Good World Solutions (GWS) is an award-winning nonprofit that utilizes technology to improve lives at the base of the pyramid. Our affordable, scalable technology is used to promote fair wages, monitor working conditions in real time, track social impact and communicate directly with workers. By increasing transparency in global supply chains, GWS drives systemic change in company buying practices and catalyzes economic empowerment for people making our favorite products.

Our History

World of Good was co-founded in 2004 by social entrepreneur Priya Haji as an innovative hybrid business. The for-profit launched an online marketplace for fair trade handmade goods, and the nonprofit incubated tools to ensure artisans making the products were paid and treated fairly.

Today, the nonprofit arm, World of Good Development Organization, continues its legacy and impact under a new name, Good World Solutions. In partnership with Fair Trade USA, GWS is expanding its technology portfolio to build tools that work for new users in more geographic areas.

Instant Impact – The Fair Wage Guide

The Fair Wage Guide (FWG), first published in 2006 in collaboration with leaders of the fair trade craft community, is our flagship tool.  The FWG is a free, open source web-based platform that stipulates wage levels that allow workers to support themselves and contribute to their local economies.

In 2009, the FWG was recognized at the Tech Awards. Today, 900+ companies in 81 countries have implemented the FWG into their sourcing practices, positively impacting more than 30,000 workers globally. Based on a recent impact assessment:

• 95% of users believe the FWG is a useful tool to improve wages
• 80% of users report improved earnings after using the FWG
• A majority of workers increased their incomes by at least 20% after using the FWG

B Corporation adopted the FWG in 2011 into their Global Impact Investing Rating System (GIIRS). “Our GIIRS Ratings & Analytics platform relies on the Fair Wage Guide to provide granular data on wages,” said Flory Wilson, Director of International Standards at B Lab. “We require accurate and up-to-date global data and the Fair Wage Guide is the best resource available.”

The FWG has been featured in dozens of news pieces including the News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Stanford Social Innovation Review and on NPR’s “World View”.

The Future – Scaling via Labor Link

In 2010, GWS expanded into mobile and introduced Labor Link. The tool surveys workers using interactive voice response (IVR) technology, providing companies a way to connect directly with people making their products. Anonymous and real-time survey data is visualized for partners to track changes in workers’ livelihoods and inform responsible sourcing decisions. Labor Link is operational in Peru and India, and will expand to at least four more countries in 2012.

Labor Link utilizes indicators like the Progress out of Poverty Index™, developed by Grameen Foundation, to measure the true impact of poverty alleviation efforts. The goal is to reach 100,000+ workers by 2015 by offering Labor Link services to multinational brands, suppliers, social auditors, certification organizations and investors.