An Update on the Initiatives of the Akawa Project in Burundi

The Akawa Project, our initiative to help coffee growers in Burundi, began in 2016 following difficult political and economic times in the country. The project aims to offer critical support to Burundian smallholders, who were among the first to be affected by these difficulties, by diversifying their income, offering education and training opportunities, and addressing essential social needs.

In April of this year, several key members of the Akawa team, including Jennifer Acolatse and Jean-Pierre Ntarindwa from Supremo, visited Burundi to gain a firsthand impression of the project’s impact. The trip highlighted three main pillars of the Akawa initiative:

1. 1. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): In collaboration with the ZOA team (an NGO that provides emergency aid in crisis areas) the Akawa project continues to ensure access to safe water through the rehabilitation of springs, improving the quality of life for the community.
2. 2. Gender Equality: Empowering women is a central goal of the Akawa project, with programs implemented by ZOA focusing on income diversification through initiatives such as goat rearing and cultivating tomatoes and palm nuts. These initiatives are designed to uplift Burundian women within coffee-growing communities and provide them with the tools for sustainable financial independence.
3. 3. Productivity: Akawa is also committed to enhancing productivity by supporting coffee nurseries at washing stations, ensuring that smallholders have access to high-quality coffee seedlings that improve yield and quality.

There have also been several significant milestones in the Akawa project this year, including completing a carbon emissions assessment within one of Burundi’s three coffee supply chains. This assessment offers critical insights into the carbon footprint of farmers, helping us to build recommendations on climate mitigation pathways and promising carbon reduction strategies, and allowing us to identify new opportunities to sell new crops and products.

Akawa has also recently expanded its gender equity efforts by launching the ‘Empowering Women in Smallholder Coffee Farms’ project in April 2024. This initiative, part of the broader Responsible Coffee Sourcing in Burundi project, aims to strengthen the role of women in coffee production, enabling them to contribute more to their communities' development. 

As Akawa continues to grow, we remain deeply committed to supporting Burundi’s smallholders, driving positive change through sustainable practices, and ensuring that these communities thrive economically and socially. Look out for quarterly news updates on our site and other channels and check out our call for funding if you would like to donate to support the project.