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International Coffee Partners was founded in April 2001 as a joint initiative of the coffee roasting companies: Luigi Lavazza S.p.A. (Italy), Löfbergs Lila AB (Sweden), Gustav Paulig Ltd. (Finland), Tchibo GmbH (Germany) and the foundation Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung (Germany). Additional support comes from the roasters Kjeldsberg Kaffebrenneri AS (Norway) and Peter Larsens Kaffe A/S (Denmark).
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Global awareness about the world’s environment and the living and working conditions of the people directly involved in agricultural commodity businesses, especially in developing countries, is rising. ICP therefore recognises the importance of introducing practical aspects of sustainability into the coffee sector. This is done by well-defined and thoroughly implemented projects in selected countries, which are designed in a way that serve as examples which can be adapted and multiplied in other regions. A clear business approach helps to strengthen the farmers’ organisational and managerial capacity as well as to improve their social well-being.
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It is precisely sustainable coffee production that ICP is promoting in developing countries through its project work. ICP understands sustainability to be a dynamic concept that achieves economic viability while enhancing social conditions as well as protecting the environment and natural resources. Aware of the need to further develop and gradually improve the sustainability concept, ICP strives to continue learning and would like to share its experience with interested parties.
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While the global discussion on how to improve the overall situation of the coffee sector goes on, several international initiatives continue working on the sustainability of coffee. Meanwhile, it is obvious that these strategic discussions have to be complemented by practical project work in order to directly improve the situation of farmers and their families. Moreover, it is intended that these projects generate best practice and the necessary know-how to foster development processes which can then be extended to other regions.
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ICP contributes technical assistance based on its core competences, which includes project design, preparation, implementation and monitoring. It offers professional coffee know-how and financing of specific components. National and international experts share their experience according to specific requirements. ICP actively coordinates support from other dedicated partners such as donor organisations, NGOs and governmental institutions.
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Orientation towards sustainable production and processing schemes are central to all ICP projects. In addition, ICP projects have a varying set of components which encompass technical assistance in coffee production and diversification of production, in capacity building of farmer organisations and of farmer owned companies, in processing and marketing, as well as in activities to improve the infrastructure in the communities of coffee producers.
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The problematic situation of smallholder farmers’ and their families is usually rather complex and encompasses aspects other than coffee production. Thus, ICP prefers to cooperate within partnership schemes with other supporting organisations. These schemes help to establish synergies and assure a more comprehensive support for farmer families. The organisations involved are national as well as international organisations and have governmental and non-governmental character. As a consequence all projects are realised within Public Private Partnership schemes.
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ICP project support is usually provided over a 3-year period. Despite this relatively short period, sustainable project impact is achieved for several reasons: the project target groups are strongly committed to developing their self-help capacity and therefore take maximum advantage of ICP’s technical assistance; ICP’s support offers excellent expertise which focuses on observed shortcomings and draws upon rich experience from all coffee producing continents; and last but not least through ICP’s project work, farmer organisations develop in time their own network and partnerships with public institutions and the private sector.
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ICP wants to make a difference through its projects which are designed to be innovative while linking business orientation to sustainable development. Smallholder farmer organisations are supported in a way to ensure their self-managed, active participation in the market. It is intended that the projects generate positive experiences to be replicated in other areas.
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ICP wants to contribute to positive and long-term development in the project areas and to improve the linkage of smallholder coffee farmers to markets. Their increased participation in value adding operations contributes to raising farm income. This is only possible if the communities are involved in all aspects of the project so that they identify with it and gradually become the owners of all activities. ICP projects show that the communities are not only participating in the project activities, but are also increasingly assuming more responsibility and taking the initiative. This process is supported by a blend of training, guidance and learning by doing.
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Since project areas mostly lie in less developed rural areas, local authorities are rather supportive towards ICP activities, which are business oriented and hands on. In the case of the Central American projects there is already interest on national levels to replicate the ICP project approach in other rural areas. In Honduras, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, governments are supporting the projects in financial terms and by assigning local experts.
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In view of its longstanding experience in coffee related development projects, EDE Consulting was entrusted by ICP to follow up all its operative activities including project identification, preparation, implementation and coordination with the project partners.
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