Summary:
- 24 verification missions were completed at 20 cotton companies across 10 African countries south of the Sahara
- All four pillars — management, people, planet, prosperity — rated “very good”
- Assessments measured 12 principles and 288 indicators at both field and ginnery levels (12 each)
- Nearly 715,000 CmiA farmers supported in 2025, including roughly 43,000 CmiA Organic producers
- Training covered climate-resilient production, women’s empowerment, and soil improvement
Results from independent, on-site audits of program partners across Africa south of the Sahara resulted in strong marks for Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA) and CmiA Organic.
The recently released 2025 Aggregated Verification & Implementation Report shows “very good” ratings across all four sustainability pillars, based on 24 independent missions across 20 companies in 10 African countries.
Twelve missions assessed operations at the field level, while another 12 evaluated ginnery-level processing, where harvested cotton is prepared for further manufacturing.
Verifiers measured compliance against 12 principles and 288 indicators spanning four pillars: management, people, planet, and prosperity. According to the report, the prosperity pillar scoring highest, followed closely by management. People and planet rounded out the results.
“These results bear out our principle of consistently assisting partners in implementing the standards’ requirements through diverse approaches,” said Ruth Achterwinter, the CmiA verification manager at the Aid by Trade Foundation. “The verifications are carried out on an ongoing basis by independent and qualified organizations.:
The report also detailed the program’s farmer support infrastructure. In 2025, CmiA provided training to approximately 715,000 smallholder cotton farmers, including nearly 43,000 producers certified under CmiA Organic. Training topics included climate-resilient production methods, soil improvement techniques, and programs aimed at empowering women in the farming supply chain.
Beyond training, the Aid by Trade Foundation cited several ongoing initiatives that support cooperation between the organization and its partners, including the Innovations Club, regional workshops, and collaboration with international cotton industry stakeholders.
CmiA cotton is used by brands and retailers across a range of textile categories, including home textiles, as part of broader sustainable sourcing strategies.