Objectives
What We Do
The Federation pursues the highest level of ethical conduct in the global marketplace, fosters advocacy by partnering with government, consumer and academic leaders, and strengthens management of national and regional Direct Selling Associations. Programs and efforts include:
Advocacy
Public Relations
WFDSA works with various industry and external groups to improve awareness and understanding of direct selling. WFDSA conducts third party research and collects data on the socio-economical impact of direct selling, public attitude and facilitates long-term industry reputation enhancement.
Industry Social Responsibility Survey
WFDSA Collects and proactively shares information on the industry’s corporate social responsibility efforts, including community service, charitable contributions and cause-related marketing, to show case the positive impact that the industry has on the societies in which it operates.
APEC CEPI
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Consumer Education and Protection Initiative (CEPI) was launched in 1998 by the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA) and officially endorsed by APEC Small & Medium Enterprises (SME) Ministerial in Christchurch, New Zealand in April 1999. The goal of the CEPI is to promote consumer education and protection and responsible business practices among small and medium enterprises in APEC economies. It does this by providing technical assistance through planning meetings, seminars and hands-on training. The CEPI is a true public-private initiative that brings together consumer, government and business leaders to plan each CEPI program to the needs of the local market. Ultimately, the CEPI is a capacity building project that helps build consumer confidence and helps small businesses grow.
Association Services
Training
WFDSA provides instruction on efficient and proper management of a DSA and how associations may better serve their members through global, regional and national seminars and other educational offerings.
Website
The Federation maintains a website, located at http://www.wfdsa.org, containing information on the direct selling industry worldwide.
World Congress
The Federation hosts the World Congress of Direct Selling once every three years. World Congress provides a forum where direct selling executives from around the world can discuss issues of importance to the industry.
Ethics
Codes
The WFDSA World Codes of Conduct are the cornerstone of the global direct selling industry's commitment to ethical business practices and consumer service. WFDSA requires each member association to develop a national code of ethics to protect the consumers and salepeople from abuse, with the minimum standard established in the WFDSA World Codes of Conduct.
Self Regulation/Consumer Affairs/Academic Programs
The Federation conducts seminars on a national, regional and global level, bringing together public and private sector consumer protection leaders, government officials and academia to foster greater consumer education and protections efforts. WFDSA also subsidizes national DSAs in conducting similar activities.
Legal Regulatory Affairs
The Federation develops strengthens and maintains relationships with regulators in various markets and conducts government relations/regulatory programs on a national, regional and global level.
Publications
World Federation News
The Federation's quarterly newsletter contains articles on the international world of direct selling and updates on national activities from DSAs worldwide.
Legal Compendium
The WFDSA Legal Compendium represents summaries of laws and regulations governing the direct selling from over 40 countries.
CEO Council News
The chairman's periodic newsletter to CEOs on the state of the Federation and the direct selling industry.
Conference Reports
Summaries of discussions and findings of regional symposia sponsored by the Federation.
