The growth in the market for Fairtrade certified agricultural exports from Africa has been rapid, promising empowerment for workers and communities through the Fairtrade Premium. Increasingly the Joint Bodies that administer the premium and the kinds of projects funded have been the subject of mounting criticism. Drawing from two empirical studies on Kenyan flowers and tea that explored pathways to empowerment for women workers on plantations, this paper compares and contrasts the practices of two standards mechanisms operating on the farms: the Joint Body (JB) and the Gender Committee (GC). This analysis finds that the GCs were more empowering for women workers than the JBs and draws out examples of good practice from the former that could help to improve practice in Fairtrade in plantation agriculture. The paper argues that appropriate training for members and non-members of committees alike, organizational and spatial structures, the nature of representation, and mechanisms for strengthening voice are of great importance in ensuring empowering outcomes for workers.

Aasprong, H., Bain, C., Ransom, E. and Higgins, V. (2013) ‘Entangled standardizing networks: the case of GLOBALGAP and fairtrade in St Vincent's banana industry’, International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food 20: 91–108 <www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/aasprong.pdf≯. www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/aasprong.pdf

Center for Evaluation (2012) Assessing the Impact of Fairtrade on Poverty Reduction through Rural Development, Final Report, Fairtrade Impact Study, Koln: TransFair Germany; Basel, Switzerland: Max Havelaar Foundation.

Fisher, E., Sheppard, H., Bain, C., Ransom, E. and Higgins, V. (2013) ‘Pushing the boundaries of the social: private agri-food standards and the governance of fair trade in European public procurement’, International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food 20: 31–49 <www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/fisher_sheppard.pdf≯. www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/fisher_sheppard.pdf

Fairtrade International (FLO) (2007a) Explanatory Document for the Fairtrade Premium and Joint Body in Hired Labour Situations, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

FLO (2007b) FLO Training Manual 2.0: Introduction into the Generic Fairtrade Standards for Hired Labour (without environmental part), Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

FLO (2010) Consultation Document for Fairtrade Stakeholders: New Standards Framework, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

FLO (2012) Monitoring the Scope and Benefits of Fairtrade, 4th edn, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

KHRC (2012) ‘Wilting in Bloom’; The Irony of Women Labour Rights in the Cut-flower Sector in Kenya, Nairobi: Kenya Human Rights Commission.

Loconto, A. (2010) ‘Sustainably performed: reconciling global value chain governance and performativity’, Journal of Rural Social Sciences 25: 193-225<www.ag.auburn.edu/auxiliary/srsa/pages/Articles/JRSS%202010%2025%203%20193-225.pdf≯. www.ag.auburn.edu/auxiliary/srsa/pages/Articles/JRSS%202010%2025%203%20193-225.pdf

Nelson, V. and Martin, A. (2012) ‘The impact of Fairtrade: evidence, shaping factors, and future pathways’, Food Chain 2: 42-63 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/2046-1887.2012.005≯.

Nelson, V. and Pound, B. (2009) The Last Ten Years: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature on the Impact of Fairtrade, Chatham, UK: Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich.

Ochieng, B.O., Hughey, K.F.D. and Bigsby, H. (2013) ‘Rainforest Alliance Certification of Kenyan tea farms: a contribution to sustainability or tokenism?’ Journal of Cleaner Production 39: 285-93 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.07.048≯.

Ouma, S. (2010) ‘Global standards, local realities: private agrifood governance and the restructuring of the Kenyan horticulture industry’, Economic Geography 86: 197-222 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-8287.2009.01065.x≯.

Riisgaard, L. (2009) ‘Global value chains, labor organization and private social standards: lessons from East African cut flower industries’, World Development 37: 326-40 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.03.003≯.

Riisgaard, L. (2011) ‘Towards more stringent sustainability standards? Trends in the cut flower industry’, Review of African Political Economy 38: 435-53 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03056244.2011.598344≯.

Said-Allsopp, M. (2013) Empowerment within Global Value Chains: A Study of the Dynamics of Employment and its Impacts on the Lives of Women Employed in Kenyan Agricultural Export Industries, PhD thesis: School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds.

Tallontire, A. and Said-Allsopp, M. (2013) Global Value Chains and Empowerment Value Chains: Insights from Women Workers in Kenyan Floriculture. Presented at the 2nd workshop on Integrating Labour and Skills into Global Value Chains, Centre for Research on the Economy of the Workplace, University of Birmingham.

