Frequently Asked Questions
Who are ICP’s shareholders?
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) and Tchibo GmbH (Germany) and the green coffee service group Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (Germany). Additional support comes from the roasters Kjeldsberg Kaffebrenneri AS (Norway) and Peter Larsens Kaffe A/S (Denmark).
What are ICP’s objectives?
Global awareness about the world’s environment as well as the living and working conditions of the people working in agricultural commodity business 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 skills as well as to improve their social well-being.
How does ICP view sustainable coffee production?
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 concept of sustainability, ICP strives to continuous learning and would like to share its experience with interested parties.
Why does ICP concentrate on the implementation of practical projects?
While the global discussion on how to improve the overall situation of the coffee sector continues, several international initiatives are working on the sustainability of coffee. 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. ICP projects generate best practice and the necessary know-how to foster development processes with the possibility to extend them to other regions.
What does ICP contribute to the projects?
ICP contributes technical assistance based on its core competences, including project design, preparation and implementation as well as monitoring. We offer 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.
What is the focus of ICP projects?
Central to all ICP projects is the orientation towards sustainable production and processing schemes. ICP projects offer 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. ICP is aware of the importance of protecting children and rejects child labour (ILO Convention 182: Worst Forms of Child Labour). An important element of ICP´s vision is to sustainably improve the living conditions of smallholder farmers and their families. It is therefore indispensable to thoroughly address the issue of child labour and human rights within the project's scope. Children are our future. This is why ICP strives to support their education and development while advocating the assurance of school attendance and preventing their exposure to hazardous or heavy work. Also the situation of farm workers and day labour is observed and the full respect of human rights promoted within ICP projects.
Is ICP a Standard Initiative?
ICP is neither a sustainability standard nor is the certification of coffee production per se a focus of project work. As the importance of certification in the international market increases, however, ICP projects familiarise farmers with widely accepted sustainability standards and support them in the assessment of costs and benefits of certification. Through ICP projects farmers are well prepared for potential certification. Training on data collection and the use of Internal Control Systems is the common method in ICP projects and enables farmers and farmer organisations to comply with the requirements of inspections and audits. So far beneficiaries of ICP projects have been certified under the standards for Organic Coffee Production, Utz Certified, Rainforest Alliance, Starbucks CAFÉ Practices and 4C.
Why is it so important for ICP to cooperate with other organisations?
The difficult 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 involved organisations have national or international charakter as well as governmental and non-governmental legal status. Therefore all projects are realised within Public Private Partnership schemes.
How long does ICP contribute to each project?
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.
What are the principles that guide ICP?
ICP wants to make a difference through its projects. They 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.
How do the local authorities react and feel about the projects?
Since project areas mostly located in less developed rural areas, local authorities are rather supportive towards ICP activities, which are business and hands on orientated. Often governments are supporting the projects in financial terms and by assigning local experts.
What is EDE Consulting’s role in ICP projects?
In view of its longstanding experience in coffee related development projects, EDE Consulting (an affiliate of Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung) was entrusted by ICP to follow up all its operative activities including project identification, preparation, implementation and coordination with the project partners.
