Double the Impact: We Hit Our Target!
We are overjoyed to share some incredible news with you – together, we have successfully reached our fundraising goal and have secured the matching funds of $25,000 from our generous donor, the Global Leadership Alliance! This achievement has been made possible by the generosity and unwavering support from individuals like you.
With immense gratitude, we want to express our heartfelt thanks for your meaningful contributions. Your belief in our cause and dedication to making a positive impact has truly made a significant difference. It is through collective efforts like yours that we can continue striving toward our mission of empowering women in coffee across the globe.
The journey ahead is filled with promise, and we are eagerly looking forward to a successful 2024, fueled by the passion and commitment of our amazing community. Your support is the driving force that propels us toward making a lasting impact in the lives of women in the coffee industry.
Here's to a year filled with positive change, meaningful connections, and transformative endeavors. Together, we are creating a brighter future for women in coffee worldwide.
20 Years of IWCA: Power of the Past and Force of The Future
The 7th IWCA Convention took place October 16-22 in Addis Ababa, with Women in Coffee Ethiopia as the esteemed host. The convention marked the 20th anniversary of the founding of IWCA and also held a very special meaning to the Ethiopian chapter as they had previously faced challenges in obtaining legal authorization for their establishment in 2016.
IWCA Convention 2023 in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
The 7th IWCA Convention took place October 16-22 in Addis Ababa, with Women in Coffee Ethiopia as the esteemed host. The convention marked the 20th anniversary of the founding of IWCA and also held a very special meaning to the Ethiopian chapter as they had previously faced challenges in obtaining legal authorization for their establishment in 2016.
Representatives from two IWCA chapters in formation, Greece and China were also present at the convention and reaffirmed their interest in joining the IWCA chapter network, showcasing the potential for growth within the organization. It just goes to show what an engaged global coffee community we have!
The IWCA Leadership Summit, held prior to the convention, was an invaluable opportunity for leaders from the chapter network to come together and share updates, insights, experiences, and future goals. This collaborative environment provided a space for women to connect in person and foster meaningful connections over a shared love for coffee. Thanks to generous support for the scholarship program, 25 IWCA chapter leaders were able to attend the Leadership Summit.
The convention offered a diverse range of workshops, panels, cupping sessions, networking events, and the iconic parade of 33 flags representing the IWCA chapters. It provided a valuable platform for participants to gain deeper insights into industry trends and updates, establish new business contacts, and engage with other women working in the coffee value chain. IWCA Board President, Sharon Riechers, described the convention as an “epic, awe-inspiring experience! It was a glorious celebration, marking 20 years of IWCA's remarkable journey and growth.”
After the close of the convention, IWCA chapter leaders went on origin trips to various coffee regions in Ethiopia. This experience allowed them to delve deep into the heart of where coffee was born and learn more about Ethiopian coffee production companies, cooperatives, and farms. For many chapter members, this trip was an especially momentous occasion, as it marked their first visit to Africa, forging new connections in the international coffee community and strengthening the bonds of friendship and sisterhood that define the IWCA chapter network.
The IWCA Convention in Ethiopia achieved resounding success, thanks to the immense support and generosity of numerous organizations: The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, Ministry of Women and Social Affairs of Ethiopia, The Spanish Cooperation, Desira, European Union, German Cooperation -GIZ-, International Trade Centre, Coffee Quality Institute, Rainforest Alliance, AFCA, US AID, CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Specialty Coffee Association all played a pivotal role in making this event a success!
Thoughts from the Executive Director
"The Leadership Summit celebrated during IWCA Convention in Addis, marked a special moment in the history of IWCA. Gathering all IWCA Chapters was challenging, and although we did not have all of them, we’ve witnessed the warmth and commitment that we all share. I feel very proud to serve all of them, now more than ever. As Executive Director, I feel inspired and encouraged to continue working for them and really make a difference in the coffee industry."
~Blanca Castro, IWCA Executive Director
Through the generous support of our dedicated partners, we have been able to facilitate programs and opportunities that have transformed the lives of countless women in the coffee supply chain. We are grateful for their continued investment in our work to be the leader of empowerment and equity for all women in coffee.
How You Can Make a Difference:
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IWCA Appoints New Executive Director
The International Women's Coffee Alliance (IWCA) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Blanca Castro as its new Executive Director. With over 16 years of experience in the coffee sector, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role.
Blanca's history with IWCA began as a dedicated volunteer where she actively supported IWCA Global projects in Central America. In 2016, Blanca took over the role of Chapter Relations Manager where she has successfully facilitated programs and projects in support of the growth and success of the IWCA Chapter Network, representing 33 countries.
IWCA Board President, Sharon Riechers, is excited about this new chapter saying “Blanca’s impressive background, experience, and deep commitment to the mission of the organization will bring a fresh perspective and energy to programs, partnerships, and overall impact of IWCA. With her leadership, IWCA is poised to further empower women in the coffee industry and drive positive change on a global scale.”
“Women in the coffee industry deserve the changes that will enable them to achieve recognition and accountability. Building a team has been a nourishing ride for IWCA, and I truly believe that the collaboration of so many volunteers, following the original vision of the five remarkable women in coffee, is the foundation of the shared success of our great working team. I am incredibly excited for what lies ahead and for the continued growth and success of IWCA."
Blanca's dedication to promoting gender equality within the coffee industry makes her an excellent fit for the role of Executive Director. Fluent in English, French, German, and Spanish, she possesses a diverse professional network and extensive experience in public relations, administration, and communications. Her multifaceted skills enable her to identify the needs of various stakeholders in the coffee market and find innovative solutions to industry challenges. Please join us in welcoming Blanca to her new role!
