Across Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Thailand and Cambodia, the first six FIT for FAIR country processes are coming to a close. But their impact does not end here. Partnerships, nationally driven approaches and lessons developed over the past two years are providing a foundation for the project’s next phase – and for continued learning across countries and regions.
Working closely with national partners, FIT for FAIR brought together governments, producer organisations, businesses, civil society and technical experts to explore how national frameworks can support sustainable and deforestation-free value chains in the context of evolving EU due diligence requirements, including the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
One lesson became particularly clear: there is no single pathway to operationalising due diligence requirements across different national contexts.
Six countries, different pathways
Each country explored its own pathway to operationalising due diligence, building on existing institutions, sector priorities and national realities.
In Colombia, more than 430 stakeholders from the coffee, cocoa and palm oil sectors contributed to a national due diligence model, a 2025–2030 roadmap and practical guidance for implementing due diligence. Building on these outcomes, dialogues and field visits connected Colombian value chain actors with European companies, highlighted existing good practices and fostered continued collaboration and mutual learning.
In Côte d’Ivoire, a broad multi-stakeholder process resulted in a report, policy recommendations and a national roadmap. A Due Diligence Taskforce was subsequently established, bringing together public and private actors to help carry the work forward.
In Ethiopia, national task force meetings informed recommendations on traceability and digital solutions, environmental due diligence, institutional coordination, and human and social rights.
Traceability is not only about tracking the product. It is really about building trust in the data behind the product.
In Rwanda, a participatory process resulted in an analysis of existing national frameworks, a gap assessment, policy recommendations and a National Roadmap for the coffee sector. The roadmap defines priority areas, roles and timelines, including for legality, traceability, smallholder integration and decent work.
In Thailand, were developed together with national stakeholders, while exchange on institutional coordination and traceability was strengthened. Thailand’s experience also contributed to broader regional learning, connecting different approaches from Southeast Asia and Ethiopia.
In Cambodia, a multi-stakeholder process brought together around 80 representatives from government, the private sector, producer organisations and other institutions. Discussions highlighted that advancing deforestation-free and responsible value chains is not only relevant in the context of evolving European requirements, but can also contribute to national priorities for sustainable development and long-term competitiveness.
We have to make sure our rubber is deforestation-free. Cambodia has the opportunity to show that sustainable production and export competitiveness can go hand in hand.
While contexts and pathways differ, common challenges – and lessons relevant across borders – have also emerged.
What have we learnt together?
Technology alone is not enough. Effective traceability depends on governance, institutional coordination, interoperability and trust in how data is managed.
Inclusion must be designed in from the beginning. Smallholders are central to many agricultural value chains, yet costs, digital access, informality and land-tenure realities can create barriers. Solutions need to reflect local realities and avoid placing disproportionate burdens on smaller and potentially vulnerable actors.
Smallholders are the foundation of the supply chain ecosystem. We need to provide awareness training, simple tools and an easy onboarding process to build trust and create participation.
There is also no blueprint. Countries have developed different responses – from government-led and cooperative-based approaches to policy processes and technological solutions. This diversity is precisely what makes cross-country learning valuable.
Turning country experience into shared knowledge
The International Trade Centre (ITC) designed and facilitated cross-country online learning formats connecting experiences across Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia.
Exchanges connected Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and El Salvador, as well as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Ethiopia. Participants compared approaches to traceability, data governance, institutional coordination and smallholder inclusion.
Traceability is not only about technology. It is also about governance, coordination, building trust and collaboration between the actors.
One lesson stood out: countries do not need to start from zero. Experiences and solutions from other contexts can provide valuable insights – not as blueprints to copy, but as approaches to adapt. In June, the final Cross-Country Learnings Webinar brought together experiences from the six FIT for FAIR countries and the regional exchanges, consolidating lessons for the next phase.
Built through partnership
The achievements of the first six country processes would not have been possible without the partners who anchored FIT for FAIR in their national contexts.
We thank the Conseil National des Exportations (CNE) in Côte d’Ivoire, the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) in Ethiopia, Confecámaras and Preferred by Nature in Colombia, EuroCham Cambodia, UNDP in collaboration with NAEB in Rwanda, and the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) in Thailand.
Together with governments, producer organisations, businesses, civil society, academia and development partners, they convened stakeholders, connected the work to national realities and helped turn dialogue into nationally anchored processes and outcomes.
Experiences that travel further
The first six country processes are coming to a close – but collaboration continues.
FIT for FAIR enters its next phase with a growing body of experience: from operationalising due diligence requirements and developing policy recommendations and roadmaps to strengthening institutional coordination and advancing approaches to traceability, data governance and inclusion.
New partner countries will not be starting from zero. They can build on lessons generated so far – while bringing their own perspectives, expertise and solutions into the exchange.
The first six countries were the starting point. Their experiences and lessons will travel further. Stay tuned for the next chapter of FIT for FAIR!
