africa Standard - Principles, Criteria and Indicators - Volume 4 - CmiA-Standard Setting and Revision Procedure - CmiA Assurance Manual

(V1) - CmiA Appeals Procedure (V1) & CmiA Appeals Committee Guidelines - CmiA Code of Conduct - CmiA Chain of Custody Guidelines - CmiA Claims
Framework - CmiA Theory of Change

https://cottonmadeinafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/CMIA_Standard_ENG.pdf https://cottonmadeinafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/CmiA-Standard-Setting…

Documents and tools for guidance and interpretation

Through agricultural and business training Cotton made in Africa provides participating smallholder farmers the opportunity to improve their living conditions
and those of their families on their own and to grow cotton according to the Cotton made in Africa standards. The training courses are always tailored to the

needs of each smallholder farmer and to the regional conditions in the different project countries.

CmiA Criteria Matrix & Training Materials available for download from the CmiA website

Data last collected: February 2022

Find out more on the standard's website

cottonmadeinafrica.org

Who we are
The Trade for Sustainable Development (T4SD) Programme at the International Trade Centre (ITC) is a
partnership-based programme which empowers and equips micro, small and medium sized enterprises
(SMEs) to improve their sustainability performance for better efficiency and international
competitiveness. Find out more at www.sustainabilitygateway.org

Our donors

Contact us:
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