The African Fashion and Textile Accelerator Network (Africa FAN) was set up by Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation of the German Federal Ministry or Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to increase sourcing of sustainably produced textiles from emerging textile and apparel production hubs in Africa, thereby creating jobs for the region’s growing workforce.

Africa FAN is jointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the International Trade Centre (ITC), the joint agency of the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organizations (WTO).

Interested brands and retailers in the fashion and apparel sector are invited to join Africa FAN through which they are supported both financially and technically in their scouting, matchmaking and sourcing activities with textile and apparel producers from Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia.

• Africa FAN provides financial and advisory support to brands and retailers for the establishment of stable and long-term business relations with African textile and apparel producers, which includes:

  • Access to detailed information on production capacities of African textile and apparel suppliers meeting your quality and sustainable sourcing requirements
  • Quality assurance and third-party certification with social and environmental sustainability standards required for international sales
  • Financing of buyer’s journey to meet selected African garment manufacturers
  • Financial support for participation at trade fairs related to textiles sourcing from Africa
  • Financing of feasibility studies necessary for strategic decisions on local sourcing
  • Marketing support and public communications related to the project for partner companies
  • Bi-monthly workshops to discuss common challenges and opportunities related to sustainable sourcing from Africa (e.g. African supplier profiles, production inputs from Africa etc)

Express your interest via email to africafan@intracen.org to learn more about Africa FAN and discuss how your company would like to participate in the project.

Your contribution to Africa FAN may include:

• • Long term interest to explore new garment sourcing opportunities in Africa
  • Capacity to participate in investor trips in Africa to visit local textile and apparel production sites
  • Openness to provide guidance and experience to African partner companies on quality assurance and product development
  • Willingness to work together with other like-minded companies, and to sign a letter of commitment confirming interest to participate in the project.