On the 5th and 6th of November, the worlds’ first international conference on living wage and living income takes place.
As sustainable sourcing in the private sector becomes the norm, the next frontier lies in achieving living wage and living income. The Only Way is Up! Conference, co-organized by IDH, aims for international business, policy makers and civil society in the agri-food sector to work together on challenges and opportunities ahead. This event will showcase the latest innovations, stimulate open dialogue, and boost collaboration, to facilitate sustainable procurement all around the world.
At the conference, IDH will reveal the current living wage commitment in the banana sector, discuss tools for sustainable procurement, and showcase sectoral commitments.
The two-day program will start with framing the context; showcasing leading international initiatives, a high-level panel discussion, and a series of workshops. These workshops will focus on relevant drivers (financial institutions, due diligence, voluntary sustainability standards), practical tools (wage setting mechanisms, sustainable procurement tools, pricing strategies) and innovative technologies (big data, blockchain) for business and other stakeholders to close the living wage gap.
The hosts of the conference, Dutch Minister Kaag (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) and German Minister Müller (Economic Cooperation and Development) will open the second day. You will have a chance to develop collaborations and find joint solutions in the plenary sessions on break-troughs in the banana and cacao sector and workshops on progress in your specific supply chains (bananas, cocoa, flowers and plants, coffee, tea and green beans).
This event offers the private sector and relevant stakeholders in the supply chain an unique opportunity to learn about the latest innovations and define strategies on the way forward. Come and join us.
When: Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th November, 2019
Where: Van Nelle Factory (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Organizers of the conference are the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development together with Hivos, Fairfood, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade and IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative.