Cooperation
Cooperative is the basis of life, of innovation, and the background of competition.
Context
In our our societies, the value of individual success is often over-rated. In fact, society is the ground for individual well-being and success. Without cooperation, there is no scientific development or human progress.
Individual success is a powerful motivation in our society. While it remains legitimate, it must not make us forget that we humans are deeply social beings, like most of the species on this planet. Empathy and communication are deeply embeded in our genes. They reveal themeselves in the relationships within our organizations, at the local level, and with people and communities far away.
Cooperation also has its skills and techniques, that allow to activate its potential, and can also be transmitted.
International cooperation
22 years of experience in technical support to producers organizations and development of value chains
- Value chains and markets: structuration of value chains, market studies, guarantee systems (organic, fair trade, geographical indications…)
- Resources management and agroecology
- Local and institutional development
- Associate expert at SCIC Tero (or mini-resume in French is here)
Sustainable Development and Collective Intelligence
- Agenda 21 for local authorities
- Stakeholder dialogue
- Support and strategic guidance to small and medium-size companies.
- ISO 26 000 and other approaches of social responsibility
Artemisia annua, a plant between medicine and politics
Against the coronavirus, can African countries promote a herbal medecine derived from traditional medicine?
Much hope has been placed on the plant of the species Artemisia annua. Is its use by African countries medicinal or political, or both?
Comoros: developing export and food value chains
In June 2019, the French Development Agency entrusted us through Tero an assignment, for the Union of the Comoros: a feasibility study of a 4 year project for the development of cash (ylang ylang essential oil, vanilla and clove, mainly) and vegetable value chains on...
Ylang ylang from the Comoros: Saving distillation fuel wood
In March 2019, a team led by Pierre JOHNSON, international consultant, with Wassilati MBAE, as expert of the Comoros ylang ylang value chain, conducted the evaluation of the 2nd phase of the FY-DAFE programme (2016-2019) of the NGO Initiative Développement, with funding by the French Development Agency, and the French Facility for Global Environment and other sponsors. This evaluation concluded on the relevance, effectiveness and sustainability of the project in its main objectives, and made recommendations for the third and final phase of the programme (2019-2021).
Sustainable value chains North and South of Ghana
In 2022, The first field assignment of the year brought me to Ghana with a team coordinated by SOFRECO, to identify for the European Union relevant value chains for a new project in the North of the country. In addition, a more diplomatic mission was undertaken in the...
2022, a year of intense activity, between crises and resilience
Climate change and the collapse of biodiversity are having increasingly visible and dramatic consequences, from South to North and East to West. An open conflict in the North of Europe is impacting food in the South of the globe. But hope remains, with the end of the...
In French Guyana, the emergence of sustainable French cocoa and chocolate
In 2020 and 2021, Pierre Johnson coordinated a study for the development of a “sustainable cocoa and chocolate originating from French Guyana”, at the request of a corporate sponsor and the Chamber of Agriculture of French Guyana. With Cesar Paz, creator of the Norandino cooperative in Peru, we met in early 2020 all the producers and actors likely to support this development. Gathered early November in a workshop for two days, current and prospective producers and their possible support shared their experiences and together built a vision for the future of a cocoa and chocolate of excellence, made in French Guyana and therefore in France. This article is a first assessment.
Pierre W. Johnson
International consultant, study and sustainable development of natural products value chains. Specialist of markets of origin, quality and high value products. Expert on Access and Benefit Sharing.
Keynote speaker on transition to an ecological economy & society.
Member of the
International Value Links Association.
Associate expert to Tero.
