Solidaridad Network

Deep Dive into Kenya’s Coffee Supply Chain 🌍☕ This week, Solidaridad had the pleasure of welcoming members of the Danish Alliance for Responsible Coffee to Kenya of our strategic partner the Ethical Trade Denmark. Together, we dove deep into the coffee supply chain, gaining valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges for more small-scale producer inclusion and environmental improvements of the sector. The journey started on a promising note: with inspiring discussions at the Danish Embassy - Denmark in Kenya. The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a key partner of the Solidaridad network, supporting several of our projects in Kenya and other countries. This successful collaboration is already bearing fruit: coffee from the TRACE project is now available in EDEKA stores across Berlin! 🛒☕ A big thank you to Stephan Schönemann and Christian Staffeldt for the enriching exchange. From the Embassy, we went straight to the field – visiting the Karithathi Cooperative Society, with whom Solidaridad closely collaborates. The farmers of the cooperative not only grow coffee but also produce milk 🐄. This income diversification strengthens their financial stability, while the organic fertilizer from milk production nourishes the soil, boosting yields. 🌱 Another highlight was the cupping session at Sucafina (Kenyacof) in Nairobi. Here, we savored the outstanding quality of Kenyan coffee and had in-depth discussions about the Kenyan trading system, the recent Kenyan coffee legislation, and the implications of the EUDR on coffee supply and trade. During our visit to the Ritho Cooperative Society, the focus was on EUDR compliance. The cooperative demonstrated that they are already well-prepared for the new EU regulations: "We started preparing for EUDR and finally programmed our own app to collect the farm locations and important data from farmers. Now we await the legislation to come. We are ready!" 🖥️ A huge thank you to Solidaridad East and Central Africa for the fantastic organization of this trip! Once again, it highlighted how essential strong partnerships, knowledge sharing, and innovation are for a sustainable and inclusive coffee industry. We’re excited to contribute to this important work! 💪☕ 📸 Wendy Kirorei & Markus Bier Etisk Handel Danmark Markus Bier Nanna Callisen Bang Camilla Erika Lerberg Suzanne Uittenbogaard African Coffee Roasters Fairtrade-mærket Danmark Danish Industry JDE Professional Danmark ØNSK Original Coffee GrowGrounds

🌴Last week we were delighted to host our long term partner Henkel in Sarawak, Malaysia. Petra Spallek and Marjon Stamsnijder made the long journey there to see the impact of our #palmoil programme with their own eyes. Their visit also aimed to explore the potential extension of our joint partnership to include #Malaysia. Joining them were Myrtille Danse, Head of Corporate Engagement at Solidaridad Europe, and our palm oil focused corporate engagement manager Stephania R.. Thanks so much to Law Chu Chien and the entire Solidaridad Malaysia team for arranging this arresting visit. The trip allowed for a deep dive into the dynamics of the upstream side of palm (kernel) oil supply chains. We had the opportunity meet with crucial stakeholders, such as smallholder farmers, collection centres and mills. More than three million farmers depend on the production of palm oil for their livelihoods. And they are essential to the production of palm oil as well. In Malaysia, 46% of palm oil is produced by approximately 420,000 palm oil smallholders whose livelihoods, and those of their families, heavily rely on oil palm production. Solidaridad works with various stakeholders, including governments, private sector and civil society to advance sustainability and smallholder inclusivity in palm oil supply chains. Our team in Malaysia has built the relationships and trust necessary with farmers and other stakeholders to transform the local industry. Over the last ten years, we have worked closely with our partner Henkel on this mission, and we look forward to finding new ways to deepen and broaden our impact in the years to come. Marie-Theres Ebensperger Christina Salmen.

