As 2021 draws to a close, I am amazed at how quickly this year has gone by and at our accomplishments. While we continue to navigate the challenges of COVID-19, we have demonstrated our community is resilient, resourceful, creative, and inventive. Above all, we worked together to inspire real change for women, families, and communities around the globe.

Adapting to the virtual environment we currently live in, we hosted the 6th IWCA Convention online over five days in June. Over 300 attendees joined us over the course of the convention with an average of 50 participants signing in each day to discuss topics ranging from coffee sustainability to microfinancing, blockchain technology, and more. At the SCA Expo in New Orleans, we were able to connect in person once again at the IWCA Breakfast. This annual event brings together IWCA staff, board, chapter members, and supporters to hear about the successes, challenges, and future growth plans from our 28 country chapter network. We look forward to seeing everyone again at the 2022 SCA Expo, being held April 8-10 in Boston, MA.

We continued our collaboration with the International Trade Center (ITC), participating in the review of the 4th Edition of the ITC Coffee Export Guide and with the International Coffee Organization in their Coffee Public Private Task Force (ICO CPPTF) to ensure gender is embedded in all their work streams. 

New partnerships were established through signing Memoranda of Understanding with Mutombo Coffee and the Alliance for Coffee Excellence and Cup of Excellence, both of which will provide increased market access and visibility for women grown coffee. IWCA also signed an MoU with the International Labor Organization to ensure that women coffee producers are offered training in Occupational Health and Safety as it pertains to their work environment. A pilot project was conducted in collaboration with the IWCA Mexico Chapter, which will serve as a model for other countries.   

Our global chapter network expanded from 27 to 29 countries, with the addition of Colombia and South Korea. All of our chapters are doing incredible work in their own communities and creating meaningful change.

In the fall of 2021, IWCA Global conducted a chapter survey to get a better understanding of our chapter members’ most critical needs. Below is a summary of the survey information we collected:

• On average, producers make up 41% of chapter membership, which is the largest member group. 48% of producers are small-scaled, producing less than 20 bags (60kg) of green beans.

• The top five priorities for chapters are:

  1. Access to Markets

  2. Access to Finance

  3. Understanding Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) Programs in Coffee

  4. Coffee Cupping

  5. Financial Literacy

• To support continued advancement, chapters need additional support from IWCA Global in three main areas:

1. Training & Development

2. Engagement & Networking

3. Financing

These results will help guide our program priorities over the next several years. As we welcome 2022, I am looking forward to working with each chapter to ensure they have the tools they need to achieve impactful programs and partnerships that will bring about lasting empowerment for women in coffee.  

Wish you all a very Happy, Joyous, Prosperous and Successful New Year!

Sarada Krishnan
IWCA Executive Director