Virunga NATIONAL PARK COFFEES

Speciality arabicas FROM NORTH KIVU ON THE BORDERS OF THE VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK in DR CONGO Enlarged area

Lake Edward

DR Congo W elCOME to Eastern Uganda orth Kivu Province Congo N

Afric a’s newest Rwanda major origin for Virunga finest quality National Park Arabica Burundi

nknown until a decade ago, Kivu Arabicas are Kawa Kanzururu starting to become established on the global Cooperative Uspeciality coffee map, with stunning cup profiles. Now, there is an opportunity to discover these coffees Coopade through a partnership between coffee farmers, Farm Africa Cooperative and the Virunga National Park. The Virunga National Park The Park and North Kivu Coffees communities

he borders of the Virunga National Through the Virunga National Park coffee irunga is Africa’s oldest National Park. Park, including the slopes of the programme farmers are starting to realise the Established in 1925, it's one of the last TRwenzori Mountains and the uplands full potential of their coffees. The farmers are Vrefuges of the mountain gorilla, and to the north-west of Lake Edward, contain organised around small-scale coffee washing is also home to highly endangered lowland some of the finest Arabica coffee growing stations. They are affiliated to two vibrant gorillas as well as savannah elephants, land in the world. young cooperatives, Kawa Kanzururu on the chimpanzees, lions, leopards and antelopes. western flanks of the Rwenzori mountains, It has the largest diversity of birdlife in the The climate is temperate with plentiful and Coopade on the highlands to the north world. rainfall, sunshine and volcanic soils, as well west of Lake Edward. as altitudes rising to over 2,000 metres. Due to its situation in eastern Congo, the Smallholder farmers here have long grown Today these cooperatives are producing park faces many existential challenges, as heirloom bourbon varieties of coffee, but until extraordinary coffees, as testified by Kyle chronicled in the 2014 film Virunga (available very recently post-harvest processing was Tush, a Coffee Quality Specialist with leading on Netflix). Here, the conservation of its very basic and the only buyers were informal US speciality coffee roaster Counter Culture extraordinary wildlife, and the promotion of traders, mainly coming from neighbouring Coffee. the social and economic well-being of the Uganda. people of North Kivu who live around the park, go hand in hand.

Through the Virunga Alliance, which is supported by the provincial authorities, civil society and the private sector, the National Park is investing in a number of initiatives to promote economic regeneration, most notably a major hydro-electric generation and distribution venture. This is already bringing employment opportunities as well as access to electricity for thousands of "Coffees we've tasted from the Virunga households. National Park project in North Kivu have Virunga National Park is running a major impressed us greatly, to say the least. Not agriculture programme, aimed at boosting only do they have the potential to stand the livelihoods of smallholder farmers who with the best Arabicas produced in the DRC, live around the park by investing in the but also some of the best produced in East production and marketing of their crops, Africa." including coffee. In this way, the pressures Kyle Tush, Counter Culture Coffee on farmers to encroach on the park will be reduced, and farmers will experience positive benefits from the park’s presence.

Photo: Virunga National Park Virunga National Farm Africa

Park’s Coffee arm Africa is an innovative charity that project reduces poverty by unleashing African Ffarmers’ abilities to grow their incomes in an environmentally sustainable way.

