Seeking to exploit football’s worldwide influence to unlock global economic growth potential, FIFA has roped in the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to assess the cotton-to-textile value chain development in five African nations — the ‘Cotton 4 (plus)’ group.
COTTON 4 PLUS: As part of FIFA’s continued efforts to explore opportunities for African cotton-producing nations in the global football apparel market, FIFA had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Trade Organization (WTO) in September 2022 which sought to cash in on the sport’s worldwide popularity in the area of cotton production in Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire, collectively known as the ‘Cotton 4 (plus)’ group.
THE ASSESSMENT: UNIDO will carry out the baseline assessment which will be completed by April 2024. The findings will serve as the basis for a project document in support of the joint-FIFA-WTO initiative. The report will focus on:
- The feasibility of producing apparel made from cotton and mixed fibres (i.e. cotton and synthetic combined), including the use of recycled polyester, in the five countries.
- It will also look at how investment and technical know-how can be mobilised, supply and demand capacities, and the compatibility of existing legal and policy frameworks with the development of textile and apparel value chains in partner African countries.
- In addition to establishing thriving and sustainable field-to-factory textile value chains in the five countries, thereby boosting local economies while reducing transportation costs and environmental impact, it is envisaged that FIFA-branded items, such as sportswear and gifts, for FIFA staff, competitions, and the FIFA Football for Schools programme could be manufactured using cotton from the ‘Cotton 4 (plus)’ group.
The Countries: The Cotton 4 countries produce large quantities of high-quality cotton fibre, which is rated among the most sustainable in the world due to it being handpicked, rain-irrigated, and predominantly organically fertilised.
- However, over 90% is exported as raw material, meaning those countries miss out on the additional revenue and job creation that could be generated by developing local cotton-to-textile value chains at national and regional levels.
- It was for the first time that FIFA President Gianni Infantino met and discussed with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Director General Gerd Müller as part of FIFA’s continued efforts to explore opportunities for African cotton-producing nations in the global football apparel market.
