THE CLAC´S CHALLENGES

The establishment of CLAC in its new stage as an organization that brings together small producer networks dedicated to different products is fairly recent, thus there are many issues that have become tasks to fulfill in the near future.

The most important challenge for CLAC is to optimize internal and external communications and feedback to increase a constant development of agreements and closeness between its members, and to strengthen their alliances with other similar organizations.

Despite a rich organizational life within the Board, Product Networks, as well as many National Networks still have to face important limitations. A limited executive structure; a limited access to resources and high costs concerning the organization of work meetings, make internal communication an important tool to be optimized. In order to continue advancing, the organizational strength of CLAC shall still be priority.

This internal strength also allows CLAC to be reinforced through its strategic alliances with civil organizations working to promote Fair Trade, Just Commerce and sustainable development within the small producers' communities.

This internal strength has actually been somehow spontaneous. Nevertheless, CLAC's multiple objectives and goals require building a solid organization with an adequate operative structure for coordination and decision making. These structures also need to respond to the particular education, training, experience exchange and building of specific and collective tools and skills needed by the affiliated OPP.

One of the most important tools for CLAC in the near future will be its regulation and certification systems that support the use of the Small Fair Trade Producers Logo.