GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, March 2, 2017 – 2017 is a special year for Sucafina as we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the company. We are also pleased to inform you about our new partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), together with Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE), to empower women coffee producers in Rwanda.
As women play a major role in the future of our industry, it is important to pilot ways of strengthening 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. In this context, Sucafina, ITC, and JDE will provide training to processing unit agronomists and lead farmers to ensure they have the right tools to advise, guide, and assess farmers’ 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 Rwandan affiliate – more than 75,000 Rwandan small-scale farmers will benefit directly or indirectly from the partnership.
This collaboration will also bring on board the Kahawatu Foundation – Sucafina’s Sustainability implementer, 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.