In 2024/25 ISEAL supported its members to reflect and take action towards embedding equity and producer empowerment within their systems and practices. To date, this support has included: the development of an equity framework; the strengthening of equity within the ISEAL Code of Good Practice; a guidance note for embedding equity within monitoring and evaluation systems; and grant funding for specific projects to advance equity. These resources have been designed to help members to develop their own thinking and approaches to equity and producer empowerment in their sectors and value chains.

During this project ISEAL provided grant funding to The Marine Stewardship Council and Better Cotton Initiative for pilot projects to take action on embedding equity and producer empowerment within their systems and practices. ISEAL has developed summaries of these pilots.

The Marine Stewardship Council standard focuses on ecological and environmental performance. They were keen to deepen their understanding of the social dimensions of MSC certification and the ways that producers and local communities are involved in fisheries management and governance.

You can find the research overview and findings at the bottom of this page, with the final published peer-reviewed paper available later this year.

With support from: