Empowering Women in Coffee Production: Stakeholders Converge to Discuss Climate Resilience
May 2023, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA), in collaboration with the Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECID) Ethiopia and other coffee partners, recently hosted a stakeholder engagement webinar to discuss the empowerment of women in the coffee value chain amidst climate change challenges. This initiative is part of the broader “Women, Coffee, and Climate” project, supported by the EU DeSIRA program.
The webinar, held in June 2023, aimed to introduce a research project focusing on women, coffee, and climate change. It explored the role of women in the coffee value chain, promoting gender equity in coffee production, and developing sustainable coffee landscapes adaptable to climate change. The event provided a platform for key stakeholders to learn about the project, engage in discussions, and provide feedback to shape the research direction.
Mr. Alemu Tesfaye, Regional Programs Manager at OSSREA, welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of empowering women in the social, economic, and resilience aspects of the coffee value chain in Ethiopia. He emphasized that the webinar would shed light on a groundbreaking research project exploring the crucial role of women in the coffee value chain and promoting gender equity in coffee production.
Ms. Aurora Martin, Program Manager at AECID, provided an overview of the project, stressing its strong gender perspective and its focus on enhancing gender equality and sustainability in the Ethiopian coffee value chain through eco-efficiency, social innovation, and South-South cooperation.
Dr. Wubalem Tadesse, Lead Researcher at Ethiopian Forestry Development, discussed the activities to be carried out under the project, including socio-economic assessments, identification of wild mushrooms with potential use in coffee forests, and documentation of women and indigenous knowledge on landscape restoration.
Mrs. Viviana Narvaez, Administrative and Financial Manager at Techni Café from Colombia, shared experiences from Colombia on promoting gender issues in the coffee sector. She highlighted the implementation of ecotechnologies as sustainable alternatives for coffee production, which have been beneficial, especially for women in the Cauca department of South Colombia.
The webinar underscored the importance of interdisciplinary research, international collaboration, and stakeholder engagement in addressing the challenges posed by climate change to the coffee sector, especially concerning women’s empowerment and gender equity.
The insights and recommendations shared during the event are expected to pave the way for more inclusive and sustainable coffee production in Ethiopia and beyond, fostering a future where women, coffee, and climate thrive in harmony.