Women Empowerment

Women empowerment is a top priority for Dukunde Kawa Musasa Cooperative. In 2012, we established the Rambagira Kawa Women Group, a self-governed group under our cooperative's leadership, primarily composed of widows who head their families. This group aims to foster social cohesion and create a lending scheme by growing and selling women-produced coffee, processed separately to fetch premiums that are reinvested into women's projects. The Rambagira Kawa Women Group has achieved remarkable success, now selling over two containers of coffee annually under their own brand, “Angelique Finest.” They manage their financial transactions independently, have bought small livestock, and run their own lending scheme and office, which also serves as a selling point. Additionally, the group engages in off-season income-generating activities such as producing reusable sanitary pads, beautiful baskets, and garments. Women constitute 80% of the workforce in administrative and coffee processing roles. Thanks to the efforts and successes of this group, Dukunde Kawa Musasa Cooperative has been recognized as the African Overall winner in Fairtrade Africa Gender equality champions of the year in Africa (8th March 2022) among all African producers certified fair trade in coffee, tea, and cacao.