FNC and CAF to Promote Sustainable Rural Development in the Region

Through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC) and CAF—development bank of Latin America—forged a historic alliance to promote an inclusive and sustainable rural development agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Leveraging the successful experience of the Colombian coffee growers association, CAF joins forces with the FNC in search of sustainable coffee farming and for the prosperity of agricultural producers in the region.

The joint work will be focused on a model that can be regionally replicated and helps honor the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with special emphasis on the social and economic inclusion of rural communities, including the more than 130,000 Colombian coffee women farmers.

The agreement sets out a general framework for collaboration in an effort to capitalize these experiences in favor of other productive chains in Colombia and in the agricultural sector of other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The MOU negotiated between the CAF and FNC teams in New York was signed in the Colombian capital by FNC general manager Roberto Vélez Vallejo, and CAF executive president Sergio Díaz-Granados, in an event attended also by the members of the FNC and CAF Steering Committee, as well as national representatives of coffee growers.

“The alliance with the FNC will allow us to join forces to promote the prosperity of Colombian coffee growers and bring environmentally friendly practices to other sectors of agriculture in the country and the region. In addition, it reflects CAF’s commitment to leading interventions that boost competitiveness of agro-industrial chains and promote rural development with an emphasis on social inclusion and gender equality,” said Díaz-Granados.

Furthermore, Roberto Vélez noted: “In addition to contributing to the sustainability and prosperity of coffee growers, CAF wanted to leverage the strengths and successful experiences of the Colombian coffee sector to help other agricultural producers in Colombia and the region achieve prosperity and sustainability, which is in line with our mission and makes us proud as an association.”

Within the scope of the agreement, both parties will seek to promote and develop joint projects and actions in the following specific areas:

• CAF’s contribution to the FNC’s mission to turn the global coffee chain into a sustainable business, with an emphasis on building the capacities of small rural producers in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Baseline analysis of successful experiences of the Colombian coffee sector, including strategies, policies and science, technology and innovation instruments; sustainable, clean and inclusive production systems, as well as circular economy measures; differentiation strategies and brands; institutional support to the sector.
• Joint work spaces in the context of the United Nations General Assembly work areas on sustainability.
• Cooperation within the framework of the World Coffee Producers Forum.
• Collaboration in other areas of mutual interest that may arise during the term of the agreement.

The collaboration between the parties also includes the generation and transfer of knowledge and mutual training, as well as events or joint promotional activities.

The memorandum shall have a term of up to four years, and may be renewed by mutual agreement of the parties.