Press Release: Sustainable Growers Rwanda's innovative training graduates over 13,000 women coffee farmers

Gakenke, Rwanda, November 19, 2025 – Sustainable Growers, an NGO specialising in innovative coffee cultivation techniques for smallholder women coffee farmers, is celebrating the graduation of more than 13,000 women coffee farmers across Rwanda. The graduates, drawn from Kayonza, Gakenke, Gicumbi, Nyamasheke, Rusizi, Huye, and Nyaruguru Districts, have completed a year-long training programme focused on best agricultural practices in coffee, home roasting, storytelling for leadership, and market access activities. The national launch event taking place in Gakenke District today, on November 19, 2025, will be followed by a series of graduation ceremonies in the other districts from November 19 to 27, 2025, marking the completion of the program’s annual cycle. In addition to the graduates, Sustainable Growers will recognise 13,067 women who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to climate-smart techniques, teamwork within cooperatives, and active engagement in community initiatives through its Premium Sharing Rewards (PSR) programme, locally known as “Wakoze Neza Muhinzi.” With the long-standing support of our founding partner, Bloomberg Philanthropies, we have reached over 328,000 people, benefiting more than 60,000 of their beneficiaries across Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania. The Graduation and Premium Sharing Reward (PSR) initiative aims to boost motivation, strengthen community leadership, and reinforce the central role of women in the coffee sector. This annual event is part of Sustainable Growers' mission to promote sustainable agriculture, strengthen women’s leadership, and advance rural livelihoods; thus reaffirming its support to national governments’ economic development goals to improve productivity, quality, and build market access for coffee farmers and producers. “At Sustainable Growers, we believe that recognition drives resilience,” said Christine Condo, Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Growers. “These awards are not just about celebrating performance; they are about validating the hard work, knowledge, and leadership of women who are transforming the coffee sector and uplifting their families and communities at large.” The Premium Sharing Rewards (PSR) programme incentivises women coffee farmers for implementing Best Agricultural Practices and engaging in public health and sanitation initiatives, such as health insurance, school enrollment, and malaria prevention. Throughout the year, farmers are assessed after each training module, earning performance scores that contribute to year-end rewards. During graduation ceremonies, they receive certificates of completion along with practical assets such as livestock, farm tools, or household materials to support their continued growth. “Through Sustainable Growers’ training, I learned techniques to improve the quality of my coffee. Today, my cooperative produces beans that meet international standards,” said Vestine Mukankusi, a member of Twongere Kawa Coko Cooperative, which ranked 18th out of 300 coffee samples collected nationwide during the 2025 Best of Rwanda Competition with a score of 87.5. About Sustainable Growers Sustainable Growers is a non-profit organization that introduces innovative training components to the coffee industry and is committed to elevating smallholder farmers up the coffee value chain. Sustainable Growers aligns its growth strategies with government visions to unlock the potential of women’s co-ops, enabling them to become leading African coffee entrepreneurs. Providing agricultural training, coffee processing, and market-based skills to women coffee farmers and their families in Rwanda, and DRC, and Tanzania. With the generous support from our founding partners at Bloomberg Philanthropies, since the inception of the organization, Sustainable Growers has enrolled over 60,000 women farmers in training, which has helped to increase the value of their crops in the first months of training by more than 40%.

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Press Release: Sustainable Growers Rwanda's innovative training graduates over 13,000 women coffee farmers