Tallontire, A., Dolan, C., Smith, S. and Barrientos, S. (2005) ‘Reaching the marginalised? Gender value chains and ethical trade in African horticulture’, Development in Practice 15: 559-71 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09614520500075771≯.

Tallontire, A., Opondo, M., Nelson, V. and Martin, A. (2011) ‘Beyond the vertical? Using value chains and governance as a framework to analyse private standards initiatives in agri-food chains’, Agriculture and Human Values 28: 427-41 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10460-009-9237-2≯.

Aasprong, H., Bain, C., Ransom, E. and Higgins, V. (2013) ‘Entangled standardizing networks: the case of GLOBALGAP and fairtrade in St Vincent's banana industry’, International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food 20: 91–108 <www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/aasprong.pdf≯. www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/aasprong.pdf

Center for Evaluation (2012) Assessing the Impact of Fairtrade on Poverty Reduction through Rural Development, Final Report, Fairtrade Impact Study, Koln: TransFair Germany; Basel, Switzerland: Max Havelaar Foundation.

Fisher, E., Sheppard, H., Bain, C., Ransom, E. and Higgins, V. (2013) ‘Pushing the boundaries of the social: private agri-food standards and the governance of fair trade in European public procurement’, International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food 20: 31–49 <www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/fisher_sheppard.pdf≯. www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/fisher_sheppard.pdf

Fairtrade International (FLO) (2007a) Explanatory Document for the Fairtrade Premium and Joint Body in Hired Labour Situations, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

FLO (2007b) FLO Training Manual 2.0: Introduction into the Generic Fairtrade Standards for Hired Labour (without environmental part), Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

FLO (2010) Consultation Document for Fairtrade Stakeholders: New Standards Framework, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

FLO (2012) Monitoring the Scope and Benefits of Fairtrade, 4th edn, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

KHRC (2012) ‘Wilting in Bloom’; The Irony of Women Labour Rights in the Cut-flower Sector in Kenya, Nairobi: Kenya Human Rights Commission.

Loconto, A. (2010) ‘Sustainably performed: reconciling global value chain governance and performativity’, Journal of Rural Social Sciences 25: 193-225<www.ag.auburn.edu/auxiliary/srsa/pages/Articles/JRSS%202010%2025%203%20193-225.pdf≯. www.ag.auburn.edu/auxiliary/srsa/pages/Articles/JRSS%202010%2025%203%20193-225.pdf

Nelson, V. and Martin, A. (2012) ‘The impact of Fairtrade: evidence, shaping factors, and future pathways’, Food Chain 2: 42-63 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/2046-1887.2012.005≯.

Nelson, V. and Pound, B. (2009) The Last Ten Years: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature on the Impact of Fairtrade, Chatham, UK: Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich.

Ochieng, B.O., Hughey, K.F.D. and Bigsby, H. (2013) ‘Rainforest Alliance Certification of Kenyan tea farms: a contribution to sustainability or tokenism?’ Journal of Cleaner Production 39: 285-93 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.07.048≯.

Ouma, S. (2010) ‘Global standards, local realities: private agrifood governance and the restructuring of the Kenyan horticulture industry’, Economic Geography 86: 197-222 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-8287.2009.01065.x≯.

Riisgaard, L. (2009) ‘Global value chains, labor organization and private social standards: lessons from East African cut flower industries’, World Development 37: 326-40 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.03.003≯.

Riisgaard, L. (2011) ‘Towards more stringent sustainability standards? Trends in the cut flower industry’, Review of African Political Economy 38: 435-53 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03056244.2011.598344≯.

Said-Allsopp, M. (2013) Empowerment within Global Value Chains: A Study of the Dynamics of Employment and its Impacts on the Lives of Women Employed in Kenyan Agricultural Export Industries, PhD thesis: School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds.

Tallontire, A. and Said-Allsopp, M. (2013) Global Value Chains and Empowerment Value Chains: Insights from Women Workers in Kenyan Floriculture. Presented at the 2nd workshop on Integrating Labour and Skills into Global Value Chains, Centre for Research on the Economy of the Workplace, University of Birmingham.

