Women in Coffee Cupping

On November 1st 2022 IWCA Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IWCA Colombia with the objective to create opportunities for access to the Australian market and visibility for women coffee producers in Colombia that are members of the IWCA global network. On December 1st 2022 IWCAA hosted the first cupping event as a step forward in our engagement framework with IWCA Colombia. This session was organised with the collaboration and support of Flor a Fruto, a Specialty Colombian Coffee exporter and the team of Condesa Co.Lab at their QC lab in their Sydney office.

“Women coffee producers face significant barriers and we must take action to empower them by recognising their participation and providing them with the same opportunities and access to resources. We are very honoured to be part of this alliance, where we will work collaboratively with the IWCA Colombia Chapter in an engagement framework that will create opportunities to access the Australian market and visibility for women coffee producers in Colombia.”

Veronica Ponce, President IWCA Australia

This MOU is the first of its kind between any IWCA Chapters globally. Both associations agreed to collaborate in an engagement framework designed to achieve their common goals and objectives and support activities that include research on consuming trends, development of cupping sessions, exchange of knowledge and technology and any other actions that would be of benefit to both associations. Within the engagement framework we have outlined a traceability framework as a core value of this alliance, as well as started to map out KPI’s to measure the outcomes of the MOU and its activities. We hope that the success of this collaboration will serve as a blueprint for other IWCA Chapters to engage with.

The IWCA Colombia Chapter was established in April 2021. To date, their membership consists of 180 women coffee producers located in different regions but predominantly in the departments of Caldas, Risaralda and Quindio, which together make up the Zona Cafetera, also known as Eje Cafetero (Coffee Axis), other regions include Nariño and Antioquia. We cupped 12 coffees from various members and were presented with a video created by the IWCA Colombia board with contribution from their membership, a wonderful first knowledge exchange between the two associations.

“Being part of this network fills us with pride, joy and commitment to continue working for the women coffee growers of the world in a shared mission, aligned with the global strategy of seeking national and international alliances that help the sustainability and empowerment of women in the coffee industry.” 

Lilia Ines Cardona, President of IWCA Colombia Chapter