How Rwanda’s Coffee Industry Rose from 1994’s Tragedy

In the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, coffee farming communities faced not just economic collapse but deep personal loss. Many growers had lost family members, had spouses imprisoned, or were themselves awaiting trial. Amid this turmoil, a group of 220 coffee farmers in the Maraba region—part of former Butare Province—sought a practical solution to improve their livelihoods. Their goal was clear: escape exploitative middlemen and earn more from their coffee.

The answer came in 1999 when these farmers formed a cooperative called Abahuzamugambi, which means “people united in purpose” in Kinyarwanda. Their immediate aim was to work directly with exporters in Kigali and cut out layers of costly intermediaries.

The Birth of a Coffee Cooperative in Post-Genocide Rwanda

The founders of Abahuzamugambi were survivors and families shattered by the 1994 genocide. Some had lost relatives, others had husbands in prison, and many faced accusations that led them to traditional Gacaca courts. They pooled resources and profits to buy tools, seeds, and fertilizer—all with the goal of increasing yields and regaining control over their income.

International Support and the PEARL Project

In 2000, the mayor of Maraba sought help from the nearby National University of Rwanda (UNR). The following year, UNR helped launch the Partnership to Enhance Agriculture in Rwanda through Linkages (PEARL), backed by USAID, Michigan State University, Texas A&M, and several Rwandan institutions including the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), the Rwanda Agricultural Research Institute (ISAR), and the Kigali Institute of Science, Technology and Management (KIST).

By February 2001, PEARL began working with Abahuzamugambi to elevate coffee quality to meet specialty market standards in the United States.

Building Rwanda’s First Coffee Washing Station

A critical early hurdle was the lack of a washing station. Coffee cherries must be processed within 12 hours of harvest to prevent sugar on the bean’s outer skin from degrading flavor. In July 2001, with funding from UNR, the Rwanda Office des Cultures Industrielles du Café (OCIR-Café), ACDI/VOCA, and ISAR, the farmers opened their first washing station in the Cyarumbo area, near a main road. However, it didn’t become operational until the harvest season, processing just 200 kg (441 lbs) of coffee that year—with unexpectedly good results.

In 2002, the washing station was upgraded thanks to a pipeline funded by ACDI/VOCA, which brought mineral-rich water from Mount Huye, improving washing efficiency. The pipeline went live in March 2002.

Certification and First International Sales

In 2002, Rwanda introduced a new coffee bean certification system to ensure quality at the washing station. About half of Abahuzamugambi’s members achieved certification, allowing the co-op to target specialty markets in Europe and North America.

PEARL connected the co-op with U.S.-based Community Coffee. That June, representatives from Community Coffee visited Maraba, accompanied by then-Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who spoke about the project’s national importance. Impressed, Community Coffee agreed to buy 18,000 kg (40,000 lbs) of Maraba coffee at $3 per kg—well above the market average. The beans were shipped to Louisiana, roasted there, and used in the company’s premium blends. This marked the first direct trade agreement between an African coffee co-op and a U.S. roaster.

Fair Trade Recognition and Global Distribution

The British charity Comic Relief also took an interest in Maraba. Profits from their 2001 Red Nose Day campaign were partly directed to support genocide widows through the Association des Veuves du Génocide (AVEGA), an organization many Maraba farmers belonged to. Comic Relief connected the farmers with UK-based Union Coffee Roasters (UCR). In 2002, UCR representatives, along with officials from the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO), visited Maraba and granted fair trade certification—the first for a Rwandan coffee co-op.

UCR described Maraba coffee as having “a sparkling citrus flavor with rich, sweet chocolate notes,” and purchased all remaining unsold coffee from the 2002 harvest. Through Sainsbury’s supermarkets, Maraba coffee reached 350 stores by the next Red Nose Day in 2003.

Financial Returns and Community Investment

In 2003, Abahuzamugambi earned $35,000 in net profit. Seventy percent of that—$24,500—was distributed to farmers at $0.75 per kg, more than triple the average income of other Rwandan coffee growers. This income helped cover healthcare and education costs that were previously out of reach. The remaining 30%, $10,500, was reinvested into the co-op, including purchasing calcium carbonate to combat soil acidity caused by heavy rainfall.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Abahuzamugambi?

Abahuzamugambi is a Kinyarwanda term meaning “people united in purpose.” It was the name chosen in 1999 by 220 Rwandan coffee farmers in Maraba who formed a cooperative to bypass middlemen, improve their coffee’s quality, and increase their profits after the 1994 genocide.

When did Rwanda start exporting specialty coffee?

Rwanda began exporting specialty coffee internationally in 2002. That year, the Maraba co-op sold coffee to both U.S.-based Community Coffee and UK-based Union Coffee Roasters, marking its first entries into the specialty markets of both countries.

What role did the PEARL project play in Rwanda’s coffee industry?

The PEARL project, launched in 2001 with support from USAID, Michigan State University, Texas A&M, and Rwandan institutions, helped Rwandan coffee farmers—including those in Abahuzamugambi—improve quality to meet U.S. specialty coffee standards and establish direct export relationships.

How did Maraba coffee get fair trade certification?

Maraba coffee received fair trade certification in 2002 after being visited by representatives from Union Coffee Roasters and the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO). This made it the first Rwandan coffee cooperative to earn fair trade status.

What was the first direct trade coffee deal from Africa to the U.S.?

The first direct trade coffee deal between an African co-op and a U.S. roaster was in 2002, when Community Coffee bought 18,000 kg of Maraba coffee at $3 per kg. The beans were roasted in Louisiana and used in their premium blends.

How did the Maraba washing station impact coffee quality?

The Maraba washing station, built in 2001 and upgraded in 2002 with water from Mount Huye, allowed farmers to process coffee cherries within 12 hours of harvest. This drastically improved cup quality and was key to meeting specialty coffee standards.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Exploring Rwandan Flavor

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