©2009 rainforest alliance steps towards certification - preparation of a group – presented by:...
TRANSCRIPT
©2009 Rainforest Alliance
Steps towards Certification
- Preparation of a group –
Steps towards Certification
- Preparation of a group –Presented by:Presented by:
Presented to:Presented to:Date: Date: Venue:Venue:
Standard documents for group certification
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1. Sustainable Agriculture StandardFor member farmsAbout environmental, social and management practices at farms
2. Group Certification StandardFor group administratorAbout Internal Control System
General process
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Step 1: Formation of the group Step 1: Formation of the group
Identifying the producers
Identifying the producers
Sensitization of the producers
Sensitization of the producers
Identifying the ICS team
Identifying the ICS team
Step 2: PlanningStep 2: Planning Analysis of the standard
Analysis of the standard
Defining responsibilities
Defining responsibilities
Developing a plan and toolsDeveloping a plan and tools
Step 3: Preparation of the ICS teamStep 3: Preparation of the ICS team
Training of group
administrator
Training of group
administrator
Training of internal auditors
Training of internal auditors
Training of trainers
Training of trainers
Step 4: Training of the producers
Step 4: Training of the producers
Training of producersTraining of producers
Implementation of the standardImplementation of the standard Follow-upFollow-up
Step 6: External auditsStep 6: External auditsExternal audits of farms and of
ICS
External audits of farms and of
ICS
Corrective actions
Corrective actions CertificationCertification
Step 5: Internal auditsStep 5: Internal auditsInternal audits of
the farms and the ICS
Internal audits of the farms and
the ICS
Corrective actions
Corrective actions Follow-upFollow-up
Step 7: Continuous improvement Step 7: Continuous improvement Improvement of farms
Improvement of farms
Improvement of ICS
Improvement of ICS
Step 1: Formation of the group
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1. Members(Producers need to be well informed and agree to join the group.)
2. Group Administrator (Group Administrator is in charge of the Internal Control
System of the group. He/she also takes the final decision on the participation of the members to the group.)
3. Trainers (Trainers help the farms to implement the standard.
They could be agronomists of the group, extension officers, lead farmers etc.)
4. Internal Auditors (Internal auditors inspect all the member farms at least
once every year. They need to be adequately trained.)
Step 1: Formation of the groupStep 1: Formation of the group
Identifying the producers
Identifying the producers
Sensitization of the producers
Sensitization of the producers
Identifying the ICS team
Identifying the ICS team
Brief the producers about the steps towards certification, then identify the people who will form the group.
ICS team
Step 2: Planning
• Which criteria are applicable at the Group (ICS) level ?
(For each criterion, the Group Administrator needs to decide whether it will be handled by the group or by each farm. For example, the criteria in the principle 1 of the standard are likely to be handled by the group.)
• Which criteria are applicable at the Farm level ?
(All the criteria that are not handled by the group need to be handled by the farms.)
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Criteria for the groupCriteria for the group
Criteria for the farms Criteria for the farms
Non-applicable
criteria
Non-applicable
criteria
Step 2: PlanningStep 2: Planning Analysis of the standard
Analysis of the standard
Defining responsibilities
Defining responsibilities
Analyze the standard to define the responsibility of the group and that of the producers.
Step 2: Planning
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Step 2: PlanningStep 2: Planning
• Develop a plan that defines activities, timeline, responsible persons, tools and resources required.
• For example, a group may need to develop an internal inspection checklist for the criteria to be audited at the farm level. This could be a useful tool for the internal audits.
Criteria for the farms Criteria for the farms
Example of a checklist
Developing a plan and toolsDeveloping a plan and tools
Step 3.1: Training of group administrator
• Group administrator needs to be trained upon how to develop the group’s ICS, based on the two standard documents that apply to the group.
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Step 3: Preparation of the ICS teamStep 3: Preparation of the ICS team
Training of group
administrator
Training of group
administrator
Criteria for the groupCriteria for the group
Internal Control
System of the group
Internal Control
System of the group
Group administrator needs to document the system as an ICS manual, and be implement it.
•Trainers could be lead farmers, agronomists of the group, extension officers, etc.
•Trainers need to be well respected and trusted by the members, know how the farms can implement the standard, and communicate it to them.
Step 3.2: Training of trainers
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Step 3: Preparation of the ICS teamStep 3: Preparation of the ICS team
Training of trainers
Training of trainers
Criteria for the farms Criteria for the farms
• Trainers should be provided with training materials, such as posters, manuals, mini-flipchart and forms.
Step 3.3: Training of internal auditors
• Internal auditors need to be trained upon the standard, auditing techniques and how to use the checklist of the group.
• Group Administrator needs to do a spot-checks of internal audits conducted, to see whether the internal auditors are well-trained or need more training.
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Step 3: Preparation of the ICS teamStep 3: Preparation of the ICS team
Training of internal auditors
Training of internal auditors
Criteria for the farms Criteria for the farms
Step 4: Training of the producers
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Step 4: Training of the producersStep 4: Training of the producers
Training of producersTraining of producers
Implementation of the standardImplementation of the standard Follow-upFollow-up
• Trainers train producers using a methodology that is most locally adequate.
• Remember to keep the record of the training sessions.
• Trainers need to follow up with the producers to ensure that the standard is implemented in the farms.
Step 5: Internal audits
• Each farm and the ICS needs to be internally audited at least once a year. It is a very important step to generate a process of continuous improvement of the farms and of the group.
• An internal auditor cannot audit his/her own farm or those of their immediate family members.
• The farms need to take a corrective action for each non-conformity.
• After the internal audits, follow-up the farms to ensure that all the corrective actions are taken.
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Step 5: Internal auditsStep 5: Internal auditsInternal audits of
the farms and the ICS
Internal audits of the farms and
the ICS
Corrective actions
Corrective actions Follow-upFollow-up
Step 6: External audits
• External audits are conducted by external auditors from accredited certification bodies of Rainforest Alliance.
• Non-compliances will be indicated during the audits.
• Final decision:Certification, or
Certification after corrective actions, or
No certification12
Step 6: External auditsStep 6: External auditsExternal audits of the farms and the
ICS
External audits of the farms and the
ICS
Corrective actions
Corrective actions CertificationCertification
(1)Audit of the ICS
(2) Audits of sample farms (usually square root of the total number of farms)
Step 7: Continuous improvement
• The process does not stop at certification. After certification, both the farms and the ICS need to continue improving each year.
• Develop an “action plan” each year that defines activities, timeline, responsible persons, tools and resources required.
• Follow-up the plan to ensure that all the actions are implemented in time.
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Step 7: Continuous improvementStep 7: Continuous improvementImprovement of the farms
Improvement of the farms
Improvement of the ICS
Improvement of the ICS
The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoodsby transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.
The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoodsby transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.
Thank You for joining us in this journey!