Raising climate change awareness among coffee and cocoa cooperatives: highlight of the COLEAD-SIF project, which ended in February 2025

Since its launch in February 2024, the partnership between COLEAD and the Shared Interest Foundation (SIF) has been dedicated to strengthening eight selected cooperatives/companies in Côte d’Ivoire (three), Rwanda (four) and Uganda (one). This initiative concluded in February 2025, marked by a significant initiative – an interactive e-session on climate change awareness, conducted in both English and French.

Raising awareness on climate change

The two-day virtual session provided an engaging platform for participating companies/cooperatives to explore the intersection of climate change and agri-food systems. Participants explored key issues including

• Understanding the impact of climate change on agri-food systems, with a particular focus on greenhouse gas emissions, global warming and the subsequent impacts on agriculture and horticulture, particularly in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions.
• Differentiate between climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, understanding their importance, applications in agriculture and how both can be integrated to create resilient agri-food systems.
• Building climate resilience among smallholder farmers through climate-smart agriculture approaches.
• Key international climate finance flows.
• Importance of insuring agricultural enterprises against the impacts of climate change – local contexts
• The role of gender mainstreaming in enhancing the success of climate-smart agriculture.

Project outputs

The one-year project, entitled “Design and management of a training and technical assistance programme”, successfully delivered its four key components as described:

• Baseline Diagnosis: A thorough assessment of the governance and financial frameworks of the eight participating cooperatives has been completed. The diagnostic reports provided a clear pathway for addressing gaps and improving management practices.
• Training on cooperative governance and management. Launched in July 2024, this training equipped cooperative boards and management teams with the skills needed for effective leadership and operational excellence. Targeted roles include presidents, general secretaries, treasurers and accountants.
• Business and financial planning. Training to improve financial literacy, develop business strategies and enhance market readiness.
• Climate change e-sessions. Raising awareness of adaptation strategies and building resilience to environmental challenges.

Impact

This project highlights COLEAD’s role in linking technical assistance with access to finance, thereby strengthening the sustainability and operational efficiency of cocoa and coffee cooperatives. By integrating governance reforms, financial planning and climate-smart practices, the project advances the common goals of resilience and sustainability. COLEAD remains committed to fostering stronger frameworks and capacities for cooperatives to confidently navigate dynamic economic and environmental landscapes.

Shared Interest Foundation was established in 2004 as a charitable subsidiary of Shared Interest Society. Its aim is to work with producers who need support to grow and be more sustainable, ultimately alleviating poverty by helping people to trade and earn a living.  Founded in 1990, Shared Interest Society brings together a community of more than 12,000 people in the UK with the common goal of investing in a fairer world. They work hand in hand with communities where income opportunities may be limited and where businesses face increasing challenges. Shared Interest works cooperatively, funding Fair Trade enterprises in 45 countries. Most of these organisations support smallholder farmers who produce around a third of the world’s food but often struggle to feed their families.