with Farm Africa Farm Africa helps smallholders to not only boost yields, but also gain access to markets, while protecting the environment for generations to come. he programme is of the fully washed designed to boost the Arabica. Washing station From forest communities in Ethiopia to Tlivelihoods of more infrastructure is being commercial smallholders in western Uganda, than 7,000 coffee farming upgraded, accompanied by Farm Africa has deep and diverse experience in families living on the border rigorous training in coffee helping communities harness coffee’s income- of Virunga National Park. The processing. generating potential. project, which is financed In 2020, cupping labs will be Farm Africa provides tools and training in by the European Union, installed and cuppers trained. improving coffee quality, productivity, business involves strengthening the Internal control systems practices and market integration to help farmers business of the cooperatives are being strengthened to lift themselves out of poverty. and their members at each ensure complete traceability level, from farm management and that the requirements to processing and business for Fairtrade and Organic systems, while building a certifications are met. strong profile and presence in There is a strong emphasis international markets. on financial management The project approach is capacities, including the based on implementing a governance issues entailed in holistic and sustainable operating a complex business. farming model, including crop The cooperatives are being diversification, establishing supported to secure working Coffee produced a balance between capital and to understand food security and cash and operate successfully by women generation. The programme in international markets. includes training on good Long-term marketing oopade and Kawa Kanzururu each have agricultural practices and the partnerships are now being strong women’s sections, who organise establishment of nurseries for developed, through which the Cleadership training and run some of the coffee as well as other trees. cooperatives are able to build cooperatives’ coffee washing stations. relationships with importers, Significant investments are roasters, brands and retailers. For the first time in 2020 it is possible to buy being made to increase coffee grown and processed by female coffee the quantity and quality farmers. Kawa Kanzururu Cooperative

Founded: Certification: June 2014 Organic and Fairtrade for 2020

Location: Average size of land per farmer: Farms are located on the slopes of the 0.37 hectares Rwenzori Mountains, bordering Virunga Infrastructure: National Park 24 mini washing stations. Two washing Headquarters: stations are run by the women’s section. Quartier Mwangaza, Commune Rurale Lume, Main harvest period: Territoire de Beni, Province du Nord-Kivu September to December Altitude: Export period: 1,000m to 2,000m December to March Membership: Projected volumes for 2019-20: 1,848 producers (231 women and 1,617 men) 115 MT Fully Washed Kivu 3 Varieties: Blue Mountain, Rumangabo

Virunga DR Congo National Park

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orth Kivu Province N

Enlarged Tanzania area Rwanda

Rwanda COOPADE Cooperative

Founded: Certification: June 2014 UTZ, organic and Fairtrade for 2020

Location: Average size of land per farmer: Farms are located In the Lubero area, 0.37 hectares bordering Virunga National Park Infrastructure: Headquarters: 16 mini washing stations. Six washing Commune MUSUSA, Ville de Butembo, stations are run by the women’s section. Province du Nord-Kivu Main harvest period: Altitude: September to December 1,300m to 2,100m Export period: Membership: December to March 4,518 producers (1,732 women Projected volumes for 2019-20: and 2,786 men) 115 MT Fully Washed Kivu 3 Varieties: Blue Mountain (mainly), Katwai, Rumangaboo

Virunga DR Congo National Park

Uganda

orth Kivu Provence N

Enlarged Tanzania area

Rwanda Get in touch

To learn more about opportunities to source these fine coffees, and so to become a partner in this exciting initiative, please contact us.

Crispin Muse Roger Kasereka (French only) (English and French)

Crispin Muse is the Managing Roger Kasereka is the Managing Director of COOPADE. He holds a Director of Kawa Kanzururu. He degree in Rural Development. holds a degree in Accountancy.

Phone/Whatsapp: Phone/Whatsapp: +243 997 970 277 +243 997 970 277

Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Richard Hide Adelard Palata (English and French) (French only)

Richard Hide is a coffee specialist Adelard Palata has worked with with 30 years’ experience, mainly most of the local coffee sector's in the African coffee industry. For key players. Between 2001 and 25 years, Richard was the Head of 2005, Adelard managed a coffee African Coffee and Head of Trading plantation in Dunda for Copratex. and Marketing at the British coffee And from 2010 to 2012, he specialist NGO Twin. represented Schluter's Northern Kivu operations. Since then, he Phone/Whatsapp: has worked with cooperatives to +44 781 002 2923 develop high quality coffees. Skype: Richard_Hide Phone/Whatsapp: Email: [email protected] +243 892 212 131

Email: [email protected]