International Chapters

IWCA’s strategy of “Success through Localization” is based upon the formation of chapters in both coffee producing and consuming countries.

Producer Country Chapters
Producer Country Chapters (PCC) are alliances of women in the coffee sector headquartered in producer countries (countries of origin). The country is classified as a producer country when a majority of local coffee industry activities include growing, producing, milling, exporting, and other operations at the beginning of the supply chain. Producing countries are often located within Central America, South America, Africa, and Indonesia, but are not limited to these areas.
 
The following objectives have been defined for PCCs, but they may be adapted to address local conditions:
 
General Objectives
Specific Objectives 

Consumer Country Chapters 
Consumer Country Chapters (CCC) are alliances of women in the coffee sector headquartered in consumer countries like the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. The country is classified as a consumer country when a majority of local coffee industry activities include importing, distributing, roasting, and retailing.

The following objectives have been defined for CCCs, but they may be adapted to address local conditions:
 
General Objectives
Specific Objectives

The International Women's Coffee Alliance (IWCA) has chapters in both consumer and producer countries around the world. These chapters form independent organizations, following the laws of their own countries. They are invited to join the IWCA as member chapters, allowing them to work with IWCA resources to achieve common goals to promote and recognize women working in the coffee industry.

As part of the success through localization strategy, IWCA chapters continue to be established around the world. As awareness of the IWCA and its work grows, women from more countries contact the organization for guidance on how to become an affiliated chapter. 
 
Current IWCA Chapters Countries Expressing Interest in
Forming an IWCA Chapter
Colombia Democratic Republic of Congo
Costa Rica Ethiopia
El Salvador Indonesia
Guatemala Japan
Nicaragua Mexico
Dominican Republic Papua New Guinea
Burundi Ecuador
Kenya Zambia
India  
Philippines  
Uganda  
Brazil  
Honduras  
Rwanda  
Tanzania  

Please contact the Chapter Relations Committee if you are interested in forming a chapter or finding out how to contact a chapter in your area.

 

IWCA Chapters

Burundi

Board of Directors:
President: Sinamenye Isabelle/Coffee Quaity Controller, Licensed Q Grader
Vice President:  Hakizimana Jeanne d'Arc/Producer
Secretary: Mashwabure Euphrasie/Exporter
Secretary Assistant: Ntaconkurikira Pauline/Producer
Treasurer: Baricako Melanie/Logistic Officer in Dry Mill
Vice Treasurer:  Kaneza Jacqueline/Producer
Adviser:  Ndereyimana Francine/Producer
Adviser:  Nibona Devote/Producer

Membership:
135 members

Strengths:
- Board represents all coffee regions and all coffee value chain
- Annual fees established since constitutive assembly
- Alliance with COPROTRA established
- Alliance with BD imports established

Monthly Activities and Ongoing Projects:
- Trainings and field trips
- Partner with NGOs to finance IWCA Burundi projects  

Opportunities and Potential Projects:
- Establish alliances with other local coffee organizations and associations,
like INTERCAFE
- Establish alliances with NGOs for some activities
- Establish alliances with BD Imports
- Extend IWCA Burundi speciality coffee participation in Cup for
Excellence in other regions
- Continue to participate in Cup of Excellance

Our Mission:
- Support one another in all aspects related to improving women’s
skills through training and information to enhance their role in
Burundian society in general and agriculture in particular, focusing
on coffee sector.
- Fight discrimination and marginalization of women in the coffee
growing community.
- Educate women on all techniques of production, processing
and marketing of agricultural products in general and in
the coffee sector. 

Collaborate with other organizations with similar
visions and build strong relationships with women
nationally and internationally through development
activities.


 

 “Promoting Possibilities”

IWCA’s workshop “Promoting Possibilities” held in Kampala Uganda, November 2009 offered insight to Africa women in coffee about the organization and benefits of its international chapter network.  In May 2010 with support from Café Africa, a Uganda based NGO, a committee was formed in Burundi and the group submitted a Letter of Intent to start the process of becoming a national chapter. A team of eight women formed the organizing committee, including five members representing each of Burundi’s coffee growing regions and three members representing transportation, exportation and coffee quality.    

In March 2010 the forming chapter was successful at gaining support from local trade organizations and held their first workshop in Burundi entitled, “The Power of Women through the Power of Coffee.” The workshop was lead by Ms. Fatima Faraji Azizi, outstanding woman leader in coffee from Tanzania. The workshop was attended by 36 women and 2 men.

