Enhancing the Competitiveness of Fine African Coffees: Program Progress Report

The EAFCA program, titled ECOFAC, has a wide geographical scope of 10 countries in Africa, with a paid-up membership of approximately 159 and a fully functional administrative base. The program has a three-pronged approach with five objectives to address existing challenges within the coffee value chain to ensure improved competitiveness of these coffees. The ECOFAC program focuses on quality improvement, institutional strengthening, and trade and market expansion. The five objectives of the project are: quality and product enhancement, trade and market expansion, market linkages and business relationships, domestic consumption, and institutional strengthening. The beneficiaries of the program include coffee traders, coffee growing communities, and other EAFCA stakeholders. The program has achieved significant results in various areas. In the area of quality improvement, the Africa Coffee Quality Institute has been established, with a coffee laboratory and training center. The Know Your Cup training program has been rolled out, with training manuals compiled into a farmers' handbook and trainers' manual. The program has also conducted coffee price risk management trainings in partnership with COMPETE-USAID and the World Bank Commodity risk management group. In the area of market linkages and business relationships, the EAFCA has promoted the AFCCE in at least two international magazines, appointed a regional media organization, and negotiated tasks to be implemented by January 31, 2010. The program has also held a high-profile dinner in Uganda to mark 10 years of existence and officially launch the 7th AFCC&E conference. In the area of trade and market expansion, the EAFCA has exhibited at the SCAA international meeting, with a deposit made on the African Mega Booth. The program aims to have an African Mega Booth at the SCAA April 2010 in Anaheim California, with a deposit made by June 2009 and the balance in January 2010. In the area of domestic consumption, the program has held a Tanzania National Barista training and championship, with training of baristas in Tanzania ongoing. The program aims to register with WBC for sanctioning of TNBC by October 2009, train at least 40 baristas in Tanzania by December 2009, and hold 1 National barista championship by December 2009. In the area of institutional strengthening, the EAFCA has carried out a staff capacity and team building program, with a strategic planning workshop held in Mombasa with representation of the EAFCA board and stakeholders. The program has also identified a voluntary steering committee for the center of excellence, scheduled to meet on January 9, 2010, at the EAFCA secretariat. The program has also implemented a women in coffee capacity building program, with 4 pilot countries identified as Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. The program has conducted documentary filming in 3 countries and convened a roundtable meeting in partnership with the International Women In Coffee.