IWCA Research Alliance Updates

Heeding the Call for More Research on Women in Coffee

by Ruth Ann Church, IWCA Global Board of Directors, Research & Impact Assessment

In 2008 - 2009, the International Trade Center (ITC) of the United Nations, set up a bold effort with its partner, the East African Fine Coffee Association, (now called the Africa Fine Coffee Association or AFCA), to try to put a "statistical" stake in the ground on women in the coffee sector. Jointly, they decided to find out what was already known or could be estimated easily about three key indicators:

1. women's participation in growing and harvesting coffee, and
2. women's ownership of the land where they work
3. women's participation in the work of selling coffee on domestic or international markets.

One of the key results of the study was a confirmation of the need for more research to understand the role of women in coffee.

"There is very little information and next to no hard data available on the role of women in the coffee sector in coffee producing countries." (ITC & EAFCA, 2009, pg1)

In other words, shockingly little was known about the role of women in coffee, even in countries with decades long histories of trading the valuable commodity. The interviews with 25 people (mostly women) from 15 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America could only verify that there is no easy way to summarize women’s contributions.

"women's role in the workforce varies significantly, from one country to another or even within the same country." (ITC, 2008, pg33)

The above two quotes, in this author's opinion, are the most important findings of the research. They constitute a rallying cry to the coffee industry, which is searching for ways to battle climate change, leaf rust and an aging farmer population. Shifting coffee onto a more sustainable track for the future will require revisions to industry structures to provide for this vitally important stakeholder group - the women.

IWCA Research Alliance Heeds The Call

The IWCA, a partner mentioned often by the ITC back in 2008 and since, has made some small steps towards gathering and encouraging research suggested by the report. The Research Alliance, is a network of women in research in coffee producing countries that comes together to support each other, and support projects to eliminate the gender data gap. The Alliance has two main achievements to date. Both relate directly to the ITC's charge to gather statistics and publish more studies on the role of women in coffee. A project to collect estimates of the population of female coffee producers in each of the 20 producing countries that have IWCA chapters has so far collected and published estimates from seven countries:

Table 1: Estimates from the IWCA Research Alliance of Female Coffee Producers by Country

Sources: See detail below.

The second achievement of the Research Alliance is the publication of an e-book by the IWCA chapter in Brazil, the group's largest chapter. The chapter leaders and members in Brazil were shocked and disappointed by reports and articles, including the ITC report discussed here, that state, "there is a very low percentage of women in fieldwork and harvest in Brazil, ...as farming there is highly mechanized." The women of Brazil's coffee industry were galvanized by this statement to share the important contributions of Brazil's women to its coffee sector. They have achieved this by organizing to publish an e-book on women in coffee in Brazil, published December 2017, by an impressive effort of over 40 researchers from 11 institutions from across the country.

Read about both of these achievements in a July 2017 blogpost of the National Coffee Alliance (NCA).

At the IWCA's August 2017 convention in Puebla, Mexico, the work of the Research Alliance was presented, as well as excerpts from Brazil's e-book, alongside research from 2016 from Rwanda (and the Feed the Future Africa Great Lakes Coffee Support Program) and recent learnings from the Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros in Colombia.

Also, this March 2018 report, written by Tanya Newton for the Perfect Daily Grind, mentions both ITC's work and IWCA’s efforts, and then an appropriate comment about the need for more credible data to guide the coffee industry.

Conclusion
Ten year's down the road, we can safely say that the ITC's 2008 report was a watershed moment bringing attention to the issues of women in coffee, and the lack of credible data on women’s roles in producing countries. The core message of the report is as dire and needed today as it was 10 years ago. Also, this quote from the ITC's Patricia Francis, Executive Director in 2008, remains true:

 

"without women, trade generates dollars, but not balanced development." (ITC, International Trade Forum, Issue 3&4, pg. 3)

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Sources for IWCA Research Alliance Table 1 above: 2013 estimates from Instituto del Cafe de Costa Rica (ICAFE) in Costa Rica; 2013 estimates from the Consejo in El Salvador; 2016/2017 estimates from Anacafe (Guatemala); 2013 report from the Instituto Hondurevo del Café (ICAFE) Registro Nacional de Productores; Recensement General des Cafeiers Edition 2006-2007, from Institute de Statistiques Et D’Etudes Economiques du Burundi, (ISTEEBU); 2015 Coffee Census published by Rwanda's National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), released May 2016; Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC).

Documents:

• International Trade Commission and East Africa Coffee Association, 2009, "Women in the Coffee Sector", report.
• International Trade Commission, 2008, International Trade Forum, Issue 3 & 4. http://www.tradeforum.org/Women-in-Coffee/

IWCA @ World of Coffee

As the global coffee community prepares to convene at the World of Coffee event in June, the International Women’s Coffee Alliance is working to bring several opportunities to engage attendees to better understand our unique platform Connect, Empower, and Advance #WomenInCoffee. We hope you can join us at one or all of the events outlined below and learn more about partnerships, development programs, research alliances or simply help us celebrate our 15th Anniversary.

