Accra, Ghana — The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) hosted the closing ceremony of the Colombia–Africa Coffee Value Chain Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) this week at its Regional Office for Africa, marking a new phase in South–South collaboration between Colombia and African coffee-producing nations.
The initiative — connecting Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, and Ethiopia — is part of a growing effort to share expertise, enhance farmer resilience, and build sustainable coffee economies across Africa. It signals the start of a deeper partnership that could redefine how Africa approaches its coffee value chain development, from farm to export.
Strengthening South–South Agricultural Cooperation
The programme’s closing event in Accra brought together senior government officials, farmer cooperatives, research institutions, and private-sector partners from Africa and Latin America.
Over the past year, reciprocal study visits between Colombia and the three African nations allowed policymakers and farmers to exchange best practices on processing, quality improvement, cooperative governance, and sustainable trade.
FAO Assistant Director-General for Africa, Abebe Haile-Gabriel, highlighted the programme’s broader impact:
“This initiative is more than a set of missions. It demonstrates how South–South and Triangular Cooperation enables the Global South to learn directly from one another, strengthen value chains, create rural jobs, and contribute to sustainable trade and food security.”
These exchanges also emphasized Colombia’s globally recognized coffee model, which integrates smallholder support, national branding, and agricultural innovation — a system African nations are adapting to their local contexts.
The Vision: A Stronger African Coffee Value Chain
Africa produces some of the world’s most unique coffee varieties, yet its farmers capture only a small fraction of global export value.
Through the Colombia–Africa Coffee TCP, participating nations aim to reverse that pattern by:
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Enhancing productivity through soil and climate adaptation training.
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Building processing capacity to keep more value in local economies.
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Developing certification and branding systems for traceability and fair pricing.
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Fostering research partnerships to improve crop genetics and climate resilience.
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Encouraging youth participation in agri-business and digital marketing.
The collaboration directly supports FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which prioritizes inclusive agricultural transformation, and aligns with Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) — both frameworks seeking to make Africa’s agricultural exports more competitive.
This aligns with previous discussions in Understanding the Real Economy, which stresses that real economic growth begins with stronger domestic value chains and manufacturing capacity.
Colombia’s Model and Africa’s Opportunity
Colombia’s success story offers a practical roadmap for Africa’s coffee sector. Through decades of coordinated investment in farmer cooperatives, branding, and export logistics, Colombia transformed its coffee into a global premium product synonymous with quality and sustainability.
African nations — particularly Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana — already have world-class beans but often export them as raw commodities.
By adopting elements of the Colombian approach, they can retain more export value, diversify income streams, and promote sustainable livelihoods.
This is part of a broader global trend where South–South cooperation is reshaping development paradigms — complementing partnerships discussed in Turkey–Africa Investment to Hit US$40 Billion by 2025, where emerging economies invest in shared prosperity rather than dependency.
A Draft Regional Project: Scaling the Coffee Revolution
At the closing event, delegates reviewed a draft regional project proposal to scale lessons learned through the TCP across more African countries.
The plan envisions the creation of a Continental Coffee Knowledge Hub, headquartered in Africa but linked with Colombia’s National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC). This would facilitate research exchange, digital traceability systems, and joint marketing initiatives under a unified “African Coffee Excellence” label.
According to Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the programme could increase African coffee export earnings by 20% within the next five years if implemented effectively.
The FAO pledged continued support through resource mobilization and technical coordination.
For African producers, this represents not just an agricultural milestone, but also an opportunity to assert control over global value chains — an idea explored in Top 10 Sectors to Invest in Africa 2025–2030.
Africa’s Coffee Economy in Perspective
Africa is home to over 10 million coffee farmers and accounts for nearly 12% of global production, led by Ethiopia and Uganda. However, the continent retains only a small percentage of coffee’s final market value — most profits accrue to foreign roasters, marketers, and distributors.
By fostering regional integration through AfCFTA, promoting diaspora-led branding initiatives, and leveraging digital platforms for traceability, Africa can capture more value at home.
This message resonates with the investment outlook covered in Africa’s Digital Infrastructure Boom, where technology drives inclusion across traditional industries.
Conclusion: Brewing a Shared Future
The Colombia–Africa Coffee Value Chain Programme represents a blueprint for mutual learning, inclusive growth, and sustainable trade.
By linking Africa’s potential with Colombia’s expertise, this collaboration can transform the continent’s role in the global coffee economy — shifting from commodity dependence to value-added leadership.
As Abebe Haile-Gabriel reminded participants, “The South has solutions for the South.”
For Africa, that means turning coffee from an export product into a platform for empowerment, innovation, and pride.
