ABOUT US
What We Do
 
In a sentence…
 
International Resources for Fairer Trade is dedicated to empowering farmers, artisans, companies and NGOs to develop business capacity and promote sustainable livelihoods for all of those involved in producing the things we consume every day.
 
A little more…
 
Established under the Bombay Public Trust Act in the year 1995, IRFT has been working at the intersection of business and development for almost 15 years, giving farmers and artisans access to mainstream markets while encouraging large businesses to incorporate social responsibility and transparency into their core values. By working with both ends of the supply chain, IRFT ensures a fair deal for all.

IRFT has never been about charity. We don’t throw money at a problem and hope it goes away. We understand the lasting power of participating in the market economy, and so we work closely with farmers and artisans to equip them with the skills to sell their products and give them access to a long-term, stable livelihood. Learn how we do this through our Community Business Support.

Big companies know the value of the market economy. But what they often don’t know is that by giving their producers a fair deal, their business improves. IRFT conducts transparent ethical audits, provides standards training, and encourages corporate social responsibility to companies so that they can do the at most for their producers and their profit. Learn how we do this through our Ethical Business Solutions.

We cannot pursue this work in isolation. Our efforts throughout the supply chain are part of something much greater. IRFT is deeply involved in the Fair Trade movement, and we are working closely with our partners to promote Fair Trade certification in India. Learn how we do this through our Fair Trade India.
 
WHO WE ARE
 
Our Team
 
 
  Gaynor Pais

CEO
Post Grad, Mass Comm., MBA, Marketing (NMIMS)
A vivacious personality with tremendous foresight; strategic and innovative in decisions. Passionate and daring about Fairness in Trade, she leads a much inspired team, to take the ball and run.		     Eleanor Rebello

Sr. Executive - Admin & HR
A Bachelors of Arts with 25 years of corporate experience and more.
Efficient ,dependable and a no nonsense approach that ensures discipline and accountability as the order of the day.
 
  Shipra Keswani

Program Manager – Community Business Support

B Com, Post Graduate in Business Management (Aravali Institute of Management)

Logical and straightforward business approach to social issues and concerns. Research based innovative thinking sparks her imagination		    

Rupali Goswami

Programme Manager – Fair Trade India

MSW (Shantiniketan), Resource Mobilization and Management ( S.P. Jain)
An excellent team player, great motivator. Rupali in her inimitable style is a walking dynamo, leading the Domestic Fair Trade initiatives for IRFT.
 
  Jugnu Hydari

Sr. Executive – Ethical Business Solutions

MA (Anthropology)
Astute and sensitive, Jugnu adds value as a team player in the Ethical and Agri. Social Compliance Programme. Meticulous in records and reports. A quick learner spurs the team into newer and wider areas of challenge.

 		     Arindama Banerjee-Wankhede.

Head – Ethical Business Solutions 

BE ( Fire Technology & Safety Engineering)/ Master Diploma in Civil CADD/ SA 8000 Advance Auditor.

Arindama with her wide ranging experience in Verification and Trainings in Social compliance is all set to take the Ethical Business Programme of IRFT to new heights. A rare combination of a no nonsense person, an excellent mentor and yet the most gentle teacher.
 
 


 		   Pallavi Rane

Executive – Community Business Support
Master of Social Work from S.N.D.T Women’s University, Certificate courses in Counselling and NGO Management

Pallavi most unassuming, passionate and empathetic has recently joined IRFT in the CBS Programme. She has years of practical experience working among grass root Community Based Organizations and is here to take on CBS activities ensuring fairness, transparency, and sustainability for the many small scale producers, craftsmen and artisans that we work closely with.
 		     Bhawna Solanki

Executive – Ethical Business Solutions
MBA Social Enterpreneurship

A fervent learner, with an analytical mind and a flair for languages, this young enthusiastic MBA in Social entrepreneurship from NMIMS, is all set to take on new challenges in the field of Social Compliance. 
 
  Thanglianmung Tonsing

Executive - Community Business Support
BSW (Rural Dev.), MSW (TISS)		     Naresh Solanki

Office Assistant

The right hand and left hand of the IRFT body. Our efficiency boosters.
 
  Raju Kamble

Office Assistant

The right hand and left hand of the IRFT body. Our efficiency boosters.		     Ravidra Gole

Sr. Officer - Accounts & Admin. 

Man on the spot, troubleshooter and an administrative support aligning into place all that needs looking after at IRFT, from pin to a needle, with a smile.

 
Board of Directors
 
• Mr.S.N.Pathak, Chairman
• Mr.Dipesh Shroff
• Mr.Sunil Dalal
• Mr.Kailas Dabholkar
• Mr.Tushar Dayal
• Dr.(Mrs.) Meena Galliara
• Mrs. Vinita Singh
• Mrs. Rama Das, IRS: Ex - Chief Commissioner of Income-Tax
                                  Ex - Member - Central Administrative Tribunal
 
Partners
 
International Partners
• Traidcraft Exchange (Tx), UK
• FAKT Consult for Management, Training and Technologies, Germany
• Fair Labor Association-Better Cotton Initiative
 
Membership and Associations
 
• Alliance 21
• Asian Forum on Globalisation and SME Development
• Fair Trade Forum-India (FTF-I)
• World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), earlier known as International Federation for Alternate Trade (IFAT)
• Asia Fair Trade Forum
 
Funding Support
 
• Belgium Technical Cooperation (BTC)
• Department for International Development (DFID )
• European Commission
• Humanist Institute for Cooperation with Developing Countries (Hivos)
• Oxfam
• Sir Dorabjee Tata Trust
• ICCO
 
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