IWCA Evening Reception

Continuing our path of transformation, IWCA has created a fun, social environment for all coffee professionals to enjoy at the Rosarium Amsterdam. Enjoy a drinks reception, canapes and network while learning about the achievements and goals of the organization. This fundraising event is made possible with the generous support of Julius Meinl. Be sure to purchase your ticket in advance: https://ti.to/scaevents/social-events-2018 and visit the IWCA Facebook Invite for additional details.

IWCA Stand on The Show Floor

Connect with IWCA Chapter Manager Blanca Castro and other members from the IWCA Global BoD and Chapter Leadership on June 21-23. IWCA will be located at stand D1 inside the RAI Exhibition Centre. To schedule a meeting with an IWCA representative, please contact IWCA at info@womenincoffee.org

IWCA Chapters' Coffee Cupping

As a global network of 22 chapters, IWCA invites you to attend a special cupping session with the opportunity to taste a variety of different coffees from women producers from across the globe. Join us on Thursday, June 21 from 1-2pm at the RAI Exhibition Centre, Room 1. You will also have the opportunity to meet and network with some of the IWCA producers and chapter representatives. Please RSVP to this event on our Facebook page to help us ensure we can accommodate all attendees. 

IWCA LectureS

African Women Leadership in the Coffee Sector - Opportunities, Capabilities, & Limitations

Eva Muthuuri, a gender, coffee, and organizational development consultant based in Nairobi, Kenya will share recent work with IWCA Chapters in Africa by AFCA, African Family Health, and UTZ. She will touch on topics ranging from alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals to how regional coalition- and alliance-building shapes efforts for women to profitably engage in the international coffee trade. This lecture will take place on Thursday, June 21 at 1:30-2:30pm in Lecture Room 1 - F002.

Empowering Women at Origin: IWCA Chapter Case Studies

The IWCA's unique approach in creating a platform for #WomenInCoffee provides both a way to connect at the country and community level (IWCA chapters) and across a global network of IWCA Chapters in 22 countries and supporters across Europe, the Americas, Asia and beyond. Join us as we discuss the benefits, challenges and current strategic priorities for IWCA Global and IWCA Chapters. Learn how to support, engage and strengthen our chapters to deliver the mission of IWCA. This lecture will take place on Saturday, June 23 at the RAI Exhibition Centre from 12-1 pm (room to be announced).

Sustainability Forum

IWCA will be one of the organizations featured in the series, Meet Your Match: Case Studies on Partnership from Leading Non-Profit Organizations. Please join us at 12:00 pm Saturday, June 23 to hear about exciting work underway by IWCA Chapters, highlights from successful partnerships, and our strategic priorities going forward. 

 

Reflect, Reconnect, Learn & Inspire

Whereas the IWCA Breakfast at SCA Expo was a forum to connect nearly 400 IWCA supporters with several people and perspectives across the IWCA Global Network, the IWCA Chapter Forum which followed the breakfast was a more intimate, smaller scale event.

For the last two years at SCA, IWCA Chapters, Global Board members, volunteers, and engaged supporters convene at the IWCA Chapter Forum to reflect on the past year, reconnect with one another, share successes & current challenges, and inspire each other to keep driving forward.

This year's agenda began with appreciation for outgoing Global Board members Mery Santos and Jennifer Gallegos, welcome remarks from IWCA Chapter Manager, Blanca Castro, and brief introductions from everyone in attendance. This was followed by Keynote speaker, Maritza Midence from Honduras, whose message was informative, empowering, and inspirational. She shared important context for IWCA's role within the global coffee industry, and at the local levels, as well as suggestions and new ideas for the future. 

Maritza's talk is available here: English & Spanish and handout here (English & Spanish). (Please make sure any references to it provide appropriate attribution.) 

Moments from the IWCA Chapter Forum are captured below:

IWCA Burundi Coffees at Nordstrom

JNP Coffee, a Burundi and African Coffee Specialty exporter, recently announced that Karehe coffee sourced through JNP Coffee is one of three coffees featured in the new Nordstrom initiative to highlight the roles women play in the global coffee economy.

Thank you, IWCA Burundi and JNP Coffee for your dedication and diligence to support and empower women in coffee.

Making Global Coffee Connections for Peace

Frauen für Frieden (Women for Peace Augsburg) kicked off their Latin American picture show series on May 12 with discussion and video highlighting the lives of women in coffee. The event provided an opportunity to learn and raise awareness about the realities facing women and families working in conflict areas to grow and harvest coffee. Through the video, which is now available on the IWCA YouTube channel, women reflect on their experiences leading families and coffee production.

IWCA Brazil Representatives Josiane Cotrim (IWCA Brazil facilitator) and Julenia Lopes (a coffee producer and former board chapter treasurer) attended to help facilitate discussion. The partnership, and its focus on peace promotion, also demonstrates the wide reach of impactful initiatives facilitated by IWCA and the dedicated, engaged leaders working to advance not only their own communities, but the global community that the coffee industry connects. Thank you IWCA Brazil and Frauen für Frieden!

Josiane Cotrim (left), Julenia Lopes (center), Frauen für Frieden representative (right)