Tallontire, A., Dolan, C., Smith, S. and Barrientos, S. (2005) ‘Reaching the marginalised? Gender value chains and ethical trade in African horticulture’, Development in Practice 15: 559-71 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09614520500075771≯.

Tallontire, A., Opondo, M., Nelson, V. and Martin, A. (2011) ‘Beyond the vertical? Using value chains and governance as a framework to analyse private standards initiatives in agri-food chains’, Agriculture and Human Values 28: 427-41 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10460-009-9237-2≯.

Aasprong, H., Bain, C., Ransom, E. and Higgins, V. (2013) ‘Entangled standardizing networks: the case of GLOBALGAP and fairtrade in St Vincent's banana industry’, International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food 20: 91–108 <www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/aasprong.pdf≯. www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/aasprong.pdf

Center for Evaluation (2012) Assessing the Impact of Fairtrade on Poverty Reduction through Rural Development, Final Report, Fairtrade Impact Study, Koln: TransFair Germany; Basel, Switzerland: Max Havelaar Foundation.

Fisher, E., Sheppard, H., Bain, C., Ransom, E. and Higgins, V. (2013) ‘Pushing the boundaries of the social: private agri-food standards and the governance of fair trade in European public procurement’, International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food 20: 31–49 <www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/fisher_sheppard.pdf≯. www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/fisher_sheppard.pdf

Fairtrade International (FLO) (2007a) Explanatory Document for the Fairtrade Premium and Joint Body in Hired Labour Situations, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

FLO (2007b) FLO Training Manual 2.0: Introduction into the Generic Fairtrade Standards for Hired Labour (without environmental part), Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

FLO (2010) Consultation Document for Fairtrade Stakeholders: New Standards Framework, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

FLO (2012) Monitoring the Scope and Benefits of Fairtrade, 4th edn, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

KHRC (2012) ‘Wilting in Bloom’; The Irony of Women Labour Rights in the Cut-flower Sector in Kenya, Nairobi: Kenya Human Rights Commission.

Loconto, A. (2010) ‘Sustainably performed: reconciling global value chain governance and performativity’, Journal of Rural Social Sciences 25: 193-225<www.ag.auburn.edu/auxiliary/srsa/pages/Articles/JRSS%202010%2025%203%20193-225.pdf≯. www.ag.auburn.edu/auxiliary/srsa/pages/Articles/JRSS%202010%2025%203%20193-225.pdf

Nelson, V. and Martin, A. (2012) ‘The impact of Fairtrade: evidence, shaping factors, and future pathways’, Food Chain 2: 42-63 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/2046-1887.2012.005≯.

Nelson, V. and Pound, B. (2009) The Last Ten Years: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature on the Impact of Fairtrade, Chatham, UK: Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich.

Ochieng, B.O., Hughey, K.F.D. and Bigsby, H. (2013) ‘Rainforest Alliance Certification of Kenyan tea farms: a contribution to sustainability or tokenism?’ Journal of Cleaner Production 39: 285-93 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.07.048≯.

Ouma, S. (2010) ‘Global standards, local realities: private agrifood governance and the restructuring of the Kenyan horticulture industry’, Economic Geography 86: 197-222 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-8287.2009.01065.x≯.

Riisgaard, L. (2009) ‘Global value chains, labor organization and private social standards: lessons from East African cut flower industries’, World Development 37: 326-40 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.03.003≯.

Riisgaard, L. (2011) ‘Towards more stringent sustainability standards? Trends in the cut flower industry’, Review of African Political Economy 38: 435-53 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03056244.2011.598344≯.

Said-Allsopp, M. (2013) Empowerment within Global Value Chains: A Study of the Dynamics of Employment and its Impacts on the Lives of Women Employed in Kenyan Agricultural Export Industries, PhD thesis: School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds.

Tallontire, A. and Said-Allsopp, M. (2013) Global Value Chains and Empowerment Value Chains: Insights from Women Workers in Kenyan Floriculture. Presented at the 2nd workshop on Integrating Labour and Skills into Global Value Chains, Centre for Research on the Economy of the Workplace, University of Birmingham.

Tallontire, A., Dolan, C., Smith, S. and Barrientos, S. (2005) ‘Reaching the marginalised? Gender value chains and ethical trade in African horticulture’, Development in Practice 15: 559-71 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09614520500075771≯.

