IWCA Chapters

IWCA Chapters are independent, volunteer-driven, community impact organizations. Contact information is listed below to facilitate partnership building. Contributions can be made to specific IWCA Chapters through the IWCA Online Donations Portal.

Chapter List

The IWCA is a vibrant network of independent organizations, called IWCA Chapters, in 35 countries, united by the shared mission to empower women across the global coffee industry.

IWCA Chapters At-A-Glance: Africa & the Middle East

IWCA Chapters are independent, volunteer-driven, community impact organizations. Contact information is listed below to facilitate partnership building. Contributions can be made to specific IWCA Chapters through the IWCA Online Donations Portal.


IWCA Burundi

President: Joselyne Nineza Vice President: Rosa Paula Nahimana

2018 International Coffee Day Celebration

2018 International Coffee Day Celebration

  • 2,000+ members, 90%+ identify as coffee producers


IWCA Democratic Cameroon

President: Patricia Tomaino  Vice President: Rebecca Kamgue

Chapter Members celebrate International Coffee Day with a photo.

Chapter Members celebrate International Coffee Day with a photo.

  • Member data collection in progress, majority are coffee producers


IWCA Democratic Republic of Congo

President: Marie Paul Vice President: Lydie Kasonia

  • Also known as Initiative des Femmes dans le Cafe-Cacao

  • 9,000+ members, 98% identify as coffee producers

 
Chapter Members at a washing station.

Chapter Members at a washing station.


IWCA Ethiopia

President: Sara Yirga Vice President: Anh Yassin

  • Also known as Ethiopian Women in Coffee (EWiC)


IWCA Kenya

President: Josphine Ndikwe Vice President: Faith Karimi

  • Founded in 2022

  • Strategic Priorities: Market access and logistics, facilitating industry connections and knowledge sharing, and access to financing.


IWCA Rwanda

President: Immy Kamarade Vice President: Anitha Keza

Cooperative members in the GIZ-supported blockchain pilot project.

Cooperative members in the GIZ-supported blockchain pilot project.

  • 270 beneficiaries, all coffee producers


IWCA Tanzania

President: Bahati Miwilo  Vice President: Ida Mkamba  

Celebrating International Coffee Day.

Celebrating International Coffee Day.

  • Also known as TAWOCA (Tanzanian Women in Coffee Association)

  • Member data collection in progress


IWCA Uganda

President: Doreen Rweihangwe Vice President: Ruth Lwetabe

  • 230+ members: 68% identify as coffee producers, 26% as coffee workers

IWCA Chapters At-A-Glance: Middle East

IWCA Chapters are independent, volunteer-driven, community impact organizations. Contact information is listed below to facilitate partnership building. Contributions can be made to specific IWCA Chapters through the IWCA Online Donations Portal.


IWCA Yemen

President: Sameeha Al-Almutwkel Vice President: Entsar Ali Al-Abidi

  • Regions: all regions in Yemen

  • Strategic Priorities: seeking support for Chapter capacity building, local and international coffee sales, funds to launch local storefront.

IWCA Chapters At-A-Glance: Asia & Oceania

IWCA Chapters are independent, volunteer-driven, community impact organizations. Contact information is listed below to facilitate partnership building. Contributions can be made to specific IWCA Chapters through the IWCA Online Donations Portal.


IWCA India

President: Ms. Sunalini Menon Secretary: Ms. Deepali Gupta

  • Also known as Women’s Coffee Alliance-India (WCA-I)


IWCA Indonesia

President: Francisca Indirsiani Vice President: Yusuf Rahmah

  • Members: 2,800+; 95%+ coffee producers

  • Regions: Sumatera, Java, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, Papua

  • Strategic Priorities: improve skills and knowledge in coffee farming, business development and coffee quality to yield increased incomes.

Chapter Members at 2018 Hainan, China International Expo.

Chapter Members at 2018 Hainan, China International Expo.


IWCA Myanmar

President: Nang Sein Myaning Vice President: Than Than Aye

  • Members: 50+, 70% are coffee exporters

 
IWCAMyanmar.jpg

IWCA Philippines

President: Pacita Juan Vice President: Princess Kumulah Sug-Elardo

Training event hosted by IWCA Philippines and partners.

Training event hosted by IWCA Philippines and partners.

  • Member data collection underway


IWCA Papua New Guinea


President: Catherine Pianga Vice President: Jacqueline Ruguna

PNGWICA Strategic Plan 2021 – 2025 is a succinct plan that brings together our dreams and aspirations, programs and activities that we have been and are engaged in and crafts a path into the future that we desire and aspire for.

There are six thematic program areas that  PNGWICA working in;

  1. Productivity Improvement

  2. Scaling & Sustainable  Production

  3. Marketing

  4. Information Technology & Communication Management

  5. Regulatory, Legal & Policy Environment

  6. Institutional Capacity Strengthening

Learn More about PNGWICAPresentation


IWCA Vietnam

President: Anh Dao Ngoc Vice President: Kim Chung Dao

  • 20+ members: 50% identify as coffee producers

  • Provinces: Son La, Hung Yen, Ha Noi

  • Strategic Priorities: support economic empowerment for rural women and families, provide a voice and vote for women in Vietnam’s coffee sector policy forums

  • IWCA Vietnam 2021 Highlights

Chapter members visiting with coffee producing families.

