International Women’s Day: Cotton made in Africa Strengthens Equality for Women Through Targeted Investments
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• “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”—this is the motto of International Women’s Day 2026.
• According to estimates by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 38 percent of all agricultural work worldwide is done by women. Less than 15 percent own land.
• For years, the Aid by Trade Foundation has been promoting the economic and social position of women in Africa through targeted investments in start-ups, business training, and women’s health.
Hamburg, 6 March 2026. On the occasion of International Women’s Day—which will be observed on 8 March under the motto “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”—the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), which is responsible for Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA), underlines its long-standing and ongoing commitment to the equality of women in African cotton production areas.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that development programmes focussed on empowering women in rural areas could increase the incomes of 58 million more people and build up the resilience of 235 million people. Women’s structural disadvantage is a major cause of social and economic injustice and of missed opportunities for development worldwide. This manifests itself in unequal wages, limited access to resources, and the under-representation of women in decision-making processes.
The Hamburg-based Aid by Trade Foundation has made it a cornerstone of its work to provide women and girls with support in rectifying these disadvantages. For instance, criteria for equality between women and men are firmly anchored in its Cotton made in Africa Standard; these include equal access to training, resources, and decision-making processes. In addition, targeted projects for cotton farmers at Cotton made in Africa create long-term opportunities and ensure independence for women. Conducted together with partners through the CmiA Community Cooperation Programme (CCCP), these projects extend beyond cotton cultivation. In one example, smaller start-ups launched by women’s groups receive targeted funding as well as tailored business training in order to tap into sources of income that complement cotton cultivation. In another example, village communities learn about important topics, including women’s health, through innovative methods such as creative plays; this approach creates awareness and breaks taboos. Over 100 women’s clubs and other women-specific projects have already been funded through the CmiA Community Cooperation Programme.
“Commitment to fundamentally improving women’s economic and social position is part of Cotton made in Africa’s mission statement,” says Alexandra Perschau, the head of Standards & Outreach at the Aid by Trade Foundation, adding, “Securing the future of cotton cultivation requires equal income, equal access to resources and means of production, the creation of supplementary sources of income specifically for women, and women’s active participation in CmiA initiatives and training. This is the only way to achieve resilient agriculture.”
Press Contact
Christina Ben Bella, e-mail: christina.benbella@abt-foundation.org Holger Diedrich, e-mail: holger.diedrich@abt-foundation.org
Aid by Trade Foundation | Werner-Otto-Straße 13 b | 22197 Hamburg | Germany
About Cotton made in Africa
The Cotton made in Africa® initiative (CmiA) was founded in 2005 under the umbrella of the Hamburg-based Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF). CmiA is an internationally recognised standard for sustainably verified cotton from Africa, connecting African small-scale farmers with trading companies and fashion brands throughout the global textile value chain. The initiative’s objective is to employ trade, rather than donations, to protect the environment and to improve the living conditions of small-scale farmers and their families. Apart from the farming families, people working in ginneries also benefit from improved working conditions. Additional projects addressing schooling, health, environmental protection, and women’s empowerment contribute to better living conditions in farming communities as well. Learn more at: cottonmadeinafrica.org/en
About the Aid by Trade Foundation
Founded by the entrepreneur Prof. Dr Michael Otto in 2005, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is an internationally renowned non-profit organisation that works throughout the world to promote sustainable raw materials. Its work makes a decisive and measurable contribution to improving the living conditions of people and animals while protecting the environment. With its verified raw materials Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA), Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic), Regenerative Cotton Standard® (RCS) and The Good Cashmere Standard® (GCS), the foundation is putting its goals into practice. In view of the increasing challenges posed to small farmers and textile companies by the consequences of climate change and market shifts, the standards are of fundamental importance for their resilience and sustainability. The foundation works in close cooperation with industry experts and with specialists in animal and nature protection. More information at: www.aidbytrade.org
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