IAF to lead development of training on collaborative sourcing in Bangladesh

The Conference on Sustainable Sourcing in the Garment Sector (SSGS) organized by the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in partnership with the IAF and the BGMEA has clearly indentified knowledge as a key factor in creating more sustainable sourcing practices. More specifically, for both management of buying firms and management of manufacturing firms more knowledge of setting up collaborative sourcing arrangements is needed.

Where improvements in labour and environmental conditions require also systemic changes, working on the foundations of the system through education is a good and proven strategy.

IAF will therefore lead the formation of a consortium involving major Bangladeshi and international partners to build and finance a training course aimed at buyers and manufacturers. The course will create a unique opportunity for buyers and manufacturers to learn about collaborative sourcing together in a joint, collaborative training in Dhaka.

This training will also serve as a pilot and a benchmark for similar training courses to be developed in other countries with an important apparel industry.