ICO, 4C Association and IDH form public-private alliance

The International Coffee Organization (ICO), the 4C Association and The Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, establishing one of the international coffee markets biggest public-private alliances to date. Established to facilitate a farmer-centric approach to the sustainability of the global coffee market, the alliance aims to effectivelyscale existing initiatives and fill gaps towards collective impact in the coffee sector. “This alliance between ICO, 4C Association and IDH is an important step forward to further scale and coordinate in an inclusive way the still fragmented efforts of industry, producing countries, NGOs and donors to improve coffee farmers agricultural practices and livelihoods,” said Ted van der Put, Program Director of IDH, in a statement. The alliance said it recognises that sustainability issues require new forms of farmer-centric, pre-competitive collaboration to encourage greater empowerment of men and women who work in the coffee sector. “Coffee producers around the globe are facing increasingly difficult challenges. The effects of climate change on production and a lack of access to finance threaten the livelihoods of the men and women who grow the coffee we love. The ICO is proud to be a part of this joint effort to support initiatives which strengthen our farmers and the coffee industry as a whole,” Robério Oliveira Silva, ICO Executive Director, in the statement. The cooperation between the partners begins immediately with the preparation of a draft for facilitating dialogue needed between key coffee stakeholders. The alliance said it hopes this roadmap will enable them to identify the priorities of coffee farming communities and to develop funding sources and action plans.