In October 2010 a delegation of IWCA representatives visited Burundi to offer support and build awareness within the Burundi coffee sector and government.

 IWCA International received support from the International Trade Center, a joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations to assist in the formation of IWCA-Burundi.

The USAID Burundi Agribusiness Project (BAP) under the direction of Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) and Michigan State University collaborated with Burundi's coffee development Authority, ARFIC, and its newly formed trade organization, InterCafe Burundi, to support the formation of IWCA Burundi, the first African Chapter of IWCA to become a legally recognized entity.

Contact Information:
Sinamenye Isabelle
Sinamenyai2000@yahoo.fr
Sinamenyei2000@gmai.com
Mashwabure Euphrasie 
mamukuru@yahoo.fr

 

Brazil

Board of Directors:
President           Josiane Cotrim Macieira
Vice-President    Débora Fortini
Vice-President    BrígidaSalgado, 2nd
Secretary           Helga Andrade
Secretary           Jackeline Uliana Donna, 2nd
Treasurer           Daniella Pelosini
Treasurer           Ucha Brito, 2nd

Important Dates:

  • Letter of intention with the IWCA: October 2011
  • Legal structure: September 2012
  • Current Board Elected: September 2012
  • Signed IWCA LOU: October 2012

The Mission of IWCA Brasil is to empower women leaders in the Brazilian coffee industry, from seed to cup.

Strengths:

  • Well-established goals

  • Board represents all the coffee value chain

  • Alliance with SEBRAE

Long-Term Goals: 

  • Competitiveness – To promote knowledge sharing and personal development among its members as the way to improve product quality and commercial opportunities.
  • Sustainability – To position and promote associate members’ coffee in the national and international market as a means to access improved business opportunities.

Short-Term Goals:

  • Participation – To recognize, support and encourage women to participate in all aspects of the coffee industry
  • Tools – To give women the necessary tools to develop into models of competitiveness at the local and international level.
  • Alliances – To empower women in coffee to forge alliances among the entire coffee chain (from seed to cup) as a maens to improve their quality of life.

Contact information:
Ilana Bastos ilana@cafehelena.com.br
Tel. (+5511) 3717-2363
https://www.facebook.com/iwcaBrasil
 

Colombia

More information coming soon. 

Costa Rica

Board of Directors:
President                     Cecilia Genis, Producer and Mill Processor
Vice-President              Alba Nidia Rojas, Producer and Administrator
Secretary                     Kathia Zamora, Producer and Mill Processor
Treasurer                     Damaris Zarate, Producer 
Vocals                         Jessie Cuevas, Administrator
                                   Melissa Barrantes, Administrator
Fiscal                          Rosario Mora, Administrator

Important Dates:
Created                        October 1, 2005
Legal Structure             April 18, 2006
Signed IWCA LOU        November 2005
Current Board Elected   November 2011
Next Board Election      October 2013

Membership:
15 active members paying an annual fee
2700 women represented by members

Strengths:
- Registered brand name for AMCCR packaged coffee: "Women's Harvest"/Cosecha de Mujer"
- Helped "Hogar Madre del Redentor home for abused girls 5 - 18 yrs. 
- Held monthly board meetings
- Established annual fees for members
- Renovated a fair for Costa Rican products
- Renovated Strategic Planning for 2013

- Established a Verification Norm form women in coffee
- Sold women's coffee to U.S.A. with verification of process

Monthly Activities and Ongoing Projects:
- Visits to farms and mill processing plants
- Personal development projects (CoopeAgri and CoppeTarrazu)
- Coffee cupping
- Women's breakfasts and afternoon activities to exchange ideas and get to know each other to affiliate members

Opportunities and Potential Projects:
- Achieve larger membership
- Become well known in the coffee regions of the country
- Establish a better relationship with ICAFE (Costa Rican Coffee Institute)
- Establish a long-term sales connection abroad
- Have Women's Harvest/Cosecha de Mujer in the Costa Rican supermarkets
- Improve our coffee package logo and presentation 
- Update and improve our web page www.mujerescafecostarica.org
- Get grant funding for projects

Projects with IWCA:
- Find funds for projects
- Seek funds to send participants to international coffee fairs and activities

Contact information:
Cecilia Genis
ceci@zalamari.com
Tel: (506) 8350-9122
www.mujeresencafecostarica.org

    

 
In Costa Rica, the IWCA chapter is called Women in Coffee Alliance of Costa Rica (WCACR) or IWC. Organized by 17 women in 2005 with the philosophy “Women helping Women,” today there are more than 30 associate members of the chapter. Members include producers, millers, exporters or roasters representing 17 companies and organizations from the country's seven coffee-producing regions: West Valley, Central Valley, Tres Rios, Turriabla, Orosi, Brunca and Tarrazu.
 
