FairSource In Depth
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FairSource is a business model, a standard for fair trade, and a movement for social change. This page is intended to provide an overview, as well as access to papers published on FairSource.
Recent papers:
FairSource: The Business Model
FairSource is the business model that provides an ethical means of outsourcing designed to support microenterprises through fair trade. FairSource creates relationships based on collaboration, defined standards of values, and quality. By providing a vehicle for economic sustainability at its core, FairSource is self-sustaining.
FairSource: The Standard
FairSource extends the principles of Fair Trade to trade in services. The FairSource Standard governs the relationship between the purchaser and provider of services (both are assumed to be enterprises). The Standard also governs the conditions under which the provider operates, ensuring adherence to international standards. In essence, it provides a code of conduct for the provider that rewards responsible business practices, while assuring the purchaser of the ethical and sustainable business practices used in providing service. Like the Fairtrade standards, the FairSource standard covers issues of labor and human rights protection, but is unique as a labor standard for the production of services. It is rooted in ILO Conventions and the ISO approach to management standards and systems. The ILO conventions are taken as minimum standards for labor conditions. FairSource incorporates longterm development concerns; the standard includes both minimum requirements and progress requirements that encourage enterprises to continuously improve quality, efficiency, responsibility, and accountability.
FairSource for Social Change
The co-founders of ifPeople, both US citizens, were based in Córdoba, Argentina when the enterprise was created in 2003. After witnessing the Argentine economic collapse of December 2001 and the subsequent rebuilding efforts, they looked for ways to help determined individuals overcome the barriers to entrepreneurship and responsible business in Latin America. Using the FairSource standard for providers, ifPeople can assist enterprises in overcoming those barriers. By investing in their business development, paying a fair wage for quality work, signing long term contracts, and enabling service providers to access the international market, FairSource service providers gain valuable technical knowledge while self-financing their growth and development.
FairSource is a business model, a standard for fair trade, and a movement for social change. This page is intended to provide an overview, as well as access to papers published on FairSource.
Recent papers:
| FairSource: Responsible Enterprise Development Through Trade in Services, July 2005 | FairSource: Sustainable Livelihoods through Trade in Services, 2004 |
FairSource: The Business Model
FairSource is the business model that provides an ethical means of outsourcing designed to support microenterprises through fair trade. FairSource creates relationships based on collaboration, defined standards of values, and quality. By providing a vehicle for economic sustainability at its core, FairSource is self-sustaining.
FairSource: The Standard
FairSource extends the principles of Fair Trade to trade in services. The FairSource Standard governs the relationship between the purchaser and provider of services (both are assumed to be enterprises). The Standard also governs the conditions under which the provider operates, ensuring adherence to international standards. In essence, it provides a code of conduct for the provider that rewards responsible business practices, while assuring the purchaser of the ethical and sustainable business practices used in providing service. Like the Fairtrade standards, the FairSource standard covers issues of labor and human rights protection, but is unique as a labor standard for the production of services. It is rooted in ILO Conventions and the ISO approach to management standards and systems. The ILO conventions are taken as minimum standards for labor conditions. FairSource incorporates longterm development concerns; the standard includes both minimum requirements and progress requirements that encourage enterprises to continuously improve quality, efficiency, responsibility, and accountability.
FairSource for Social Change
The co-founders of ifPeople, both US citizens, were based in Córdoba, Argentina when the enterprise was created in 2003. After witnessing the Argentine economic collapse of December 2001 and the subsequent rebuilding efforts, they looked for ways to help determined individuals overcome the barriers to entrepreneurship and responsible business in Latin America. Using the FairSource standard for providers, ifPeople can assist enterprises in overcoming those barriers. By investing in their business development, paying a fair wage for quality work, signing long term contracts, and enabling service providers to access the international market, FairSource service providers gain valuable technical knowledge while self-financing their growth and development.
