TWB THEN AND NOW
Trade Without Borders is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit and part of a global, hybrid social enterprise alongside Trade Without Borders (HK) Limited. Our vision is to drive sustainable development through inclusive trade by empowering small, medium, and growing enterprises across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We support these businesses with essential products and resources to foster local economic growth and broader economic development.
TWB’s founder, Joseph Fernandez, spent more than a dozen years managing global supply chains for products from manufacturers in Asia to the largest big box retailers and major importers, primarily in North America, Europe and Japan. He realized that very few products (less than 20%) were actually designed for developing regions of the world, and supply chains for even that 20% primarily extended only to major urban markets leaving billions of people beyond those urban markets without access to essential products and services.
TWB initially attempted to manage upstream operations such as product development, product procurement and logistics, as well as downstream operations, such as educating and training local enterprises and assessing the impact of local operations through a single non-profit entity. After experimenting with this model, TWB’s founder concluded that the organization’s vision and mission could not be attained exclusively as a non-profit entity. So, upstream operations were subsequently managed through a separate entity based in Asia while TWB focused on the essential downstream services.
TWB identifies market gaps for impactful products and services in collaboration with local partners, focusing on unmet needs within communities. Working with global trading partners, TWB procures and develops the products and supporting services needed to address these gaps. The organization sets impact benchmarks and assess the social, economic, and environmental outcomes of our interventions. Through education and training, TWB team equips local businesses with the tools and resources necessary to deliver these solutions effectively, contributing to sustainable, inclusive development.
To date, the global organization has shipped thousands of products to tens of local companies, global NGOs and humanitarian aid organizations. In Uganda, TWB is collaborating with Umeme and the Uganda National Alliance for Clean Cooking (UNACC) to expand access to clean electric cooking. In Burundi, the team partners with Weza Power and ReNewGen to introduce energy-efficient cooking solutions as more citizens connect to the grid. In Rwanda, TWB works with ARED to close the digital infrastructure gap with affordable data solutions, and with rural water utilities to establish cost-effective, sustainable water kiosks. Following a successful solar mini-grid project for a Milk Collection Centre, TWB developed impactful Community Solar Energy Centers. With We Share Solar, the team had provided accessories for their Solar Suitcases for schools, and with Munyax, EnDev, and GIZ, TWB had supported a clean cooking project. In Tanzania, and partnered with Simusolar on fishing lamps and with the World Food Program to explore commercial cooking for schools. Lastly, in Kenya, TWB collaborate with local partners to improve energy-efficient appliances for the hospitality sector.
MISSION STATEMENT
Leverage modern technology resources to empower local enterprises to expand sustainable and inclusive solar energy and safe water services in their local
communities.
CORE VALUES
We believe that empowered, local commercial/business entities can contribute the most to economic growth and poverty alleviation through the production and distribution of essential goods and services.
Sustained economic growth is the first step to sustainable development. However, economic development is then essential to ensure the benefits of economic growth can truly benefit local communities in the most equitable way ensuring improved livelihoods for individuals, families and entire communities.
We aim to be accountable and transparent in what we do. To ensure accountability and traceability, it is necessary to gather and manage data from all of our operations in order to understand the impact of our interventions and to ensure our impact aligns with the objectives of all stakeholders, including funders/investors.
We aim to build a social franchise network in Sub-Saharan Africa and Developing Asia to extend sustainable, inclusive value chains for essential products and services to remote, off-grid communities.
Leverage modern technology resources such as AIoT, Web 3, Blockchains and local server-based or cloud-based services to support local franchisees.
Lay the foundation to scale sustainable and inclusive development globally.