☕️ 🇲🇽 The future of coffee farming in Mexico is a family affair. Climate change, low productivity & income, lack of resources – it's clear coffee farming in Mexico faces significant challenges. But interested young people are stepping up with minds that are open to new ways of working and family support. jose javier antonio anaya cadena of Solidaridad in Mexico shares the story of the 'Young People Renewing for the Future' project that's helping the next generation of coffee farmers adopt climate-smart techniques. While they work alongside their families, these innovators are building a more resilient future for the coffee industry. Family plays a crucial role in this transformation. Maintaining the link to existing knowledge and integrating new ideas is essential for long-term success. Read how the power of family is shaping a sustainable future for coffee in Mexico. https://lnkd.in/gmJDpp56

Last week, I had the privilege of participating in a thought-provoking panel and leading a workshop at Food ingredients Europe on the upcoming Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). I took the chance to shed light on both the challenges and the potential for creating sustainable supply chains that genuinely benefit smallholder farmers and the environment: 🔑 Due diligence is about cooperation, not imposition. European companies must focus on empowering farmers and suppliers to uphold human rights and environmental protection, rather than shifting compliance burdens downstream. 🔑 Sustainability is everyone’s responsibility. It cannot be confined to a single department—it requires a holistic approach across all levels of a company. 🔑 Fair prices and procurement practices are essential. Sustainability investments need fair financial frameworks to empower suppliers and farmers to thrive. A big thank you to my fellow panelists Nicolas Carbonnelle and Rob Kooijmans for the engaging exchange of ideas, and to the participants of the workshop. Together, we can drive the change needed to make global value chains truly sustainable!

Be at the forefront of a fairer gold industry! Together with The Impact Facility, we’re launching a new Responsible Gold Credits Programme, aimed to tackle the human rights and environmental challenges arising from the significant role that artisanal and small-scale gold mining communities play in meeting global gold demand. We’re inviting companies that use gold to produce jewellery, or for components in cars and electronic products, to take part in our new Responsible Gold Credits Programme for an opportunity to create positive, long-lasting change in artisanal and small-scale gold mining communities in Tanzania. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/eDTyr_M3 Thanks also to our partners Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) | Partner in Sustainable Development and Fairphone! #SupplyChain #gold #ASM #ASGM #ResponsibleMining  #goldmining #Tanzania

Our team recently returned from #COP29 & while we're working up our recap on what we saw, shared & learned, you can find more on Solidaridad's work on climate issues in Africa, Asia, Europe & Latin America. Click here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e-K-Ypqd

#WeekendRead: Determination transforms the future for farmer in Nigeria 👩🌾💪Talatu Idris, a widow and mother of six, is a small-scale farmer in Nigeria who inspires through her hard work and commitment to family. For years, she struggled to eke out a living and support her children cultivating tomatoes on her 5-hectare farm. Solidaridad West Africa's Acting Now programme provided sustainable tomato farming practices and access to high quality seeds through a rotating credit scheme. Now she has increased her farm income fivefold and transformed her family's future. Read her story here https://lnkd.in/gRFQnAVC

Good coverage of good news from Nigeria as Solidaridad West Africa announces a partnership for critical forest conservation & sustainable agriculture in key areas. Kene Chudi Onukwube of Solidaridad is featured in the piece. Read it here https://lnkd.in/gN34NSun

Happening now! 🌍 Strengthening Agri-food Systems: Opportunities to Fast Track NDC Implementation Goals - streaming here https://lnkd.in/gVfrwquP Small-scale farmers in Africa produce 70% of the continent's food, but nearly 75% of those surveyed in the #SmallFarmerAtlas lack the resources to adapt to a changing climate. Learn about locally-led approaches to build climate resilience & strong livelihoods with a focus on:  • Supporting implementation of good practices and agri-technology transfer,  • Unlocking climate finance & incentives,  • Implementing digital solutions to accelerate NDC implementation Panelists include: • Denis Jean Sonwa, Research, Data, and Impact Director at WRI Africa • Beatrice Makwenda, Programme Lead for Southern Africa at TrustAfrica • Sweeny Binsari, Regional Climate Change & Natural Resource Management Manager at Solidaridad East and Central Africa Streaming here https://lnkd.in/gVfrwquP *** #ClimateResilience #ClimateFinance #SmallScaleFarmers #FoodSecurity #LocallyLedAdaptation #AgriFoodSystems

🇳🇬🌴 Local advocacy drives adoption of sustainable oil palm production in Nigeria. Oil palm agriculture plays a critical role in the Nigerian economy sustaining livelihoods across rural communities, but protection of the environment & forests is paramount. Multi-stakeholder platforms are uniting smallholder farmers, businesses, communities and governments to drive positive change in Nigeria’s palm oil sector. The work focuses on: • Deforestation-free production • Community-led conservation • Sustainable land use Read more here. https://lnkd.in/dWRYc_3X