FAQs
FAQs
1. Who are the people behind Traidlinks?
3. How can people get involved?
4. What is the status of Traidlinks – an incorporated company? Partnership? Voluntary organisation?
6. Have the people involved made a financial contribution to its operation?
7. What plans have you to extend to other African countries?
8. How do you know that your African producers are not engaged in fraud/unsavoury politics?
9. What is the planned timeframe for Traidlinks? How long do you see the organisation continuing?
10. What initiatives, other than ‘Heart of Africa’ is Traidlinks involved in?
11. How does Traidlinks compare with Fairtrade?
1. Who are the people behind Traidlinks?
Irish Aid is Traidlinks’ principal financial donor and played a crucial catalytic role in the establishment of the Company. Traidlinks' operations are headed by Paddy Maguinness, Managing Director (Appointed February 2010). Our Board of Directors include Liam Fitzgerald, Chief Executive, United Drug; Michael Carey, Chief Executive, Jacob Fruitfield Food Group; Jim Corbett, Managing Director, Bewleys; Tony Barry, Barrys Tea; Aidan Heavey, CEO Tullow Oil plc; and Patrick Bitature, Chairman Uganda Investment Authority and SIMBA Group, Uganda and Maurice Healy, CEO Healy Group
Traidlinks is also supported by a host of organisations that donate both financial resources and ‘in-kind’ contribution of skills and expertise to Traidlinks’ programmes of activities. Contact us
2. Why did they get involved?
Recognising the need to focus on trade as a means of development, Irish Aid threw out a challenge to the Irish private sector to get involved and identify if and how they could help.
The establishment of Traidlinks and the launch of the Heart of Africa brand is the response of the private sector to that challenge.
3. How can people get involved?
The ultimate success of Traidlinks will depend on a growing number of people getting involved. Anyone interested should check the website for details of projects we have in Uganda, where we invite expressions of interest or job vacancies advertised on our Careers page
4. What is the status of Traidlinks – an incorporated company? Partnership? Voluntary organisation?
Traidlinks is a not-for-profit company registerd under Irish law as a private company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. Company No: 426554. Its registered office is C/o Bradwell Ltd. Earlsfort Centre, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, Ireland.
We are also a registered Charity in Ireland, since 2008 - CHY 18659
5. How is it funded?
Traidlinks is funded predominantly by the Department of Foreign Affairs, through Irish Aid and by in-kind time and resources contributed from the private sector. We have also received funding from Electric Aid (December 2009) towards workshops on our MarketLinked Export Development programme in Uganda. Pro-bono services donations are made by a number of supporters of Traidlinks also - see Who supports us?
6. Have the people involved made a financial contribution to its operation?
The contribution from individuals within the private sector has been on a 'pro-bono' basis, including their time and business resources.
7. What plans have you to extend to other African countries?
Our initial focus is on Uganda but we are exploring ways to expand into other countries as the scale of operations develops over time.
8. How do you know that your African companies are not engaged in fraud/unsavoury politics?
All African companies involved with Traidlinks must meet the principles laid down in the UN Global Compact and our Company Charter. We also closely monitor their operations. In the case of Amfri Farms, for example, a close working relationship developed prior to establishment of a supply agreement. Traidlinks audit any prospect companies using the Traidlinks' Responsibile Business Questionnaire, designed in line with the UN Global Compact and our Company Charter.
9. What is the planned timeframe forTraidlinks? How long do you see the organisation continuing?
This is a long term project, which we see continuing as long as the economic conditions in Africa can be assisted by contributions from Irish businesses. The focus is on partnership and support for companies in Africa to improve their economic viability and creating a sustainable future within Africa, reducing poverty and enabling job creation and a better future for all.
10. What initiatives, other than ‘Heart of Africa’ is Traidlinks involved in?
Areas of Activity:
- Skills Exchange Programme - This programme aims to identify needs in African businesses and match these needs with appropriate skills within the Irish private sector. Project delivery is practical and focused such that the activity adds sustainable value to the African company, whilst remaining flexible to suit the business resources available to the Irish company.
- MarketLinked - Export Development Programme - This programme is run in Partnership with the Uganda Export Promotion Board. Focus is on: assisting business development and enhancing competitiveness among Uganda agri-businesses; strengthening Ugandan agri-businesses' management in the food/processed food sector through focused skills transfer; and idenitifying and facilitating export opportunities in a neighbouring African regional market.
- Business Mentoring Programme - This programme matches key Irish Business mentors with selected Traidlinks partner companies in Uganda to provide mentoring at a strategic level, providing guidance on developments in relation to specialist project areas.
- Promotion and Awareness Raising - This programme aims to build public awareness of the role of the private sector in stimulating economic growth so as to reduce poverty in developing countries and raise awareness in the Irish business community of its potential contribution to this.
11. How does Traidlinks compare with Fairtrade?
There are many different approaches required to resolve the complex issue of Africa’s development. The focus of Traidlinks is on developing the skills and capabilities of African businesses and is complementary to Fairtrade’s focus on giving a better deal to 3rd world producers.
With the huge challenge to develop Africa’s trade capacity there is plenty of room, and need, for different models in tackling this issue.