AND MINDS Based here in the North East, Shared Interest is a social lender working in 51 countries. The organisation provides finance to fair trade businesses, thanks to a UK membership of over 10,000 individuals who invest in a fairer world
This month, they share with us the appointment of their new Head of Lending, Paul Sablich. Based in Lima, Peru, Paul takes the reins following the retirement of Malcolm Curtis, who served 22 years at Shared Interest headquarters in Newcastle city centre. “It is the meeting of hearts and minds.” That is how Paul Sablich, our new Head of Lending, described Shared Interest when he joined us in 2009 as Regional Development Executive for South America. Speaking at our Annual General Meeting at that time, he added: “I want to work for Shared Interest as I see fair trade as a tool to generate equity in the world. It is important to be part of the solution, to create the right environment for fair trade to take place. To do this, I think we need to work with wisdom and compassion. Paul said. “Over a decade on, I still strongly believe in those words. In fact, they are more valid than ever. As Head of Lending, I want to continue this way of working – with knowledge, experience, and motivation intertwined. “When I first came to Shared Interest, I had several years of experience in the financial sector and a strong desire to put this to good use, by helping people in disadvantaged communities. What was most important to me was getting out into the field, meeting with farmers and artisans face to face, and fully understanding their problems and needs. “It was during this time that I began to fully comprehend the vastness of the regions covered by Shared Interest. It occurred to me that I was visiting remote communities in my own country that I was not aware of before. “Visiting farming co-operatives served as an important reminder of how important our work is – to provide finance so that they can provide a better income for their farmers and – through the Fairtrade Premium – better services to communities. It is like a ripple effect. “When I became Regional Manager of Latin America in 2014, my role changed – not just geographically but the focus of managing the entire portfolio in this region. As Head of Lending, I am now looking forward to extending my knowledge across all 51 countries and the rich diversity of products and businesses we support. “A benefit of being with the organisation over a long period is that I can see how we have been able to make a difference. We have strengthened relations with producer groups, we have found better ways to support them, and we have expanded into new supply chains in different countries. We have seen businesses grow and Shared Interest has been a fundamental factor in their evolution. “For instance, I have had the pleasure of working alongside Candela Peru for many years. They have been a customer of Shared Interest for over two decades, focusing on the rich diversity of the Amazonian rainforest. They work with more than 600 families to ensure their communities are protected, through the sustainable sourcing of Fairtrade products such as Brazil nuts. Candela Co-Founder Gaston told us recently: “A partner is somebody who you trust. It is a longterm relationship and it is somebody who turns out to be a friend and that is the experience we have had with you.’ For me, this sums up the way that Shared Interest works – hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. “And it is this way of working together, which will help farmers face new challenges, especially those related to climate change. Weather cycles are changing and it can lead to severe disruption. An example is the El Niño phenomenon, a cyclical event that increases the temperature of the Pacific Ocean. Global warming is increasing the frequency of its extreme effects, leading to intensifying droughts, worsening floods, and shifting hurricane patterns. “In 2017, the Northern coast of Peru was severely affected by landslides and flooding. Some producer organisations lost everything and we worked alongside them, recognising the uncertainty that they faced. It was a hugely difficult time for farmers and it has taken years to recover. “We need to remember that Shared Interest operates in the developing world, where there is often sociopolitical and economic instability. Many are low-income countries and will be further stretched by the challenges of climate change and Covid-19. We are hopeful that the worst is behind us in terms of the pandemic, with the global vaccination programme underway. However, there will always be more challenges to come and we will build on over 30 years of expertise, to remain a reliable source of finance in an uncertain world. “Above all else, we want to support businesses, communities and people through times of adversity to reach their full potential. After all, this is the true spirit of fair trade – to work with wisdom and compassion. This is why we will continue to explore new regions and products and supply chains, to ensure our finance touches the lives of those who need it most.