The WCACR’s goal is to provide women in coffee a voice and vote in political decisions regarding the commodity. The group promotes sustainable development in each community through environmentally friendly means, economically viable methods and socially acceptable activities. All WCACR members have opportunities to learn and improve their knowledge of coffee production and the coffee market.
 
In order to survive in this ever-changing market, the WCACR continuously operates under the ideals of renovation and innovation for its projects.
 
The WCACR has participated in Sintercafe, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) Conference, the SCAA Roasters Guild Cupping Pavilion and SCAA Cup of Excellence. Members have been trained in marketing, milling and cupping.
 
In addition, a WCACR training program helps members increase their coffee knowledge in four areas:
  • Coffee Production
  • Milling
  • Marketing and Commercialization
  • Cupping
“When I joined the AWC of Costa Rica it had just started; and so had I in my career in coffee. It gave me a great opportunity to learn the business. It provided courses in coffee agriculture from plant diseases to what they need to ‘eat’ to grow and be bountiful. Also I was able to learn all about coffee processing and how to continue and even better the quality of the bean. Coffee tasting has been quite an experience –still working at it! I’ve also enjoyed immensely the barista side."

“All in all the Alliance has been there to provide me with knowledge I didn’t have when my mother asked me to help her with the coffee farm!”
 
 

 

Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic– IWCA Letter of Understanding signed, April 2011, IWCA

The Dominican Republic chapter of IWCA, Asociacion Dominicana Mujeres en Café (ADOMUCA) was established in April 2011  

Mission:
- Empower women from the Dominican coffee productive chain. Aiding in advancing the role of women in coffee and develop leadership skills that will impact their communities.

Vision:
- To be the leader organization that represents the Dominican women linked to the coffee industry, supporting their initiatives development and sustainability.

Strategic Objective:
- Prioritizing the improvement of living conditions of women involved in the coffee industry through training, promotion, marketing, and business building.
 

Monthly and Ongoing Projects:
- Hosted a party for more than 180 children from two schoolhouses of border communities of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
- Signed an agreement with the Dominican Coffee Council (CODOCAFE) that will implement a pilot program that rehabilitates plantations affected by coffee rust. The project will be replicated and benefit other producer
- Delivered livestock to more than 80 women to ensure household food security. The Dominican Coffee Council manages the program funds. 

Important Dates:
Created                             January 2011
Legal Structure                  November 2011
Signed IWCA MOU            April 2011

Board of Directors:
President                     Maria Isabel Balbuena 
Vice-President             Begona Paliza de Ahm
2nd.Vice President       Meraris Sanchez
Secretary                     Quisqueya Perez 
Treasurer                     Yanet Bethania Perez Guerrero 
Vocal                          Celine Herrera Medina 
Vocal                          Ramona Cesarina Encarnacion  
Vocal                          Fidelina Acosta
Vocal                          Daniela Yoselin Garcia Peña
Advises                       Altagracia Salazar

Contact Information:
Maria Isabel Balbuena
mujerescafeyalgomas@gmail.com
Paseo del Almendral No. 4 Residential Almond II
Sector Alamenda, Santo Domingo West

   
  

El Salvador

Board of Directors:
- President          Lucia Abrego de Ortiz 
- Secretary          Carmen Elena de Silva
- Treasurer          Maria Elena de Botto
- First Vocal         Ana Lilian de Bolaños
- Second Vocal    Patricia Valiente
- Second Vocal    Sonia C de Salaverria
- Second Vocal    Margarita de Herrera - 
- Alternate Vocal  Marcela Basagoitia

Membership:
- 75 Current members, representing over 300 women

Strengths:
- Well-established goals
- Closely tied Board of Directors
- Established annual fees for members
- Chapter relation mentor of IWCA is a member
- Strong connections with coffee industry professionals

Monthly Activities and Ongoing Projects:
- Trainings and experts
- Monthly talks
- Workshops
- Monthly board meetings
- Water filter project with AFAL and Euracen

Opportunities and Potential Projects:
- Achieve large membership
- Establish strategic alliances
- Establish international long-term relationships

Established Alliances with Organizations:
- Contextos
- Procafe
- Consejo Salvadoreno Del Cafe
- IICA 
- AFAL/Euracen

Contact information:
Address: Edificio Procafe Ave. Manuel Gallardo y 13º Calle
Poniente Nueva San Salvador
Email: amces.elsalvador@gmail.com
Telephone: 503 25256409

  

 

Guatemala

Guatemala-- IWCA Letter of Understanding signed October 2008 at the IWCA Convention 2009 in Orosi, Costa Rica

Established in 2008, the mission of the Guatemala chapter of the IWCA, Women in Coffee Guatemala or Mujeres en Café de Guatemala (MCG), is to empower women leaders in the Guatemalan coffee industry.
 