Tallontire, A., Opondo, M., Nelson, V. and Martin, A. (2011) ‘Beyond the vertical? Using value chains and governance as a framework to analyse private standards initiatives in agri-food chains’, Agriculture and Human Values 28: 427-41 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10460-009-9237-2≯.

Aasprong, H., Bain, C., Ransom, E. and Higgins, V. (2013) ‘Entangled standardizing networks: the case of GLOBALGAP and fairtrade in St Vincent's banana industry’, International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food 20: 91–108 <www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/aasprong.pdf≯. www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/aasprong.pdf

Center for Evaluation (2012) Assessing the Impact of Fairtrade on Poverty Reduction through Rural Development, Final Report, Fairtrade Impact Study, Koln: TransFair Germany; Basel, Switzerland: Max Havelaar Foundation.

Fisher, E., Sheppard, H., Bain, C., Ransom, E. and Higgins, V. (2013) ‘Pushing the boundaries of the social: private agri-food standards and the governance of fair trade in European public procurement’, International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food 20: 31–49 <www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/fisher_sheppard.pdf≯. www.ijsaf.org/archive/20/1/fisher_sheppard.pdf

Fairtrade International (FLO) (2007a) Explanatory Document for the Fairtrade Premium and Joint Body in Hired Labour Situations, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

FLO (2007b) FLO Training Manual 2.0: Introduction into the Generic Fairtrade Standards for Hired Labour (without environmental part), Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

FLO (2010) Consultation Document for Fairtrade Stakeholders: New Standards Framework, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

FLO (2012) Monitoring the Scope and Benefits of Fairtrade, 4th edn, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International.

KHRC (2012) ‘Wilting in Bloom’; The Irony of Women Labour Rights in the Cut-flower Sector in Kenya, Nairobi: Kenya Human Rights Commission.

Loconto, A. (2010) ‘Sustainably performed: reconciling global value chain governance and performativity’, Journal of Rural Social Sciences 25: 193-225<www.ag.auburn.edu/auxiliary/srsa/pages/Articles/JRSS%202010%2025%203%20193-225.pdf≯. www.ag.auburn.edu/auxiliary/srsa/pages/Articles/JRSS%202010%2025%203%20193-225.pdf

Nelson, V. and Martin, A. (2012) ‘The impact of Fairtrade: evidence, shaping factors, and future pathways’, Food Chain 2: 42-63 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/2046-1887.2012.005≯.

Nelson, V. and Pound, B. (2009) The Last Ten Years: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature on the Impact of Fairtrade, Chatham, UK: Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich.

Ochieng, B.O., Hughey, K.F.D. and Bigsby, H. (2013) ‘Rainforest Alliance Certification of Kenyan tea farms: a contribution to sustainability or tokenism?’ Journal of Cleaner Production 39: 285-93 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.07.048≯.

Ouma, S. (2010) ‘Global standards, local realities: private agrifood governance and the restructuring of the Kenyan horticulture industry’, Economic Geography 86: 197-222 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-8287.2009.01065.x≯.

Riisgaard, L. (2009) ‘Global value chains, labor organization and private social standards: lessons from East African cut flower industries’, World Development 37: 326-40 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.03.003≯.

Riisgaard, L. (2011) ‘Towards more stringent sustainability standards? Trends in the cut flower industry’, Review of African Political Economy 38: 435-53 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03056244.2011.598344≯.

Said-Allsopp, M. (2013) Empowerment within Global Value Chains: A Study of the Dynamics of Employment and its Impacts on the Lives of Women Employed in Kenyan Agricultural Export Industries, PhD thesis: School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds.

Tallontire, A. and Said-Allsopp, M. (2013) Global Value Chains and Empowerment Value Chains: Insights from Women Workers in Kenyan Floriculture. Presented at the 2nd workshop on Integrating Labour and Skills into Global Value Chains, Centre for Research on the Economy of the Workplace, University of Birmingham.

Tallontire, A., Dolan, C., Smith, S. and Barrientos, S. (2005) ‘Reaching the marginalised? Gender value chains and ethical trade in African horticulture’, Development in Practice 15: 559-71 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09614520500075771≯.

Tallontire, A., Opondo, M., Nelson, V. and Martin, A. (2011) ‘Beyond the vertical? Using value chains and governance as a framework to analyse private standards initiatives in agri-food chains’, Agriculture and Human Values 28: 427-41 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10460-009-9237-2≯.