2022 Reflections: A look at progress made and future goals from IWCA Executive Director, Dr. Sarada Krishnan
This year has been a whirlwind! With things opening up around the world, we learnt to live with COVID and face-to-face interactions became more common. Even though we were able to perform our work very effectively through virtual platforms, there is nothing like meeting people in person.
In 2022 IWCA welcomed three new chapters expanding our global network to 32 countries. In February, we celebrated Italy joining as our 6th consuming country chapter. In March, we welcomed Papua New Guinea, a chapter that represents 400,000 small-holder women farmers in the region. At the IWCA reception in Milan during World of Coffee, Kenya became our 32nd chapter with the signing of an MoU.
Right to left: IWCA Italy, Papua New Guinea, Kenya.
We hosted three IWCA Connects! webinars as part of our effort to provide continuing education for our chapter members and the general public.
March (English)/ May (Spanish) - Embedding transformative gender strategies in the coffee sector with International Coffee Organization (ICO)
September - Analyzing Occupational Health and Safety For Women In The Coffee Sector. Panel discussion as part of the research partnership with the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Vision Zero Fund.
November - Utilizing the International Trade Centre Coffee Guide as a Tool for Empowerment with International Trade Center (ITC).
Throughout the year, we participated in several panels, podcasts, and interviews bringing the voice of women in coffee to the forefront. At the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) expo in Boston, we organized a panel titled "Perspectives on Gender and Racial Equity: No One Size Fits All" bringing together several major actors in the field of women's empowerment to talk about the work that each organization is doing. We also delivered presentations at National Coffee Association’s (NCA) virtual convention and in Milan at the World of Coffee.
One of the highlights of the year was the professional development event in Portland, Maine organized by one of our revered donors, Mary Ellen Lindemann of Coffee by Design. The event brought together several of our chapter members for two days of immersive education and networking. Details of the event are captured in this blog.
To improve market access to women coffee producers, we organized cupping events at SCA and World of Coffee. We also published an improved coffee availability list on our website with information about our producers, facilitating direct contact between buyers and producers. Numerous connections were made between chapters and chapter members facilitating direct relationships between different sectors of the coffee industry. Notable among them are the signing of MoU between IWCA Honduras & IWCA South Korea and between IWCA Colombia & IWCA Australia.
Chapter members from IWCA Honduras and South Korea
As we wind down this remarkable year, what gets me excited to move forward is our new strategic plan. The board and staff of IWCA met in late September in Denver to chart the course of the organization for the next five years. We gathered input from our stakeholders through a survey, which helped guide us in the strategic planning process. We have identified four priority areas to create impact. These four impact pathways include:
Organizational Development
High-Impact Communications
Impactful Programs
Research and Advocacy
The final strategic plan will be presented to chapter members and stakeholders in early 2023.
All our work would not be possible without the generous support of our donors and supporters, both financial and in-kind. The year 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of IWCA. I am looking forward to engaging with all of you in our journey to create equity in the coffee industry.
Wish you all a very Happy, Joyous, Prosperous, and Successful New Year!
IWCA Executive Director
Dr. Sarada Krishnan
IWCA Australia Builds Community At Stronger Together Breakfast
During the 2022 Melbourne International Coffee Expo, IWCA Australia hosted the Stronger Together breakfast with the goal of bringing the coffee community together to acknowledge the work of women in the coffee industry and create greater visibility of roles women hold across the value chain. More than 100 people attended the event at Axil Coffee Roasters, 30% of which were men, and had the opportunity to meet chapter leadership and listen to a panel discussion addressing the challenges and barriers women in the coffee industry face.
The panel featured perspectives from different roles in the coffee supply chain. Speakers included Lucy Stocker, owner of Crater Mountain Coffee, Andreza Mazarao, coffee trader for Grupo Farroupilha, Tina Yerkes, CEO of Coffee Quality Institute (CQI), Yanina Ferreyra, green buyer and international sales for Project Origin, Lucy Ward, green buyer for St ALi Coffee Roasters, Ashleigh Milla-Carpenter, technician for BrewTech/La’Marzocco, and Georgia Macki, owner of Seedlings Cafe. All panelists shared their coffee journeys and individual experiences, highlighting the challenges and the level of support they have had along their journey.
key takeaways
Identify the needs of each individual and create open and encouraging spaces for everyone, but particularly women to be heard in the workplace.
Understand that women in positions of leadership are setting the tone for others to aspire to. If you can see it you can be it.
There are gendered perceptions of qualifications needed to be successful.
Team leaders should actively practice inclusive leadership by embracing and acknowledging the diversity of people and their perspectives.
More mentorship for women in coffee is needed to help them identify their voice, value, and opportunities for growth. Effective mentorship for women doesn't have only come from women.
Continue working to break gender stereotypes by eliminating assumptions about the roles women play within the coffee industry.
IWCA Australia is committed to facilitating platforms, like the Stronger Together breakfast, for networking locally and globally, sharing knowledge and common goals, and creating more visibility for women and marginalized folks to develop their leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Future objectives of the chapter include mentorship and coaching programs, channeling coffee from IWCA global members to the Australian market, and acting as a networking hub for importers, roasters, and cafes.
This event would not have been possible without the support of the local coffee community. Thank you so much to the generous sponsors that invested in the Stronger Together event:
Gold Sponsors: Axil Coffee Roasters, Califia Farms, and Dalla Corte
Silver sponsors: Condesa CoLab, Riverina Fresh, and Upstream Imports.
Prize fundraising sponsors: BeanScene Magazine, The Global Coffee Report Magazine, Barista Supplies, Same Cup, Ezicaf Solutions, Five Senses Coffee and Amy Schubert.