Colombia – USAID Specialty Coffee Program

Leveraging resources from public-private partnerships to increase smallholders' incomes

ACDI/VOCA implements the 3-year, $5.8 million USAID Specialty Coffee Program. Through the project, ACDI/VOCA develops networks of Colombian and international partners and collaborators and leverages resources from public-private partnerships to strengthen the specialty coffee value chain in Colombia and increase smallholders’ incomes. Through the program, ACDI/VOCA will strengthen the specialty coffee sector in Colombia and provide tools for the sector to become more competitive in the international market.

This project builds upon ACDI/VOCA’s previous Specialty Coffee Program (2002-2007), which was tremendously successful in providing smallholder coffee farmers with the skills and capacities needed to increase their incomes and connect to high-value markets.

The current Specialty Coffee Program provides assistance at key points along the specialty coffee value chain, focusing in particular on strengthening institutions that participate in the sector’s market activities and supporting coffee growers and their local organizations. ACDI/VOCA helps institutions upgrade capacity, carry out structural improvements and introduce sustainability in their routine activities. The program helps producers improve their income and sustainability through training in product quality maximization, productivity enhancement and commercialization techniques. This project represents the final stage in USAID’s contribution to improving all aspects of the Colombian specialty coffee sector.

The main objectives of the Specialty Coffee Program are to

• increase competitiveness and sustainability of Colombian specialty coffee
• develop sustainability in environmental, social and economic sectors
• assist and strengthen Colombian institutions

As of March 2009, the program had strengthened 53 buying points through technical assistance, upgraded equipment and/or personnel. Nearly 274,000 additional bags of specialty coffee over the 2006 level were exported. Over 6,400 families have benefitted from the assistance provided through this program.

For more information, contact Nicole Chao-Villegas at nchao-villegas@acdivoca.org.

Updated: 5/09

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