Summary
This report was aimed at exploring the success of private sustainability standards in facilitating access to markets for certified products and thereby contributing to the livelihoods of small-scale producers. PSS have proven to be successful and have also facilitated easing control of international supply chains. However, the impact on income and livelihoods has been limited. The main challenge for PSS is how to scale up standard-compliant production, reaching beyond a relatively small number of larger, more developed and logistically better-placed producers, aimed at deepening the developmental impact so that it is more transformative of livelihoods. This will require pro-active engagement of standard setters, donors, capacity-building NGOs, and in particular governments of developing countries that goes beyond market mechanisms.