Partnership with Sustainable Growers
Since its inception, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ partnership with Sustainable Growers has supported the national economic development goals of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda — and now Tanzania. Sustainable Growers works with women farmers to cultivate sustainable agriculture techniques to improve the quality and increase the production of coffee. Over 50,000 women have enrolled in programs across the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and since 2021, Sustainable Growers has enrolled women from three rural cooperatives in Tanzania.
Rwanda | Democratic Republic of Congo | Nigeria
An Evaluation of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Women’s Economic Development Initiative
An independent third-party evaluation by Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) shows the efficacy and replicability of the Women’s Economic Development Initiative by helping women develop marketable skills in high-demand industries.
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With increased quality, coffee produced by these women is served at hotels across Rwanda, including Serena Hotels, Park Inn by Radisson Kigali, and the Kigali Marriott. It is also available on RwandAir, is served in Bloomberg L.P. offices around the world, and is sold online. The Question Coffee Café & Roastery in Kigali, operated by women, received the 2020 Travelers’ Choice Award from TripAdvisor, placing it in the top 10 percent of listings.
Bloomberg Philanthropies and Sustainable Growers were featured at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda and Expo 2020 Dubai World’s Fair, United Arab Emirates. Sustainable Growers was selected by Expo 2020 Dubai as one of the 50 Global Best Practice Programs supporting the advancement of four of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It was also recognized as a model that can be adapted or replicated for global impact.
Sustainable Growers was selected by Expo 2020 Dubai as one of 50 Global Best Practice Programs for their work in advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals. As part of their accomplishment, Sustainable Growers was exhibited at Expo 2020 Dubai’s Mission Possible – Opportunity Pavilion’s “Best Practice Area” from January to February 2022, which highlighted initiatives that “can be adapted, replicated, or scaled for enhanced global impact and are linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
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Expo 2020 Dubai: Global Best Practice Programme Guide, featuring Sustainable Growers
Showcased at Expo 2020 Dubai, research indicates that yields on farms worldwide can increase by up to +30% if women are given the same productive resources as men. Sustainable Growers program uses a proven formula based on women-led efforts to elevate women throughout the value chain.
Alongside program partners, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Women’s Economic Development Initiative presented its investment model on a panel at Expo 2020 Dubai titled “Investments and Outcomes in Women.” The presentation highlights the importance of investing in women globally, the partnerships needed for success, and the future of the Women’s Economic Development Initiative.
Top photo: Before Bloomberg Philanthropies’ investment in training, women would pick cherries off the coffee tree that were not high quality. Less than 2% of their crop could be sold. Once they learned the “Color of Excellence,” worn on a vest or as a bracelet, the quality of their coffee increased by 40%, resulting in a higher yield price on the international market.