Our Global Coffee Village
About our village: rethinking in the world of coffee
There is a Saying that "It takes a Village to Raise a Child". We say that "It takes a Village to Change the World of Coffee". The aim of Our Global Coffee Village is to promote self-determination of small coffee farmers and to improve the working and living conditions within their communities - in a sustainable way. With this initiative, we offer small roasters and coffee shop proprietors the opportunity to become active partners and shareholders in these projects, and to partner directly with coffee producers. Farmers and roasters shall form a vibrant and dynamic community for mutual benefit and intercultural exchange. The world of coffee becomes a village - and sets the conditions for more projects to happen.
We strive to achieve more sustainability in the coffee sector. The vision of Our Global Coffee Village is to establish a sound cooperation between farmers, roasters and, ultimately, consumers and to thereby create a unique and close-knit coffee community. We want to give an impulse, and continuously develop this initiative.
who we are
The initiative Our Global Coffee Village is entirely developed, set up and implemented by the Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung.
The challenge in the coffee sector is to improve and support the living conditions of farmers and their families, to take care of natural resources for the wellbeing of the people now and for future generations while at the same time assuring the availability of coffee in terms of quantity, quality and diversity as appreciated in the market.
Against this background our foundation, the Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung, an organization with non-profit status, was established by Michael R. Neumann, his family and the Neumann Gruppe GmbH in 2005. Following up on the group's longstanding commitment in project work, we have the objective of promoting sustainable development in the coffee sector. Our activities concentrate on the economic and social development of producer communities. Additionally, ensuring sustainable use of natural resources as well as educational activities with the youth are important elements of our agenda.
In detail, we provide a platform facilitating the cooperation of dedicated partners from the public and private sector. Embracing a number of specific activities such as projects (often with a model-character) and collaborations, we always address the facets of the triple bottom line of economic efficiency and success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Currently, projects implemented within our scope reach about 70,000 farmers in 13 countries. As the backbone of sustainable development, project activities usually contribute to develop the competitive position of coffee farmers by increasing productivity, improving quality, better linking them to the market, strengthening the management capacity of farmers and their organisations as well as generating added value. A careful use of natural resources is promoted and environmental awareness raised. The promotion of social aspects for balancing living- and working conditions of the coffee producing communities is addressed by complementary activities encouraging the self-help potential of smallholder farmers.
We benefit of an ample network of private and public partners including leading roasting companies, development organizations, dedicated local partners as well as governmental and non-governmental organisations who are cooperating in practical projects worldwide. Thanks to our close affiliation to the Neumann Kaffee Gruppe, we can rely on the most advanced competence of every company being part of the group's international network to strengthen our operations. Please visit www.hrnstiftung.org for more information.
The idea behind the village
Our Global Coffee Village aims to create a new, unique and mutually beneficial partnership between small and medium-sized roasting companies and smallholder farmers in producing regions. Those two groups have much in common: they are both usually run as family businesses, are important pillars in their respective communities and have a passion for coffee.
For smallholder farmers, Our Global Coffee Village will be a great opportunity. Still, the situation in particular for the large number of smallholder coffee farmers in many producing regions is very difficult. Even though they often have long-term experience in coffee production they lack know-how on environmentally sound coffee production, market oriented quality concepts and professional management practices as well as access to finance. Strengthening farmer organisations often represents an important step towards better market access and improved efficiency of operations, and, as a result, towards higher productivity and income.
Small and medium sized roasters, on the other hand, face an increasing demand for socially and environmentally sound high quality coffee from their customers. More and more quality conscious consumers want to "look behind the label" of the products they buy. Unlike leading food corporations and a number of prominent larger coffee roasting companies these smaller and medium-sized roasters do not have access to sustainable coffee projects and usually lack the means to run such initiatives on
their own, particularly if the goal is to establish long-term, truly sustainable partnerships.
It is against this background that Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung is creating "Our Global Coffee Village" as an initiative to facilitate dialogue and direct cooperation between a large number of small and medium sized roasters and an even larger number of smallholder producers. Forming these new direct links will create a unique global coffee community, that helps to improve the lives of many smallholder farmers and their families sustainably and provides the roaster-partners with exquisite coffee specialties for their discerning customers.
how to become a neighbour?
Becoming a neighbour requires the acquisition of a Partner Certificate. By this, the person and/or organization acquiring the Certificate becomes a shareholder of Our Global Coffee Village. All Certificates are valid for three years. And the best news is: the value of the contribution is doubled by development organizations and other partners that support the Global Coffee Village projects. Thanks to our longstanding experience in the field of sustainability projects in the coffee sector, we are benefiting of an elaborate network and sound cooperation with international development organizations, NGOs and other important stakeholders in the field.
There are three different types of Partner Certificates:
- The Platinum Partner Certificate - $ 40,000 for three years, supporting around 55 coffee farmers and their families
- The Gold Partner Certificate - $ 15,000 for three years, supporting around 20 small-scale farmers and their families
- The Partner Certificate - $ 7,500 for three years, supporting around 10 small-scale farmers and their families
Our Global Coffee Village is a unique concept and an expression of the shareholders' commitment - joining forces for sustainability in the world of coffee.
benefits of besoming a partner
There are three Partner Certificates: the Partner Certificate, the Gold Partner Certificate and the Platinum Partner Certificate.
As a holder of a Partner Certificate, you
- become part of a unique sustainable coffee initiative and thereby member of a professional network
- get first-hand insights into sustainable coffee production
- receive regular reports on development of project activities, use of funds and impacts achieved
- receive material on the Village, including stories about how your neighbours live, work and grow their coffee
- receive access to the community of Our Global Coffee Village where you can connect with coffee farmers and other stakeholders to share experiences
- gain exclusive access to excellent, highest quality coffees from your neighbours
- can use the Our Global Coffee Village-name and logo for your own marketing purposes
- may refer to the website of Our Global Coffee Village (www.ourglobalcoffeevillage.org)
As a holder of a Gold Partner Certificate, you additionally
- are able to take members of your local coffee community to project visits, in order to meet the coffee farmer neighbours
- get access to studies and project reports
If you decide to support Our Global Coffee Village by investing into a Platinum Partner Certificate, you furthermore
- are able to coordinate specific trainings or discourses with project teams. The team of the Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung will be at your disposal for events, in which your partnership with Our Global Coffee Village and/or additional information shall be presented