Chapter members visiting with coffee producing families.

IWCA Chapters At-A-Glance: Latin America & the Caribbean

IWCA Chapters are independent, volunteer-driven, community impact organizations. Contact information is listed below to facilitate partnership building. Contributions can be made to specific IWCA Chapters through the IWCA Online Donations Portal.


IWCA Brazil

In 2012, after almost two years of voluntary work and intense mobilization, women from different producing regions of the country created the International Coffee Women's Alliance - IWCA Brasil, on October 6th, on the occasion of the 7th Espaço Café Brasil, held in São Paulo, with the support of SEBRAE. 

IWCA BRAZIL - International Coffee Women's Alliance is a network formed by women involved in the entire coffee business chain – from bean to cup that:

  • constitutes a forum for connection and exchange of experiences and knowledge

  • inspires and empowers women through access to training, learning and information 

  • advocates reducing barriers for women by providing access to markets

  • represents women in national and international bodies

  • makes visible the role of women involved in the coffee business


IWCA Colombia

President: Lilia Cardona Vice President: Ana Maria Donneys

For the IWCA Colombia, this is our main goal to have a leading role in the national coffee industry promoting gender equality and creating opportunities for women in coffee of Colombia.

Women need economic independence to empower themselves, to have a decision-making role in their families, coffee should be a possible solution that provides women with a sustainable income that guarantees wellbeing for them and their families.

Coffee women in Quindio: 1 747

Hectares of coffee crops: 6 160.78

Coffee produced by Women: 124 842.70 Kg


IWCA Costa Rica

President: Kathia Zamora Afaro, Vice President: Gabriela Miranda Loría

Chapters members in 2019 Strategic Planning Session

Chapters members in 2019 Strategic Planning Session

  • Also known as Alianza de Mujeres en Café de Costa Rica

  • Members: 12+, Estimated beneficiaries: 5,000

  • Regions: All coffee growing regions.

  • Strategic Priorities: supporting farming communities, working to build partnerships to continue Chapter operations


IWCA Dominican Republic

President: Maria Estefani Zapata, Vice President: Maria Moreta

IWCADominicanRepublic.jpeg
  • Members: 280+; 50%+ coffee producers, 40%+ coffee workers

  • Regions: All regions in country.

  • Strategic Priorities: promote leadership of women coffee producers at national and international levels; build organizational capacity through education programs to strengthen women as business leaders.

  • Working to launch Phase II of local roasting company with coffee from IWCA Chapter members. Phase I began in 2019 through a project with Caffe Vergnano who donated and shipped a coffee roaster to the Chapter in the Dominican Republic.


IWCA El Salvador

President: Maria Elena de Botto, Vice President: Maria Pacas

  • Also known as Alianza de Mujeres en Café El Salvador

  • Members: 80+; 65%+ coffee producers, 20%+ exporters

  • Regions: Apaneca-Ilamatpec, Alotepec-Metapan, Balsamo-Quezaltepec, Chinchontepec, Tecapa-Chinameca, Cacahuatique

  • Strategic Priorities: create opportunities to build women’s entrepreneurship in agriculture and agro-industries to increase coffee family incomes, projects to support equity and equality in all forums, international partnerships.

IWCA - El Salvador.jpg

IWCA Guatemala

President: Patricia Rios, Vice President: Ana Isabel Giron

  • Also known as Asociación de Mujeres en Café Guatemala

  • 100+ members. 40+% coffee producers, 36% exporters

  • Departments: Chimaltenango, El Progreso, El Quiché, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Jalap, Jutiapa, Quetzaltenango, Retalhuleu, Sacatepéquez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Sololá, Suchitepéquez, Zacapa.

  • Strategic Priorities: provide a forum for women to support and encourage one another, especially to overcome challenges and achieve sustainable livelihoods; cultivate women leaders as models of competitiveness at the national and international levels.

  • Case Study: Coffee Grafting Grows Women’s Empowerment

 
Grafting competition IWCA Guatemala.JPG

IWCA Honduras

President: Orieta Pinto Vice President: Sarahi Chavéz

  • Also known as Mujeres en Café Honduras

  • Members: 300, 84% are coffee exporters

  • Regions: All coffee regions. IWCA Honduras subchapters in Occidente, SPS, Tegucigalpa, Marcala, El Paraiso y Olancho.

  • Strategic Priorities: Encourage the active participation of women in coffee at national and international levels; provide women production, processing and marketing of coffee, the necessary tools to become a model of competitiveness nationally and internationally; build alliances to develop business opportunities and achieve sustainable livelihoods.

  • Case Study: Leading Change Through Partnerships

 
Honduras.jpg

IWCA Jamaica

IWCA Jamaica.jpg
  • Also known as Jamaican Women in Coffee (JaWiC)


IWCA Mexico

President: Rosa Elena Cantú, Vice President: Gisela Illescas Palma

  • Also known as Alianza de Mujeres en Café de México

  • 16 members: including producers, roasters, and baristas

  • Coffee Producing Regions: Veracruz, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz y Chiapas. Coffee Consuming Regions: México City and Monterrey.

