Sustainable Commodity Assistance Network (SCAN)

The Sustainable Commodity Assistance Network (SCAN) was formed to improve collaboration and cooperation among leading organisations and companies providing technical assistance related to sustainable production and trade. The objective is to improve the effectiveness and impact of the technical assistance programmes through needs-based and comprehensive, collaborative approaches. Initial focus was on sustainability standards and certification, but overtime grew beyond just standards to a more comprehensive approach to promote sustainability.

The SCAN identified priority needs areas and supported the establishment of national platforms in Vietnam, Peru, Tanzania, and Guatemala. The national platforms include the international SCAN members active in the country and the key private and public actors for the sector (primarily coffee) in the country.

Donors/Partners:

In its efforts, SCAN has been supported by USAID, HIVOS, SIDA SECO, IDB, IFAD, and McDonald’s USA.

SCAN is part of the suite of programs developed under UNCTAD’s Sustainable Commodity Initiative, which includes the Committee on Sustainability Assessment (COSA) and the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS) – two programs with which SCAN continues to partner.

SCAN is partnering with CABI, CIRAD, Ecoagriculture Partners, Fairtrade (FLO), FAST, FiBL, Global Coffee Platform, IISD, ISEAL, Rainforest Alliance, SNV, Social Accountability International, Solidaridad, UNCTAD, UNDP, Rainforest Alliance and the World Agroforestry Centre.

Key activities:

The SCAN national platforms have produced comprehensive tool kits to offer trainings to farmers through multi-stakeholder consultation and collective work. These were implemented in pilot projects and made available for public access on ITC’s Sustainability Map (www.sustainabilitymap.org).They have continued to build collaboration among sector stakeholders, share knowledge and jointly provide technical assistance using the toolkits developed.

The SCAN coordination team has facilitated national level consultations with the coffee sector in Rwanda and the tea sector in Kenya, which led to action plans in both countries with an emphasis on collaboration, cooperation and technical assistance.

Signature projects/tools:

SCAN has had project in several countries, including in Peru, Guatemala, Tanzania, Vietnam, Kenya and Rwanda.

Those SCAN projects are now coordinated by the respective national platforms, as one of SCAN’s goals is to create self-sufficient national platforms.

Priority Countries and corresponding areas of activities:

Guatemala: Technical assistance – Standards/certification – Producer country policy – Consumer country policy – Water conservation – Labour conditions

Indonesia: Technical assistance – Standards/certification – Producer country policy – Consumer country policy – Water conservation – Labour conditions

Kenya: Technical assistance – Standards/certification – Producer country policy – Consumer country policy – Water conservation – Labour conditions

Rwanda: Technical assistance – Standards/certification – Producer country policy – Consumer country policy – Water conservation – Labour conditions

Vietnam: Technical assistance – Standards/certification – Producer country policy – Consumer country policy – Water conservation – Labour conditions