09 September 2013- A mission from Global Fairness Initiative (GFI) is visiting Guinea-Bissau from 9-12 September at the invitation of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau, José Ramos-Horta, to look into the possibility of investment in economic projects.

Led by the GFI founder-president, Karen Tramontano, who served as Deputy Chief of Staff to former US President Bill Clinton, the mission includes representatives of potential donor organisations. It aims to meet with individuals and organizations to learn more about Guinea-Bissau's short and long-term goals as well as its development challenges and opportunities, and to discuss with multiple stakeholders opportunities for partnership and investment.

On Monday 9 September, the delegation paid a courtesy visit on SRSG José Ramos-Horta, who had invited GFI to visit the country during a meeting held in Washington in May 2013. The SRSG is a member of the GFI's board of directors, made up of various outstanding personalities, including former presidents, top private sector executives and leaders of non-governmental institutions.

On Monday, the GFI delegation met with the UN Country Team, which comprises representatives of the UN Integrated Peace-Building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau, UNIOGBIS, and United Nations agencies that operate in the country. At that meeting, Ms Tramontano explained that GFI was interested in investment in initiatives that can have a major impact on the development of livelihoods.

The agenda of the GFI delegation further includes meetings with Guinea-Bissauan state officials, discussions with national private sector representatives, meetings with representatives of male and female farmers, fishermen and fisherwomen, textile weavers and traders, as well as visits to agricultural and other projects in different parts of the country.

GFI is a non-profit organisation that promotes a more equitable, sustainable approach to economic development for the world's working poor by advancing fair wages, equal access to markets, and balanced public policy to generate opportunity and end the cycle of poverty.

Initiatives that have received financing through Global Fairness include a programme aimed at improving the livelihoods of about 30,000 women who produce salt in India and one in Tunisia that focuses on integrating the informal sector into the mainstream economy.

In Ghana, GFI teamed up with an association of over 800 Shea nut pickers and producers to implement a project to help women become self-sustaining. Projects in other parts of the world, such as Europe and Latin America, have also received investments thanks to the organisation.