The annual report of International Coffee Partners for 2019 has been published
The International Coffee Partners (ICP) initiative, of which Franck is a member, has released its Annual Report 2019. Over the past year, ICP projects have affected nearly 49,000 small coffee growers and family farms in six different regions around the world. Thanks to these projects, their average coffee production last year increased by 44 percent compared to 2018. ICP projects are currently being implemented in Indonesia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Brazil and Honduras with the help of ICP's implementing partner - the Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung (HRNS).
The Annual Report lists the most important achievements of the projects and the findings. In Tanzania, for example, 85 percent of small coffee growers, who participated in the mentioned projects, applied the recommended practices (after) the coffee harvest.
Furthermore, in Uganda, by the end of 2019, 40 percent of coffee growers' associations had earned the title of "strong and professional organizations," meaning they provide unquestionable and reliable support to their members and help them become more competitive in the coffee market.
ICP: Holistic, long-term commitment
The goal of the nonprofit, pre-competitive ICP initiative is to improve the earnings of small coffee growers. Therefore, their projects focus on key topics in the areas of family business, youth, climate change and breeders' associations, with a special focus on gender equality.
The results presented in the Annual Report give readers an insight into the long-term impacts of ICP projects. ICP stakeholders - Delta Cafés (Portugal), Franck (Croatia), Joh. Johannson (Norway), Lavazza (Italy), Löfbergs (Sweden), Neumann Gruppe (Germany), Paulig (Finland) and Tchibo (Germany) - have shown a long-term commitment to a number of important issues - not just coffee.
"Apart from coffee, the emphasis is on diversifying production systems as a way to stabilize cash flow, which results in secured access to food, lower risk and conservation of natural resources," the report said.
Small coffee grower Teddy Nakyambadde from Uganda briefly described her experience for the purposes of the report: “My life has completely changed since I joined the ICP project because I am now earning a living. Thanks to the project, we learned a little more about growing culture and financial development through starting a business. Now I am my own boss. " Visit Teddy's farm.
Commitment despite the COVID-19 pandemic
Given that ICP projects have not been completed by the end of calendar 2019, last year’s Annual Report clearly set out a vision for continuing projects around the world. At ICP, even in the current crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, they are determined to continue to support small coffee growers through tailored activities, to help them continue to meet their long-term needs regardless of the crisis.
The full Annual Report is available on the ICP website: https://www.coffee-partners.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019-ICP-Annual-Report.pdf