About Global Mamas
Global Mamas is the brand name for goods produced by small women-owned businesses in Ghana; it is recognized by the government of Ghana as an NGO and in the United States as a certified non-profit organization. Women in Progress (WIP), an international non-profit organization, supports the women of Global Mamas in attaining economic independence by coordinating a network of volunteers and interns that supply Global Mamas with valuable skills and creative resources. All proceeds from the sales of Global Mamas products go directly to the women producing the merchandise and to the development programs that assist the women in expanding their businesses.
Our Mission
Global Mamas enhances the international marketplace with unique, high quality, handmade apparel, jewelry, accessories, and home goods, while providing sustainable livelihoods for women entrepreneurs in Africa.
Fulfilling Our Mission
Global Mamas reduces the economic inequality of women by significantly increasing the revenues and profits of woman-owned businesses in Africa. This, in turn, increases employee wages, generates new jobs and improves the standard of living. We believe that helping women gain economic independence is the most effective way to reduce dependence on foreign aid and steadily create a prosperous society.
A Purchase with a Purpose
Sales of Global Mamas’ products provide dignity to African women who are now able to earn an honest living through the production of handmade batik apparel and accessories, beads and jewelry, skin care products, and recycled accessories. By helping women to help themselves, Global Mamas is taking small steps towards creating a sustainable society and helping to end Africa’s dependence on foreign aid.
Global Mamas – A Fair Trade Organization
Fair trade means that there is an equitable and fair partnership between marketers in developed countries and producers in developing countries. A fair trade partnership works to provide otherwise marginalized artisans and farmers with a living wage for their work. Fair trade promotes sustainability through a variety of social business practices that advocate higher standards in regards to pay, work atmosphere and environmental protection, among others.
Global Mamas believes that fair trade is necessary to fulfill the organization's mission. As a member of World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), Global Mamas has made a commitment to adhere to Fair Trade principles. Global Mamas is very proud to be recognized as a fair trade manufacturer and distributor.
WFTO and FTF accepted Global Mamas to their ranks only after conducting a thorough investigation that ensured the African women who comprise the Global Mamas network of producers are the primary beneficiaries of the proceeds from product sales.
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| The World Fair Trade Organization is the global network and advocate of Fair Trade, ensuring producer voices are heard. Learn more about WFTO. |
The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) is the trade association that strengthens and promotes North American organizations fully committed to Fair Trade. Learn more about FTF. |
Embracing Fair Trade Principles
Global Mamas embraces fair trade principles in all aspects of our work. Global Mamas aspires to be a role model for fair trade organizations around the world, with emphasis in the areas of production efficiency, product quality, customer service, marketing, social and corporate responsibility, environmental practices, and sustainability.
Global Mamas
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Embracing Fair Trade Principles |
| • Creating Opportunities For Women |
 Traditionally, women's skills and financial contributions are undervalued in Ghana, but Global Mamas creates space for women to succeed as entrepreneurs and achieve financial independence. |
| • Paying Fairly and Promptly |
 All Global Mamas are paid a fair and living wage for their work. Steady and continuous orders ensure that their business is a sustainable source of income. Producers are provided with the raw materials needed for production in advance, so they don’t have to invest their own capital. This acts as a 50%+ advance payment. The payment for their time is paid shortly after items are delivered to Global Mamas. This means the women do not have to wait until the products are sold to be paid. |
| • Developing Transparent and Accountable Relationships |
 Global Mamas maintains an open-door policy and encourages producers to examine operations and ask questions about financial data. All payment rates are set through an open dialogue. The women are educated about the supply chain and understand how sale proceeds are used to cover the expenses of getting the product to the customer. The business owners keep their own books and share them openly with Global Mamas for consultation. Global Mamas also works to be transparent with our customers, including openness about who produces our products. In fact, customers of Global Mamas are able to contact the producers directly via e-mail. |
| • Providing Equal Employment Opportunities and Opportunities for Advancement |
 Many producers in the Global Mamas network take on apprentices and trainees and often provide them future employment opportunities. In fact, many apprentices have gone on to open their own businesses and now work directly with Global Mamas. Internally we also train our employees with the intention of promoting from within Global Mamas. The organization is also open to employing men, ensuring equal employment. |
| • Ensuring the Rights of Children |
 Routine conversations and visits to the women's shops provide assurance that Global Mamas producers do not use child labor. The business owners must employ people over the age of 14 years, and if the employee is still in school allowances are made in the employee's work schedule. |
| • Supporting Safe Working Conditions |
 As part of our local fair trade evaluation, each Global Mamas workplace is evaluated to ensure it is safe and comfortable. Standard criteria includes, but is not limited to, masks and gloves being used during the batiking process, access to drinking water and toilets as well as an on-site first aid kit. |
| • Cultiviating Environmental Stewardship |
 Global Mamas developed a line of products that fully utilize our textile scraps so that the producers don’t have to burn them. Our “Trashy” products and “Water Beads” recycle plastic. Almost all of our beads are made from recycled glass and all are handmade in Ghana. We operate a glass recycling program with the US and British Embassies to ensure a steady stream of glass to our bead makers. Global Mamas uses local products whenever possible, such as the shea butter used in skin care products and the fabric used in batiking. |
| • Supporing Empowering Working Conditions |
 Global Mamas convenes regular meetings with staff and producers to discuss and debate the important issues that impact the future of Global Mamas. The business owners who are a part of the Global Mamas network are independent business owners; they are encouraged to manage their businesses as they see fit and to seek clients outside of Global Mamas. The Fair Trade Federation features Global Mamas as an example of an organization in support of empowering working conditions. |
| • Building Capacity |
 Global Mamas helps business owners enhance their entrepreneurial skills by coordinating workshops in areas such as bookkeeping & financial management, marketing, computer literacy, merchandising, fair trade principles, and health management. We also conduct extensive training on new product development and quality control. |
| • Promoting Fair Trade |
 Global Mamas implemented an internal fair trade evaluation program for our producers, which includes interviews, site visits, and educational sessions to ensure producers understand and embrace all aspects of fair trade within their own enterprises. Global Mamas is active in providing consumers with access to resources as well as participating in events that educate about fair trade. |
Global Mamas Goals in Action
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Envisioning the economic independence of women in Africa.