MCG gives women vital tools so they can become competitive at the national and international level, providing them, their children and their communities with a sustainable livelihood.
 
Our mission is based in achieving women’s leadership and participation through voting in forums and groups of coffee producers as well as in other aspects of coffee production. Guatemalans should drink the same quality coffee that they produce and MCG wants to achieve this by elevating the production and internal consumption of quality coffee.
 
MCG creates alliances that will increase sales and improve coffee prices, enriching women’s lives and providing them with more options.
 
IWCA gathers women involved in the coffee industry internationally, helping them produce quality coffee with a great demand; a reason to differentiate their daily job activities. The alliance between MCG and IWCA is essential and in IWCA we find wonderful women, committed and passionate about coffee.
 
MCG aims to be internationally recognized as an association which generates opportunities and improves the lives of women and their families involved in every aspect of Guatemalan coffee.

Strengths:
- Well-established goals
- Well-defined stakeholders
- Board represents all the coffee value chain 
- Alliance with Anacafé - National Coffee Association (administrative, legal, logistics and office space)
- Established annual fees for members
- Defined partnership fees
- Strong, innovative Board of Directors

Monthly Activities and Ongoing Projects:
- Talks, workshops, and trainings about farm administration skills
- Personal development programs
- Field trips, agronomical courses
- Participation of Anacafé´s full program of activities

 
Opportunities and Potential Projects:
- Achieve larger membership
- Establish strategic alliances in all coffee regions
- Establish international long-term Partnerships

Long-Term Goals:
- Competitiveness - To promote knowledge sharing and personal development among its members as the way to improve product quality and commercial opportunities.
- Sustainability - To position and promote associate members’ coffee in the national and international market as a means to access improved business opportunities.
 

Short-Term Goals:
- Participation - To recognize, support and encourage women to participate in all aspects of the coffee industry.
- Tools - To give women the necessary tools to develop into models of competitiveness at the local and international level.
- Alliances - To empower women in coffee to forge alliances among the entire coffee chain (from seed to cup) as a means to improve their quality of life.
 
Important Dates:
Created                           August 2006
Legal Structure                October 2008
Signed IWCA MOU          2008
Current Board Elected      March 2012

Board of Directors:
President                Karen Bonifasi, President (Producer)
Vice-President         Paola Gudiel (Retail)
Secretary                Dulce Ralda (Producer)
Treasurer                Esther Eskenasy (Producer)
Vocal                      Maria Elena Vides de Ovalle (Producer)
Vocal                      Johanna Timeus (Retail)

                              Tessa Fitzpatrick (Producer)
                              Caroline Godoy (Roaster)
                              Jovita Castillo (Producer)

Contact information: 
Gabriela Gómez - Gabriela.LGD@anacafe.org
Tel. (+502) 2311 1900, ext. 1009
www.mujerescafeguatemala.org

  

  

Philippines

Board of Directors
President           Pacita U. Juan/Retailer
Vice President    Princess Kumulah Sug-Elardo/Farmer Producer
Secretary          Deanna S. Lorenzo/Lawyer
Treasurer           Ma. Regina S. Francisco/Roaster-Retailer
Trustees            Christine D. Abellon/Producer
                        Jospehine V. Ramos/Producer
                        Carlota Manalo-Tan/Retailer
 
Membership:
7 actively paying membership fee
3 communities already enrolled in Coffee Buying program
 
Strengths:
-        All three major island groups are represented Board represents the value chain
-        Specialty coffee sectors for Arabica and Civet are represented
-        Alliance with Phillipine Coffee Board Inc. (Administrative, Logistics, Contacts)
-        Strong leadership and marketing skills of Board
-        Good media relations to spread the word about Women in Coffee
-        Good “farm to cup” chain especially branding and marketing skill

Ongoing Projects:
-        Supply to Accenture (Philippines) of roasted coffee
-        Beginning negotiations and presentations with IBM Philippines
-        Field trips, workshops in schools on Coffee

Opportunities and Potential Projects
-        Received areas for “Coffee for Peace” program in war-torn areas
-        Potential projects with Dept of Agriculture for Gender and Development program

Projects with IWCA
-        Received sponsorships as new chapter
-        Potential connection to WEConnect members based in Phillipines and Asia
-        Potential visit of professional cupper from IWCA for Coffee Fest

Contact Information:
PACITA U. JUAN
Email: pujuan29@gmail.com
Tel +63-917-5278068

Nicaragua

More information coming soon. 

