≠edd21, 15-16 June 2021 

European Development Days 2021 (EDD21), convened by the European Commission, bring the development community together under the overarching theme The Green Deal for a Sustainable Future.

The EDD21 agenda places focus on biodiversity loss, climate change, and environmental degradation as defining challenges of our generation and calls for more coordinated and incisive international efforts to save the planet. EDD21 will provide a decisive moment of reflection on the road to the Glasgow COP26, planned for November 2021.

This is in line with the agenda we, the Humana People to People movement, are committed to protecting the planet, building communities, and supporting people by connecting them with others, unleashing their potential for positive change and action.

Humana People to People participation in EDD21 is based on two areas of activities:

Our Farmers’ Clubs program supports smallholder farmers to produce bigger quantities of better food. They are already the world's biggest food producers: they feed the world, reaching those who need it most, the rural and urban poor. Smallholder farmers are the frontline response to the world’s environmental and social crisis.

For more than 40 years we have collected, sorted and sold second-hand clothes. In doing so, we reduce waste, save precious resources through reuse, provide affordable clothing to people in both hemispheres - and it ultimately enables us to undertake invaluable development work.

We participate in the following ways:

Humana People to People have a virtual stand at the Global Village, entitled Closing the loop in the Global Textile Industry; Opening Up opportunities for vulnerable communities, and hosted 2 Agora Sessions, on 15 June.

The session on Climate Resilient Food Value Chains in Sub-Saharan Africa: Promoting bottom-up transformation as a key to resilience against the effects of climate change, scheduled for 1140hrs – 1150hrs. Nervous Nsansaula of DAPP Zambia, a member of Humana People to People have presented on how our Farmers’ Clubs program work with smallholder farmers in contributing to building sustainable, climate resilient food value chains anchored on a strong social life. GIZ in Malawi will be another presenter in the same session.

The second session, Boosting circularity in the global textile industry: a catalyst for environmental and social transformation in developing countries, is slotted for 1600hrs-1610hrs. Kaj Pihl of Humana People to People spoke on the EU textile strategy and how Humana People to People contributes to more sustainable use of textiles while providing opportunities for vulnerable communities in developing countries. In the same session the European Commission presented on EU waste principles, transforming textile management into a catalyst of the EU Green Deal among other issues.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the inter-linkages between human health and a healthy planet. The post-COVID-19 recovery should be an opportunity to build back greener and more inclusive societies and economies.

Humana People to People also feature a PODCAST on how Humana People to People concept of Farmers’ Clubs is changing lives. In the conversation with Fabiano Montfort, the Coordinator of Farmers’ Clubs in Laos, we bring to you a discussion on how our sustainable agriculture and environment activities are supporting farmers with capacity building to improve food production in Laos. 

We invite you to the recorded insightfull conversation with Fabiano Montfort on Farmer's Clubs in Laos