GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, March 2, 2017 – In Sucafina's 40th anniversary year, we are pleased to share details of our new partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), together with Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE), which aims to empower women coffee producers in Rwanda.
Women play a vital role in the future of our industry. It is critical to explore ways to strengthen their participation at all levels of the coffee supply chain and at the same time improve processing across Rwanda’s coffee sector, in order to maximize coffee quality, increase prices and reduce pollution and water use. That's why Sucafina, ITC and JDE are teaming up provide training to processing unit agronomists and lead farmers to ensure they have the right tools to advise and guide farmers and assess their needs.
As part of this new partnership, we are teaming up with the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) whose Rwandan members include 13 independent exporting companies and farmer cooperatives. Through IWCA members, together with washing stations already owned or supported by Rwacof – Sucafina’s sister company in Rwanda – more than 75,000 Rwandan small-scale farmers will benefit directly or indirectly from the partnership.
This collaboration will also bring on board Kahawatu Foundation – Sucafina’s sustainability partner, which works in East Africa to empower coffee farmers. The focal point of the project will be the Sake Farm, a woman-owned coffee plantation, processing unit, and exporter that supports 1,500 surrounding small-scale farmers.
ITC and Kahawatu, through JDE’s financial contribution, will rehabilitate Sake Farms’ plantation and processing unit, increasing the quantity and quality it produces and improving services to surrounding small-scale farmers. The combined support will build long-term markets for Sake Farm’s coffee, bringing investment to the farm and creating a positive eco-system for the small-scale farmers it supports.
"We look forward to working with ITC and JDE to create a measurable impact in the lives of coffee growers and the people who depend on them. It is our firm belief that these sorts of partnerships are not only the socially responsible thing to do, but will ultimately safeguard the continued existence of the coffee sector," said Nicolas A. Tamari, CEO of Sucafina.
About ITC
ITC’s work to empower women in Rwanda’s coffee sector has been supported by the Empowering Women to Trade Programme and Supporting Indian Trade and Investment for Africa (SITA) project. Donors include United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
About JDE
JDE is a global coffee and tea company, serving consumers in more than 100 countries through iconic brands including: Jacobs, Tassimo, Moccona, Senseo, L’OR, Douwe Egberts, Kenco, Pilao & Gevalia.