Uganda

Board of Directors:
President – Jane Bella Magombe
Vice – President – Kellen Kaboine
Secretary – Doreen Rweihangwe
Treasurer –- Lydia Namutebi -Mungereza
Members – Loy Byarugaba
Okudeyo Norah
Nanono Kiwamuka Milly
Jennifer Oyuru
Hajat Sengooba Mariam
Lydia Chelangat

Important Dates:
- Created October 2010
- Legal Structure May 2012
- Signed IWCA MOU October 2012
- Current Board elected May 2010

Membership:
- 10,000 women represented by members

Strengths:
- Well established goals
- Well defined stake holders
- Board represents all the coffee value chain
- Alliance with Uganda Coffee Development Authority
(Administrative, Legal, Logistics)
- Established Annual fees for members
- Strong leadership from Board constantly innovating

Monthly Activities and Ongoing Project:
- Management meetings
- Fundraising activities
- Cupping for women’s coffee
- Workshops & talks
- MOU with IWCA International
- Contacts with possible Partners
- Participate in UCDA, MAAIF Activities

Opportunities and Potential Projects:
- Register membership
- Pilot 2 regions for activities
- Establish international and long-term partnerships
- Strengthen local partnerships

Projects with IWCA:
- Attended Women Conference in El-Salvador
- Member proposed to be an assistant regional mentor
- Increased Communication with IWCA, ITC
- Chapter Formations Meetings with IWCA

Contact Information:
- Jane Bella Magombe ‹jbmagombe@yahoo.com>
- International Women’s Coffee Alliance Uganda
- Iwca.uganda@gmail.com

 

''

Kenya

Board of Directors
President:  Jennifer Mbuvi   - Ethical Trade and Project Management
Secretary:  Dr. Cecilia Kathurima – Research and Quality Control
Treasurer:  Njeri Kimotho – Gender and Fundraising
Policy and legislation:  Alice Kamau – Legal Representative

Created:
Legal structure: 2010
Signed IWCA MOU: 2011
Current board: Interim since 2010
1st Board Elections:  2013

Membership
- Currently developing membership documentation
- 1200 women represented by members 

Strengths of Kenya Chapter: 
- Now operating with a gender sensitive country constitution, a devolved government is underway and funds available
- Experienced, skilled and competent secretariat
representing the whole value chain 
 - Most of coffee support organizations in the country have borrowed and implanted or are
implementing most of AWICs strategic objectives as their staff are secretariats at AWIC.
- Enjoys a national network of women in coffee in the country
 
Monthly activities and ongoing projects:
- Fundraising with different partners.
- Gender talks, and training with different groups and partners.
- Leadership training –physical and online.
- Individual development programs – leadership and others.
- Awareness creation for AWIC to all women in coffee.
                                                                                                               
Opportunities and potential projects:
- Upscaling of work by Swedish Cooperative Centre in the coffee subsector within FOPA Project area of operation with women in coffee under AWICs umbrella. (IGAs, Climate change mitigation, savings and credit mobilization).
- Work with two unions (Machakos Cooperative Union - in Eastern part of the country, and Kipkelion Cooperative Union – in the Rift valley) to develop women only coffee brand.
- Strong gender participation with support from Fairtrade International and Solidaridad
- Participation in childlabour training workshop in 2013 – From child labour specialist from Fairtrade International.
- Coffee nurserys set up with Coffee Research Foundation at county level (expected 47 units).
- To sign up a fundraising partnership with the Local Expertise Centre –Nairobi
 
Projects with IWCA:
- President mentoring Africa forming chapters
- Annual leadership training
- Annual networking events
 
Contact Information
Jennifer Mbuvi – President
5th Avenue suites – Ngong Road
Mobile: +254720211251
Email: Abby.leem@yahoo.com, j.mbuvi@fairtrade.net