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Burundi Democratic Republic of Congo Malawi Rwanda Tanzania Uganda
 

Burundi

Dusangirijambo

Dusangirijambo means “bringing ideas together”, to promote farmer and community development. This is a very well-established, well-organised cooperative, with a real sense of a big community united around the cooperative and the coffee.

Dusangirumugambi

Dusangirumugambi, meaning “share the same goals” in Kirundi, is a young and ambitious cooperative overlooking the lush, green rice fields of Karusi province. Starting with 120 members in 2014, today this number has almost quadrupled.

Kanovera

‘Kanovera’ means ‘high quality coffee’, and that’s exactly what the farmers here are passionate about producing.

Korerikawa

Originally, there were 3 cooperatives in the local area. One dissolved, and started selling to a private company nearby. But the farmers at the two remaining cooperatives felt that this was not a constructive way forward, and decided to merge to become Korerikawa.

Ruziba-Nyamakarabo

If you decide to make the winding journey to Ruziba-Nyamakarabo on a weekday, chances are that you’ll be greeted with the happy, excitable shouts of the local children from the school next door.

Scert Kiyago

Scert Kiyago is a truly innovative cooperative, with unique and unusual origins. It was set up in 2014 by 6 families originally from the Mbuye commune, who had moved to the Burundian capital, Bujumbura.

Twesetwoterimbere

‘Twesetwoterimbere’ means ‘all of us together can succeed’, and this is the basic principle of the cooperative’s foundation. Their achievements so far include significantly reducing the distance members travel to the washing station, and providing access to drinking water.

Ubwiza Bw’ikawa

Ubwiza Bw’ikawa is a big and well-established cooperative, which has earned a reputation for uniting communities in the region. They are strongly opposed to any kind of discrimination in the workplace, and actively promote inclusivity and gender justice.

Umuco W’ikawa

‘Umuco Wi’kawa’ means ‘the light of coffee’ – because the farmers here feel that coffee is a guiding light for them which gives them direction and a sense of purpose. This ambitious cooperative, overlooking majestic Lake Tanganyika, has big plans for the future.

Yagikawa

‘Yagikawa’, meaning ‘talk about coffee’, feels like a big, extended family. Overlooking an idyllic landscape of lush, green hills, and a small stream flowing past the washing station, this is one of the oldest Burundian cooperatives.
 

Democratic Republic of Congo

Muungano

Muungano’s farmers live in the misty hills alongside the banks of Lake Kivu, which provide the perfect conditions for top grade fully-washed Arabica coffee production.

Kawa Maber

Up until recently, coffee from the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo had totally disappeared off the world map.

Furaha

The member farmers of Furaha  live in a very large geographical area of around 200km2 in South Kivu and have organised themselves into 13 “secteurs” (primary societies).
 

Malawi

Mzuzu

Mzuzu have a “women in coffee” programme to empower women farmers and increase their personal income. Activities have included supporting men farmers to give coffee trees to their wives and selling coffee “grown by women” to buyers all over the world.
 

Rwanda

Abakundakawa

Abakundakawa, meaning ‘those who love coffee’, is a firmly-established cooperative founded in 1999. Since then, they have made significant and lasting changes in the community.

Buhanga

Buhanga is a small cooperative in the southern region of Rwanda, near to the Burundian border, in an area surrounded by sunflower fields.

Cocagi

Cocagi is a real powerhouse. One of the most well-known and established Rwandan cooperatives, they are just as committed to finding concrete solutions to social problems today as they were at their foundation.

Coocamu

Coocamu enjoys the most stunning location of all of the Rwandan coops. A short walk from the edge of Lake Kivu, the only way to arrive is by a 45 minute boat ride across the Lake Kivu from Kibuye, where on arrival, visitors are greeted by a line of traditional wooden fishing boats.

Kigembe Coffee

This small cooperative near to Buhanga has such a positive, can-do attitude. The farmers are very proud of their achievements in building up the cooperative, recently purchasing 7 hectares of land for coffee without relying on external credit.

Koakaka

Koakaka is an impressive and firmly-established cooperative. Its members’ stories of the post-genocide peace process are humbling and inspiring.

Kopakaki

Kopakaki means “Cooperative of coffee farmers of Kibuye” and they celebrate their 10th anniversary this year. Over the years they have invested heavily in the local community, and now all their members can afford to send their children to school.

Kopakama

Twin has been working with Kopakama for many years, and we are continually impressed by the cooperative’s dedication to improving their local communities.

Sholi

The full name of the cooperative is Abateraninkunga ba Sholi. Abateraninkunga means ‘mutual assistance’ in Kinyarwanda and represents the farmers’ commitment to working together in a positive way.

Twongere Kawa Coko

Twongere Kawa Coko may be very small, but it should not be underestimated. The coop’s President, Thérèse, is very proud to say that it has a majority of female members.
 

Tanzania

Vuasu Cooperative Union

In Kipari, the local language, ‘Vuasu’ means ‘unity’. The cooperative’s vision is to work together, men, women and youth, to build a stronger economy through coffee.
 

Uganda

Bukonzo Joint Cooperative Union

Women  have always been valued and recognised  as farmers and household earners by  Bukonzo Joint Cooperative Union. The organisation has also inspired and trained men and women farmers all over East Africa in the GALS approach.

Bukonzo Organic Farmers’ Cooperative Union

At Bukonzo Organic, farmers are engaged in learning essential sustainable agriculture techniques and adaptation strategies and are determined to continue producing excellent quality coffee.

Mt Elgon Agroforestry Community Cooperative Enterprise & Mountain Harvest Coffee

Mt Elgon is a newly formed-democratic union of farmers, comprised of nine primary societies that were formally part of Gumutindo, plus an additional two primary societies.

Ankole Coffee Producers’ Cooperative Union

ACPCU’s members come  from many ethnic communities and speak an array of different languages. They have joined  together to sell coffee and  create better prospects for their communities.    

Coffee Grown by Women #GenderEquality

New report illustrates how smallholder coffee producer organisations can thrive as international businesses