Strengthening the Ethiopian coffee supply chain

Since 2022, ECOM has been collaborating with the Sustainability and Value Added in Agricultural Supply Chains in Ethiopia (SUVASE) project to support human rights and the environment in one of the world’s largest coffee-producing countries. The SUVASE Project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The two-year partnership focuses on three key areas:

• • Enhancing transparency and accountability in the coffee supply chain
• • Improving agricultural practices to boost coffee yield, quality, and sustainability
• • Implementing social standards in coffee production by promoting fair practices within the coffee supply chain

So far, 200 farmers in the Jimma region have adopted the ECOM SMS Code and 125 farmers in the Illubabor region have been trained in good agricultural practices, quality and business management. In May 2024, an experience-sharing event between regions was organised, fostering mutual learning and collaboration.

Empowering women in the coffee sector is a key focus of this partnership. In collaboration with Equal Origins, we conducted a gender assessment and collected data on gender inclusion, contributing to the development of our Gender Equity Development Plan, to be rolled out in 2024. Through Women in Coffee Ethiopia (WiCE), ECOM and GIZ provided women in the sector with business skills and leadership trainings, supporting them in bridging the income gap and gaining equitable benefits from the value chain.

In collaboration with the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), we assessed child labour in coffee production and initiated awareness training on the topic. Our staff was trained to work with communities, farmers, and their families to recognise and address forms of child labour, supported by specially developed pictorial materials for effective engagement.

Together, ECOM and GIZ aim to help smallholder producers gain better market access and adopt sustainable practices. These efforts are flanked by initiatives promoting equity, underscoring our commitment to fostering a sustainable and ethical coffee industry in Ethiopia.