Anne Fransen Fund 2025 Projects Announced
Consumers International is pleased to announce the six winners of the 2025 Anne Fransen Fund (AFF). This year’s awarded projects come from Bolivia, Saint Lucia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Bangladesh and Colombia, reflecting a diverse and impactful range of initiatives designed to strengthen consumer rights in developing countries.
About the Anne Fransen Fund
Established in 1988 in honour of Anne Fransen, the first director of the Dutch consumer organisation Consumentenbond, the Anne Fransen Fund supports the advancement of consumer rights in developing countries. It provides annual grants to consumer organisations for projects that promote one or more of the eight consumer rights.
Funded through the continued generosity of Consumentenbond, the initiative has contributed nearly one million euros to strengthen the capacity and impact of grassroots consumer groups around the world.
This year’s winners include
Servicio de Educación y Defensa del Consumidor (SEDECO), Bolivia, who will investigate mercury contamination in fish sold in Bolivian markets. Despite the health risks associated with mercury exposure—especially for pregnant women and children—Bolivia lacks strong regulations around food safety in small markets. SEDECO will conduct research in La Paz and Cochabamba to quantify contamination levels and use this evidence to propose national food safety standards. Alongside policy advocacy, SEDECO will raise awareness among traders and consumers, helping them make safer food choices and pushing for long-term improvements in market regulation.
National Consumer Association of Saint Lucia, who will unite fragmented consumer advocacy efforts through the “Consumer Connect” project. Currently, five organisations in Saint Lucia handle consumer protection independently, creating confusion and inefficiency. This initiative will bring them together to coordinate education, data sharing, and redress mechanisms. A shared national database of consumer complaints will help identify trends, streamline responses, and improve public understanding of available support. Consumer Connect aims to foster a more informed and empowered public while strengthening the overall advocacy landscape in Saint Lucia.
Rwanda Consumers’ Rights Protection Organization (ADECOR), Rwanda, who will improve food safety through grassroots training and national advocacy. In Rwanda, agricultural growth has outpaced updates to food safety regulations, posing risks to public health. ADECOR will train community facilitators across five districts to educate others on safe food practices. They will also work closely with local authorities to strengthen regulations and build a more robust and inclusive food safety system, empowering communities to protect themselves and advocate for change.
Tanzania Consumer Advocacy and Research (TCAR), Tanzania, who will empower parents, caregivers, and food processors to reduce children’s exposure to aflatoxins. In Tanzania’s Korogwe District, many consumers lack awareness about the health risks of aflatoxin contamination in cereals fed to children aged 6–23 months. TCAR will address this by training over 100 parents, caregivers, and 30 processors in safe preparation and storage practices. They will also conduct laboratory testing of baby cereal samples, train health workers and local authorities, and run public awareness campaigns via media. These efforts aim to foster community-led surveillance and safer food supply chains for young children.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), Bangladesh, who will promote financial literacy among women and girls from low-income and marginalised communities. In Bangladesh, many women lack access to financial services and are vulnerable to exploitation. CAB’s initiative will offer financial education workshops and digital tools, including a mobile app, to help women make informed economic decisions. By partnering with financial institutions and universities, the project will also encourage entrepreneurship and formal employment. CAB aims to equip women with the knowledge and confidence to participate more fully in the economy.
Educar Consumidores, Colombia, who will strengthen the impact of Colombia’s front-of-pack warning labelling law for ultra-processed foods. Despite the 2021 law mandating clear food labels, consumer understanding remains low—especially among young families. Educar Consumidores will lead a national education campaign to raise awareness about reading labels and the health risks of ultra-processed foods. With a focus on reaching parents and educators of preschool-aged children, the project aims to reduce unhealthy eating habits early in life and improve long-term public health outcomes.
These six projects exemplify the spirit of the Anne Fransen Fund—supporting innovative, locally-driven solutions to global consumer challenges.
Congratulations to all the 2025 recipients.