An Island of Hope

On Idjwi Island in the Democratic Republic of Congo, surrounded by the waters of Lake Kivu, coffee grows in fertile volcanic soil at 1,500–2,000 meters, producing rich sweetness, gentle spice, and vibrant fruit character. Among SCPNCK’s farmers, 484 women grow Red Bourbon coffee across six modernized washing stations, helping lead the cooperative’s work.

What began with 1,135 members has grown into a movement uniting women, youth, people with disabilities, and others rebuilding their futures — all working toward peace, inclusion, and economic empowerment. SCPNCK’s coffee is CPP and organically certified, scoring 86.7, with exports to Europe and the United States of America. The cooperative reinvested locally to improve life for farming families.

Every coffee shipped beyond Idjwi’s shores carries something greater than exceptional flavor — it carries a community rebuilding itself together.

Interested in sourcing from SCPNCK? Reach out to marketaccess@sustainablegrowers.org to request samples or learn more.

Growing Coffee. Growing Opportunity.

South Kivu, in the eastern highlands of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is fast becoming known for its specialty coffee, grown in volcanic soils and a climate suited to rich, distinctive cups. At the heart of this growing reputation is COOPAEKI, the Coopérative Agro-Écologique du Kivu, helping build a more inclusive future for coffee in the region.

The cooperative unites around 1,600 members, including 690 women, around specialty coffee production and entrepreneurial skill-building, in a region where independent livelihoods, especially for young women, are hard to come by.

Through COOPAEKI, members learn not just how to produce quality coffee, but how the value chain works, turning coffee into a platform for income, skills, and opportunity.

In the cup: rich dark chocolate, black cherry, sugar cane, and butter, with a sweet finish and a touch of lemon brightness.

For COOPAEKI, growing coffee means growing opportunity, especially for the women and young people shaping its future.

Interested in sourcing from COOPAEKI? Reach out to marketaccess@sustainablegrowers.org for samples or more information.

Growing Coffee. Advancing Women.

Uvira Territory, in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, sits among the region’s emerging specialty coffee landscapes, where careful, sustainable growing practices are producing exceptional cups. At the heart of this work is COCAT, the Coopérative des Caféiculteurs Tuungane, founded in 2012 by women in coffee, for women in coffee.

Today it’s a women-led cooperative of more than 1,500 members producing exceptional, sustainably grown specialty coffee. Members learn the full value chain — production, processing, marketing — building skills that translate into real income and independence. COCAT has built its reputation on fully washed, organic-focused coffee and a quality standard that reflects the care put into every harvest.

In the cup: rich dark chocolate and honey, layered with brown sugar, balanced by fruit character and a pleasant acidity — a sweet, expressive coffee.

For COCAT, coffee isn’t just a crop, it’s a pathway. A way for women to build skills, strengthen their families, and shape their own future.

Interested in sourcing from COCAT? Reach out to marketaccess@sustainablegrowers.org for samples or more information.