Global Mamas is a network of individually-owned businesses working together to penetrate larger markets while each business maintains its own independence. The women of Global Mamas recognize the difference economic independence has made in their lives. Global Mama Jennifer says she wants to "be a role model to people... an entrepreneur... and have the basic things in life." Women's changing economic status can also affect their social status and personal lives. One Global Mama explained that when she gets a big order for work her husband now helps her to complete it. Many women also feel fulfilled because they can contribute financially to their families' needs, especially paying for the education of their children.
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Providing opportunities for women to build confidence and self-respect.
Before the stability granted by Global Mamas’ orders, many women were caught in a vicious cycle of debt. Global Mama Martina said, "Five years back I was collecting loans with interest, but this year I have not needed any loans." The women of Global Mamas feel respected within their communities and this raises their self-esteem. Global Mama Alice stated confidently, "I don't depend on anyone. I'm dependable."
The workshops planned and conducted by Global Mamas address fair trade principles, business strategies, marketing, bookkeeping, quality control and product development, computer literacy and even health issues. These learning opportunities help women to raise their self-confidence and therefore, their self-respect. Global Mamas maintains an open-door policy, so women can come in at any time to discuss challenges and achievements.
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Providing deserved wages for high quality work.
Producers are provided with an advance payment in the form of raw materials and then paid in full for labor shortly after delivery. For example, batikers receive white fabric from Global Mamas for the batiking. When they return the batiked fabric they get paid for labor and other materials used in the production. Payment levels vary based on the time and complexity in making the product as well as the level of quality the producer achieved. All wages paid, combined with continuous orders allowing for full-time work, provide the women with the much needed economic security and stability they previously lacked.
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Validating women's economic independence by inviting the women to be a part of organizational decisions and product development.
Due to traditional gender roles, women entrepreneurs face adversity in Ghana. However, Global Mamas producers are invited to participate in decision-making and empowered to run their businesses with pride. Global Mamas has conducted many meetings with the producers to discuss organizational-level finances and each year Global Mamas staff negotiates payments with each producer. This ensures that each party truly understands the costs of making the products and encourages the producers to set their rates. The producers are also a part of setting the prices of Global Mamas products as they shop and bargain in the marketplace for raw materials.
The producers are also engaged in the value of the organization and their work by sharing the costs and benefits of quality. Creating high quality products is extremely important to Global Mamas. To further this goal, the women of Global Mamas set adjusted labor rates that reward them for high quality, but requires them to split the cost of delivering poor quality.
Producers of Global Mamas take pride in being a part of product development. Since the women are the experts in their own technical area (batiking, sewing, bead making, weaving, etc.) they also make suggestions regarding design decisions. For example, a batiker may advise a design change based on the difficulty of completing a pattern with a particular dye. Women also have an opportunity to get creative with their art forms; every year, there is a contest where the women of Cape Coast can submit a product sample of their own design. The winning products are included in the annual catalog allowing the winning producer to receive orders for the product.
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Making a difference in communities by including women in an international marketplace.
Offering high-quality, fair trade products to consumers around the world enables buyers to make responsible decisions about their purchases, and those decisions have far-reaching effects in Ghana. Changing one woman's economic situation has an effect on all of her surroundings. She may choose to pay back outstanding debt, contribute to family expenses, pay for her children's schooling, or invest in her own business.
Many women also want the best for their communities; Global Mama Monica hopes to help open a school in order to create jobs and reduce unemployment. Seamstress, Esther, speaks of her future, "I will be able to establish my own NGO to help people, like Global Mamas is helping me. Especially in the deprived areas, I want to help them." And others in the organization encourage their neighbors and friends to seek out involvement with Global Mamas or other civil minded organizations in the area. Ultimately the producers of Global Mamas see the benefits of fair trade in an international market place and they want to make sure that everyone can benefit.
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