Building Women-Led Coffee Cooperatives
Country : YemenRegion : tiazYear : 2025Project Theme : Driving Entrepreneurship in Agricultural Value ChainsBeneficiaries : 53 women farmersImpact : Gender inclusivePartners : Lavazza FoundationThe training focused on practical, hands-on skills to ensure long-term sustainability:
Cooperative governance and decision-making
Leadership and organizational management
Collective action and member participation
Financial and operational planning
ImpactUnder the Mokha Revival Programme, Qima Foundation is working to strengthen farming communities by empowering women to take on leadership roles within the coffee sector.
Recognizing that strong farmer organizations are the foundation of sustainable agriculture, the programme trained 53 women coffee farmers in cooperative governance and leadership. This initiative equipped participants with the practical skills and confidence needed to organize, manage, and lead their own agricultural cooperative.
This effort led to the establishment of the Durrat Al-Bun Women Cooperative, led by Maha Arif — a powerful example of women driving change in their communities.
What We Delivered
Today, the cooperative is creating tangible benefits for women farmers by providing:
A collective voice in the coffee sector
Enhanced opportunities to improve farms and livelihoods
A strong network for collaboration and mutual support
What began with 53 trained women is now growing into a vibrant community of farmers working together to build resilient and sustainable coffee livelihoods.
Because when farmers organize, their impact multiplies.
