MILAN, Italy – This Giving Tuesday, International Women’s Coffee Alliance launched the donation in supporting women and communities across the coffee value chain. The contribution will kickstart 26 transformative projects led by IWCA chapters worldwide, driving progress in equality, sustainability, and empowerment for women in coffee.
The challenge
Globally, women in the coffee industry face systemic barriers, from underrepresentation in leadership to limited access to resources, despite contributing 70% of the labor in coffee production.
These barriers restrict growth and opportunity for women and their communities.
Be the bridge to empowerment
IWCA chapters empower women across the globe in all facets of the coffee value chain through leadership programs, technical training, and market access initiatives. This Giving Tuesday, your support will help fund 26 innovative projects that uplift women and their communities.
Here’s a glimpse of how your contribution can make a difference:
IWCA Costa Rica: Portable Cupping Labs
Empowering women with tools and training to improve coffee quality and income opportunities.
IWCA Philippines: Women Power Through Solar Power
Providing sustainable solar drying solutions for 100 women coffee producers.
IWCA South Korea: Cupping Project
Connecting producers and consumers to promote women-produced coffees in the Korean market.
IWCA India: Nayan Tara
Supporting the education of daughters of coffee plantation workers to break cycles of poverty.
Here is a full list of the chapter projects your donation will support directly.
IWCA Australia: regional community engagement
Fostering strong networks in regional Australia by collaborating with businesses, coffee workers, and communities to address challenges and promote IWCA’s mission.
IWCA Burundi: agro-ecology promotion project
Promoting agro-ecological practices among Kirundo’s ICCOO cooperative farmers through organic farming, waste recycling, and small livestock breeding.
IWCA Cameroon: AGROLAB for Koutie Koutaba Community
Establishing a coffee training and analysis center to improve quality, teach best practices, and foster knowledge exchange.
IWCA Costa Rica: portable cupping labs
Creating portable cupping and roasting labs to empower women with tools and training for quality control and income generation.
IWCA Greece: market research on Women in Coffee
Analyzing the roles of women in Greece’s coffee industry to advocate for equality and improve conditions for women in coffee.
IWCA Guatemala: voices of Women in Coffee
Empowering women coffee producers through training, mentorship, and marketing to enhance global connections and visibility.
IWCA Guatemala: grafting Women’s Competition
Providing workshops, competitions, and marketing support for rural women, addressing climate change and boosting leadership in coffee farming.
IWCA India: NAYAN TARA
Sponsoring education for daughters of women coffee workers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to break cycles of poverty and uplift communities.
IWCA Jamaica: Assessing the Gender Gap
Studying gender disparities in Jamaica’s coffee industry to create actionable recommendations for equity and empowerment.
IWCA Jamaica: brewed knowledge
Training women in roasting, quality analysis, and barista techniques to break gender barriers and create an equitable coffee sector.
IWCA Mexico: mujeres cafetaleras en acción
Promoting socioeconomic growth for women in the Mexican coffee sector through improved commercialization, leadership, and community support.
IWCA Philippines: women power through solar power
Providing low-cost solar drying technology for coffee and farm products, improving efficiency for 100 women producers.
IWCA South Korea: cupping project
Promoting IWCA women-produced coffees to the Korean market by funding participation in cupping sessions and customs fees.
IWCA South Korea: IWCA International Summit
Hosting an annual summit to connect IWCA chapters, showcase women-produced coffees, and expand engagement within the Korean coffee community.
IWCA Spain: weaving equity
Mapping women’s roles in Spain’s coffee industry to identify barriers and develop strategies for increased visibility and support.
IWCA Spain: career development opportunities
Documenting career paths and growth opportunities in Spain’s coffee industry, focusing on empowering women in underrepresented roles.
IWCA Venezuela: climate resilience and deforestation-free practices
Training Venezuelan women coffee farmers in climate adaptation, sustainable farming, and EU deforestation-free regulations to access European markets.