  • Strategic Priorities: facilitate business linkages, promote the visibility of women workers in the sector, provide tools for women’s empowerment, social and community development.

  • Case Study: Putting a Strong and Empowered Foot First


IWCA Nicaragua

President: Gabriela Figueroa-Hueck Vice-President: Alexa Marin

IWCA+NICARAGUA+Board+members.jpg
  • Also known as Alianza de Mujeres en Café de Nicaragua

  • 45 members. 40+% coffee producers

  • Regions: Jinotega, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Esteli, Boaco, Madriz and Managua.

  • Strategic Priorities: Building partnerships for training, advice and business development. Amplify the visibility of women in the coffee in the international and national markets.


IWCA Peru

President: Anggela Sara Vice-President: Alexa Marin

Also known as Alianza de Mujeres en Café de Peru


IWCA Venezuela

President: Jannina Poján Ruiz Vice President: Natalia Diaz

“We are a community of women, men, and young people working together for a common goal: developing professional skills, recognizing the value and strengths of each gender, and achieving greater equality in local communities and the Venezuelan coffee value chain,” said IWCA Venezuela President, Jannina Poján Ruiz.

The chapter is committed to establishing and maintaining critical dialogues with government entities to help develop a thriving coffee sector in the country.      

IWCA Chapters At-A-Glance:Consuming Countries

IWCA Chapters are independent, volunteer-driven, community impact organizations. Contact information is listed below to facilitate partnership building. Contributions can be made to specific IWCA Chapters through the IWCA Online Donations Portal.


IWCA Australia

President: Veronica Ponce Vice President: Melissa Garcia

  • Members: 20+, majority are exporters, roasters, and retailers

  • Regions: New South Wales and Victoria

  • Strategic Priorities: provide a forum for networking and building connections across the value chain, create alliances with like-minded national and international organizations to achieve sustainability goals for all

  • IWCA Australia 2021 Annual Report


IWCA Germany

Pending Chapter reorganization.


IWCA Greece

President: Marilena Kouidou Vice President: Eleni Michopoulou


”Our ultimate goal is to see more women join and succeed in the industry. We believe the time has come for such an initiative in our country, as society increasingly recognizes the importance of integration in all areas. We aim to have more women involved throughout the coffee value chain, and although Greece is a small country, it has a very significant coffee culture. As part of IWCA, we are committed to driving this change and making a meaningful impact.“

~Marilena Kouidou, Greece Chapter President


IWCA Italy

President: Talia Miceli Vice President: Eleonora Bernini

Women in Coffee Italy is the Italian association recognized by IWCA (International Women in Coffee Alliance): the global network supporting women along the entire coffee production chain.

Coffee is one of the most widespread drinks in the Italian tradition, so much so that it is a constantly present element in our daily life.  However, we rarely stop to think about the long journey between a drupe of coffee and the steaming drink in our cup. 

Have you ever thought about how many steps there are before you can enjoy a good cup of coffee ? Sowing, harvesting, processing, drying, selection, transport, roasting, packaging, distribution, grinding and extraction. 

The majority of the supply chain workforce is represented by women: 70% of production workers are women and approximately 25% of agricultural companies are managed by women entrepreneurs. 

This is why our association was born: to develop a global network that unites all women who have an active role in the coffee production chain with the aim of promoting better living conditions for themselves, their families and their community.


IWCA Japan

President: Yuko Itoi Vice President: Tomoko Nagase

  • 100+ members, work as traders, baristas, and other

  • Regions: all areas of Japan

  • Publications: Coffee Women’s Story (written in Japanese)

  • Strategic Priorities: increase transparency across the supply chain; build awareness of women’s contributions; grow connections with coffee producing members of the IWCA


IWCA South Korea

President: Sarah Nayeon Kim Vice Presidents: Mira Song & Lora Gyeungsun Lee

  • 40+ active members

  • Strategic Priorities: Bridge the gap between coffee producers and consumers so that that both may gain knowledge and a better understanding of each other; support women farmers and increase awareness of women’s rights in the coffee market, educate and provide employment support for local women in the coffee business.


IWCA Spain

President: Diana Ayala Vice President: Chantal Demonty Cercos

  • Our mission is to empower and connect women in the Spanish coffee industry to support their growth, visibility, and professional development within the coffee production chain.

  • More information coming soon!


IWCA USA

President: Renee Espinoza Vice President: Launtia Taylor

  • Also known as US Women in Coffee Association

  • Regions: Based in Chicago, reach extends across country.

  • Strategic Priorities: Further knowledge and understanding of the history, fundamentals, art and science of coffee; build community to focus the voice of US WOMEN IN COFFEE in representing the specialty coffee industry.

  • Discussion: Coffee Women’s Colloquium. Green Coffee Buying and the Supply Chain.

IWCA Chapters in Formation

At least the first three steps of the IWCA Chapter Formation Protocol have been completed in the following countries: China, Canada, & Panama.

Additional resources:


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