Aid by Trade Foundation Honored for Cotton Sustainability

Berlin/Hamburg, 26 June 2025 – The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), based in Hamburg, was honored with the Honorary Award of the German Africa Foundation 2025 during a ceremony held on 25 June at the German Bundestag. The foundation's founder and well-known entrepreneur Prof. Dr Michael Otto accepted the award in the presence of distinguished guests from politics, business, civil society, and African embassies. The award was presented by Dr Bärbel Kofler, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The German Africa Foundation recognized AbTF’s enduring contribution to sustainable economic development through trade. Since its inception in 2005, the foundation has led the Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) initiative to create fair employment opportunities, enhance agricultural output, and safeguard the environment. Today, CmiA stands as the world’s leading sustainability standard for cotton from Africa.

Dr Kofler praised the initiative during the ceremony, highlighting its success as a model of public-private cooperation. She emphasized that it exemplifies profitable and effective partnerships, with around one million smallholder farmers and their families across ten African countries now benefiting from the program. Initially supported by the BMZ, CmiA reflects a strong collaboration between business and development cooperation, a priority that the government aims to deepen in the current legislative term.

Founder Prof. Dr Michael Otto stated, “Together with more than 60 international trade partners, CmiA is setting an important example for ecological and social sustainability in the textile industry.” The initiative now covers approximately 30% of African cotton production and is lauded for its low carbon footprint, zero irrigation use, and GMO-free seeds.

Beyond environmental and economic benefits, CmiA is also strongly committed to social sustainability in its operating regions. This includes training for farmers, education and health projects, and support for women in rural areas, all aimed at empowering local structures in partnership with regional stakeholders.