Frequently Asked Questions

1. HOW DID THE SAFE PLATFORM COME TO BE?

SAFE emerged from the vision of people from private and non-profit sectors that wished to improve business processes and include smallholder farmers in global value chains.

In 2015, this vision became true: the IDB Lab, member of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, approved an initial funding of US$2.6 million to create the Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Environment (SAFE) Platform, which implements projects that will enable 150,000 smallholder farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean to capture more value from their participation in national and global supply chains, fostering their resilience to climate change and other external factors.

Hivos was designated as platform manager and 14 other partners joined. In 2018, three new members were also brought into the SAFE family.

 

2. WHO CONFORMS THE SAFE PLATFORM?

The SAFE Platform is led by the IDB Lab, Hivos and a group of 17 partners: The Committee on Sustainability Assessment (COSA), Catholic Relief Services, ECOM Trading Ltd., Farmers Brothers Co., Grameen Foundation, Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung Foundation, Keurig Dr. Pepper Inc., Lavazza Foundation, Oikocredit International Support Foundation, Rainforest Alliance, Root Capital, S&D Coffee & Tea, Solidaridad Network, The Specialty Coffee Association, Starbucks Coffee Company, Sustainable Commodity Assistance Network (SCAN), and Sustainable Harvest Inc.

 

3. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE SAFE PLATFORM?

Anyone can participate with a SAFE project call as long as they submit their proposal along with one of the SAFE Platform’s partners, mentioned above.

 

4. HOW CAN AN ORGANIZATION GET IN CONTACT WITH A SAFE PLATFORM PARTNER?

Contact us at [email protected]. We will be more than glad to help you.

 

5. WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A STRONG SAFE PROJECT PROPOSAL?

SAFE Project proposals can have many characteristics, but they should all share the Platform’s common vision: improve the livelihood of farmers through the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, transforming coffee and cocoa landscapes.

Up next, you will find a series of characteristics that should be included in proposals:

  • Creation of commercial relationships in responsible supply chains,

  • Development and validation of methodologies to align and measure investment impact across landscapes and markets,

  • Inclusion of components related to the platform’s strategic area of value chain and responsible sourcing development,

  • Addressing gender equity issues within the coffee sector,

  • Improving resilience to climate change through the adoption of climate smart agricultural practices,

  • Empowering women and youth as agents of change,

  • Development of local capabilities,

  • Creation, implementation, dissemination of accessible tools and technology to boost impact.

  • Improvement of smallholders’ financial literacy and their access to financial services.

 

6. MY QUESTION IS NOT LISTED HERE. HOW CAN I CONTACT YOU?

If you have general questions, you can reach us at [email protected].

If you have specific questions for SAFE Platform Staff, please see our contact information here.