At the foot of Mount Rwenzori, in North Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo), the cooperative Kawa Kanzururu – meaning ‘coffee of the eternal snows’ – is transforming the coffee and cocoa industry with the support of Enabel’s Trade for Development Center (TDC). Kawa Kanzururu was founded in June 2014 near Butembo. It brings together 2,500 Arabica coffee producers, 1,200 Robusta coffee growers, and 1,500 cocoa producers. The cooperative has an annual production of 195 tonnes of marketable coffee and 160 tonnes of cocoa.
The TDC first helped Kawa Kanzururu with cost control, negotiations with its customers, and the production of organic and Fairtrade-certified coffee. ‘This coaching has changed the way we work,’ says Roger Kasereka, the cooperative’s director. Today, by financing seedlings and a washing station, the TDC is improving the quality and sustainability of a coffee prized by roasters such as Cafés Rombouts and Malongo for its unique aromas.
A renaissance rooted in cooperation
With the support of Enabel’s Trade for Development Centre (TDC), the Virunga Foundation, Rikolto, as well as commercial partners such as Cafés Rombouts, Kawa Kanzururu is reviving a coffee industry that was abandoned in the 1990s due to armed conflict and a lack of investors in the region.
In 2012, the Belgian NGO VECO, now Rikolto, encouraged farmers to form cooperatives, leading to the creation of Kawa Kanzururu in June 2014 with 500 producers. Rikolto then adopted a co-investment approach, whereby the producers provided the land and built sheds, while the NGO supplied the machinery and shade nets required to install eight micro-washing stations, processing the coffee using the wet method. ‘This participatory model laid the foundations for our success,’ explains Roger Kasereka. Today, the cooperative has 26 decentralised micro-stations, enabling producers to deliver their cherries without travelling long distances. Each micro-station processes approximately one tonne of cherries per day, providing easier access to the market.
‘Our mission is to ensure a fair income while preserving
our environment,’ says Roger Kasereka, director of the cooperative.
In order to join Kawa Kanzururu, each member must own a plot of land, pay an initial membership fee of $50, and commit to delivering their entire production to the cooperative. The cooperative currently comprises 2,500 Arabica producers, 1,200 Robusta producers and 1,500 cocoa producers. Twenty percent of members grow both coffee and cocoa. ‘We depend on bank loans at 12% interest, which is a heavy burden,’ says Roger Kasereka. Rikolto played a key role in obtaining a guarantee from KBC via the financial institution Le Grenier, which unlocked $150,000 in working capital. Root Capital supplemented this support with an equivalent line of credit. However, the increase in production to 10 containers of Arabica coffee, or approximately 195 tonnes, requires additional financing.
TDC’s transformative support
Between 2020 and 2022, Enabel’s Trade for Development Centre strengthened Kawa Kanzururu through a coaching program provided by Raf Van den Bruel and Guy Callebaut. This improved the company’s management, marketing and coffee quality. Roger Kasereka highlights the impact of this support: ‘This coaching has transformed the way we work.’ Previously unable to control its production costs, the cooperative offered inconsistent prices to buyers, such as $4 one day and $5 the next. Thanks to the TDC’s support, the cooperative has developed a dashboard. This details fixed and variable costs, enabling sales prices to be set based on full knowledge of the facts. In 2025, Roger Kasereka consults the New York Stock Exchange daily to negotiate prices.
The coaching also improved communication and contract drafting skills, helping to avoid failures such as the one in 2018 with a client in Lyon, which occurred due to poor communication and a lack of Fairtrade certification. In terms of quality, Raph Van den Bruel trained a team of tasters and helped set up a laboratory, which is now run by the cooperative despite challenges with the energy supply. This laboratory analyses micro-lots, ensuring consistent quality. The TDC also helped to develop a strategic plan that aligns the cooperative’s ambitions with the requirements of the international market.
New funding from the TDC is supporting an ambitious project launched in 2025. This project involves producing Arabica and Robusta coffee seedlings, cocoa seedlings and shade trees, as well as constructing a washing station with a processing capacity of 3 to 5 tons of cherries per day. Unlike micro-stations, this centralised station will standardise quality, reducing variations between villages. ‘The seedlings will enable the renewal of ageing plantations and increase production, while the shade trees will protect against global warming,’ explains Roger Kasereka.
Strong commercial partnerships
In 2018, Adélard Palata from the Virunga Foundation trained Kawa Kanzururu in preparing coffee samples. This paved the way for contracts with the French roaster Malongo via the Swiss exporter CaféMa, as well as with Volcafé and Rombouts Koffie. ‘Adélard taught us how to analyse quality and gain the trust of roasters,’ reports Roger Kasereka. Coffee exports transit through the port of Mombasa via the Congolese freight forwarder Temka, and then on to Antwerp in Belgium. Malongo particularly values the consistency of Kawa Kanzururu coffee, which is both Fairtrade and organic certified, meeting the expectations of European consumers.
At the same time, the cooperative diversified its production to include cocoa in response to demand from producers. In 2025, the cooperative has produced 100 tonnes of commercial cocoa and 60 tonnes of speciality cocoa, which was fermented in a centre built with support from the Virunga Foundation. ‘Our producers asked for cocoa and robusta to be included to secure their incomes,’ explains Roger Kasereka. ‘This diversification strengthens our economic resilience.’
Challenges in an unstable environment
Despite its successes, Kawa Kanzururu is facing major obstacles. Competition from Olam threatens local cooperatives. This Singaporean giant is setting up washing stations close to Kawa Kanzururu’s own micro-stations. ‘Olam is trying to stifle local initiatives,’ laments Adélard Palata. In order to retain its producers, the cooperative offers additional payments, but its margins remain fragile.
The European Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR) requires the traceability of deforestation-free plots after 2020 by December 2025, which poses a technical challenge. The geolocation equipment provided by the Virunga Foundation has synchronization issues, which lead to data loss. Roger Kasereka is planning to explore free tools such as the FAO’s GeoSource or the International Trade Centre’s platforms, which he learned about from Enabel’s TDC. The cooperative is also raising awareness among local authorities, but a lack of knowledge about the RDUE in Kinshasa is slowing progress. ‘We need to involve the national authorities,’ Adélard insists.
Financial constraints are another obstacle. Bank loans with interest rates of 12% are putting a strain on finances. Roger Kasereka is planning to negotiate with Alterfin, which could offer interest rates of around 9% and financing of up to $850,000. Security remains a major concern, with the M23 rebels only 20 kilometres away from Goma in June 2025, threatening regional stability.
An impact beyond production
Kawa Kanzururu does more than just buy coffee and cocoa. A team of nine agronomists train producers in good agricultural practices to improve quality from the planting stage onwards. Financial education sessions empower them, and diversification into robusta and cocoa secures their income. ‘Our producers asked us to include these crops to diversify their sources of income,’ reports Roger Kasereka. The fermentation centre produces speciality cocoa that is highly regarded on the international market, and the laboratory ensures consistent flavours, thereby reinforcing the cooperative’s reputation.
Kawa Kanzururu’s democratic model and certifications are attracting new members, therefore amplifying its social impact in a conflict-weakened region. By providing technical and financial support, the cooperative is establishing itself as a vital source of assistance for its 5,200 producers.
Photos:
– Roger Kasereka, director of Kawa Kanzururu – © Enabel/Samuel Poos
– Adélard Palata (front) and Roger Kasereka – © Enabel/Samuel Poos
