Women Leading Change

Gaining access to markets and control over resources is essential for women’s economic empowerment, enabling them to make informed choices about how to use and benefit from those resources. 

This case study examines how women coffee farmers in Rwanda are driving change through women's associations and cooperatives. As a group, the women have achieved peer-to-peer training, income diversification, direct links to buyers, women-made marketing, and community reinvestment, adopting sustainable agricultural practices, adding value to coffee production, and securing access to high-value markets. As a result, they have strengthened both their livelihoods and their communities. 

We highlight the role of three women’s associations and cooperatives (Rambagirakawa–Dukunde Kawa Musasa, Hingakawa–Abakundakawa, and Twongere Umusaruro wa Kawa) in empowering their members economically. The study offers recommendations to Rwanda’s National Agricultural Export Development Board and other stakeholders on how to support these associations in advancing women’s economic empowerment. 

Our insights are drawn from open-ended interviews with cooperative members and Angelique Karakezi, managing director of Rwashoscco, a farmer-owned company that produces and exports Rwandan coffee, including the women-produced brand Angelique's Finest. 

In our conversations, we explored the groups' primary goals, the key factors contributing to their success, and the disparities in access to training in sustainable agriculture and market opportunities.