From Peace Groups to Coffee Entrepreneurs

TUK began in 2011 as a peace-building initiative, women gathering around community before they gathered around coffee. In 2014, Sustainable Growers introduced coffee as a structured economic activity, and the cooperative’s identity expanded.

The name means “Let’s increase production.” They have. From 45 to 163 members, 157 of whom are women. TUK pioneered honey-processed coffee in Rwanda’s Eastern Province and has since introduced natural and anaerobic methods. Their coffee ranked 30th on Coffee Review’s global list. At the Best of Rwanda 2025 competition, they scored 87.74, placing 16th out of 300 samples. The Rwanda Cooperative Agency awarded them the Good Governance Award for the Eastern Province in 2024.

TUK also operates as a coffee tourism destination, welcoming visitors to experience the value chain firsthand.

From Invisibility to Recognition

Mayogi Coffee Cooperative, based in the hills of Gicumbi, operates in a high-altitude climate that produces slow-ripening cherries with exceptional sweetness and complexity.

Before 2017, value chain participation was limited and key decisions around production, quality, and market access were concentrated outside farmer control. That changed when Sustainable Growers introduced full value-chain training across cultivation, climate-smart agriculture, processing, quality control, and roasting. The program also strengthened direct market linkages with buyers including Sustainable Harvest Rwanda, Dash Coffee, and Mountain Coffee.

Today, Mayogi’s 993 farmers produce fully washed, carefully sorted coffees that consistently score between 85 and 90. The cooperative holds Fairtrade certification and has gained international recognition, including a Presidential Award in 2018 and second runner-up in the Cup of Excellence with a score of 90.06. Mayogi now stands as a structured, quality-focused producer with proven market access and award-winning consistency.

From Informality to Innovation

Located in Rwanda’s Southern Province, Nyampinga Cooperative, named after the Kinyarwanda word for “Beautiful Women” has 330 members, including 300 women and 30 men. The cooperative began as informal savings groups before Sustainable Growers introduced structure across coffee production systems, cooperative governance, Fairtrade certification, and access to financial services.

Since 2023, Nyampinga has expanded its processing capacity to include natural, honey, anaerobic, and fully washed coffees, strengthening both quality differentiation and market reach. Their coffees consistently score 85+.

Beyond production, Nyampinga represents a strong women-led transformation model, with members actively sharing their experiences in conferences and showcasing the role of women in driving economic change within the coffee value chain. The cooperative maintains active Fairtrade certification and strong governance systems, recognized in 2024 when the Rwanda Cooperative Agency named Nyampinga the best-performing cooperative in the Southern Province for good governance.

Members continue to reinvest income into livestock, insurance, cooperative development, and diversified farming systems, including banana cultivation alongside coffee.

From Silence to Global Voice

Abakundakawa Cooperative (ABK), in Rwanda’s northern highlands, is home to one of the country’s most recognized transformation stories in specialty coffee.

Within ABK, Hinga Kawa, meaning “Let’s Farm Coffee” began as a women’s group formed not around coffee production, but around a shared commitment to move forward together. Coffee later became the vehicle for rebuilding livelihoods, structure, and opportunity.

Today, ABK brings together 2,112 farmers, including 916 women, under Fairtrade and Organic certification systems. Their coffees consistently score above 87 points and are known for a sweet, fruit-forward profile. Over the past three years, they have been featured in Starbucks Reserve, reinforcing their position in the international specialty market. In the last five years, the cooperative has expanded its processing capacity to include honey, natural, and anaerobic natural coffees, strengthening both flavor complexity and export potential.

Through support from Sustainable Growers, women within Hinga Kawa gained technical training, leadership development, and direct engagement in global market systems, transitioning from production roles to active negotiation in coffee value chains.

From Decline to Recovery

Located in the hills of Rusizi near Lake Kivu, Gashonga Coffee Cooperative has transformed from near collapse into a quality-driven coffee producer.

Once struggling with weak cooperative governance, low productivity, and declining farmer confidence, the cooperative was rebuilt through support from Sustainable Growers. Training and organizational restructuring restored farm practices, improved coordination, and significantly increased productivity and quality.

The results were quickly visible: by 2015, Gashonga entered the Cup of Excellence and scored 86.7, ranking 7th nationally. Gashonga Coffee has been Fairtrade certified since 2014.

Today, the cooperative is strengthening its market position through improved coffee processing and diversification into products like honey coffee processing, focusing on consistent quality and buyer-ready supply.