Lecture Description
The escalating crisis in eastern DRC has devastated coffee-growing regions, displacing nearly 7 million people nationwide, many from key coffee-producing areas. Violence has disrupted agriculture, causing a sharp decline in coffee production and worsening food insecurity and economic instability.
One stark example: 1,000 of the 4,100 members of the Muungano Cooperative have been uprooted by conflict, jeopardizing their livelihoods and supply chains.
This panel brings together experts from across the coffee supply chain to address the urgent challenges and opportunities of coffee production in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a region currently grappling with active conflict. In this dynamic session, panelists and audience members will engage in a real-time dialogue to explore the complex realities of farmer safety, agricultural disruption, access/travel restrictions, and logistical barriers. Together, they will focus on strategies to mitigate risks and build resilience, offering practical insights for sustainable growth in a complex environment.
Join industry experts and panelists as they examine the impact of conflict on coffee regions and explore actionable solutions to address this urgent humanitarian and industry challenge specific to eastern Congo today.
Date: Sunday April 27, 2025
Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Room 360ABC
Category: Business
Access: This lecture is free to attend with a Specialty Coffee Expo entry badge. Register to attend Specialty Coffee Expo here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.
Panelists
Herman Chirihambali Lwango
On The Ground DRC Country Director and member of the Muungano community in South Kivu. Herman’s work focuses on the humanitarian impact of conflict on Muungano’s coffee growers and surrounding communities.
Marceline Budza
Founder and President of Rebuild Women’s Hope (RWH) cooperative on Idjiwi Island, Lake Kivu. Before RWH, Idjiwi farmers lacked coffee processing facilities and market access. RWH fosters entrepreneurship and self-management among women to improve community living standards.
Susan Heller Evenson
Senior Trading Manager at Atlas Coffee Imports, with firsthand experience exporting coffee from North and South Kivu, DRC. Susan offers insights on navigating logistical challenges in conflict zones from her years in the importing sector.
Richard Hide
Founder of African Coffee Connect and formerly of Twin Trading (UK), Richard has decades of experience supporting DRC’s specialty coffee industry. His 2007 visit to Eastern DRC led to a Twin partnership reviving the washed arabica coffee sector, recognized by the SCA’s 2012 Sustainability Award.
Moderator
Chris Treter
Co-founder of Higher Grounds Trading Company, founder of On The Ground, and Chief Instigator of Saveur du Kivu, the first international specialty coffee competition in the DRC.