The International Trade Centre (ITC) is assisting small coffee farmers in Uganda to increase exports and certification. ITC works with the National Union of Coffee Agribusinesses and Farm Enterprises, Uganda Coffee Development Authority, and Uganda Coffee Farmers Alliance on the Netherlands Trust Fund III Uganda Coffee project. The project aims to increase certified coffee exports and farmer access to finance by facilitating Common Code for the Coffee Community verification for farmer associations and enhancing trade support services.

1. International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of World
Trade Organisation and the United Nations. ITC assists
small and medium–sized enterprises in developing and
transition economies to become more competitive in global
markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic
development within the framework of the Aid-for-Trade
agenda and the Millennium Development Goals.
NTF III Uganda Coffee project works in close
collaboration with:
National Union of Coffee
Agribusinesses and Farm Enterprises
(NUCAFE)
Uganda Coffee Development Authority
(UCDA)
Uganda Coffee Farmers Alliance
(UCFA)
PARTNERS IN UGANDA
P: +41 22 730 0111
F: +41 22 733 4439
E: itcreg@intracen.org
www.intracen.org
Street address
International Trade Centre
54-56 Rue de Montbrillant
1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Postal address
International Trade Centre
Palais des Nations
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
UGANDA
Coffee Sector
For more information on our project, visit our page on the internet: http://www.intracen.org/itc/projects/ntf-3/UGANDA-COFFEE
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations.
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ABOUT ITC
ABOUT CBI
The Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing
countries (CBI) is an Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Netherlands. CBI contributes to sustainable economic
development in developing countries through the expansion
of exports from these countries. This is done through
sustainably strengthening the competitive capacity of SME
exporters and producers in developing countries, focusing
mostly on European markets.
EXPORT SECTOR COMPETITIVENESS PROGRAMME
Netherlands Trust Fund Phase III
YOUR FOCAL POINTS
DARBARI Ritwija
darbari@intracen.org
+41 22 730 01 03
Project Consultant – Uganda Coffee
Netherlands Trust Fund Programme
Phase III (NTF III)
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RANCHON, Adrien
ranchon@intracen.org
+41 22 730 0322
Project Manager – Uganda Coffee
Netherlands Trust Fund programme
Phase III (NTF III)

2. NTF III Coffee in Uganda
Uganda is Africa’s second largest coffee producer, and the
largest coffee exporter. The coffee sector contributes to the
Ugandan economy in a number of ways, and most
significantly through foreign currency earnings and
employment creation. Coffee is Uganda’s principal export
earner, and has accounted for 18% of export earnings
between 2000 and 2010. On a global scale, Uganda
accounts for approximately 2.9% of coffee exports, and is
within the global top 10 exporting countries. 500,000
smallholder farmers produce coffee, while the sector
overall supports 3.5 million families through coffee related
activities.
Both Robusta and Arabica are produced in Uganda, with a
production ratio of approximately 75% Robusta to 25%
Arabica. While Uganda accounts for only a small
percentage of global coffee production, Uganda Robusta
has long been sought after for its particular flavour.
Additionally, the Arabica variety is gradually gaining
recognition in specialty markets.
Building on the results and lessons learnt from the
NTF II programme, the purpose of NTF III is to enhance the
export competitiveness of the coffee sector in Uganda,
leading to increased export revenues for coffee farmer
associations (FAs). NTF III consolidates results already
achieved under NTF II, and further aims to :
 Increase the value and/or volume of coffee
exports by the beneficiary FAs by 10%
 Increase the number of 4C certified farmers
 Enable 20 FAs to draft business plans so as to
gain access to finance for certification and export
business
Certified coffee is moving rapidly from a niche market to
mainstream consumption. Increasing imports of certified
coffee reflects an increased awareness of consumers and
roasters on coffee production procedures and conditions, and
highlights a trend towards purchasing coffee that has been
produced in an environmentally and socially friendly way.
ITC, in association with the Uganda Coffee Farmers Alliance
(UCFA), National Union of Coffee Agribusinesses, and Farm
Enterprises (NUCAFE), will jointly select and train farmer
associations wanting to adhere to the 4C (Common Code for
the Coffee Community) verification. Training workshops for the
selected farmer associations will include customised content
on business/export management and access to finance.
The service portfolio of the main coffee sector TSI, the Uganda
Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), will be enhanced to
include monitoring and evaluation, in addition to the provision
of improved market intelligence. Given that most of the coffee
produced in Uganda is exported, increased knowledge and
understanding of markets, trends, prices, buyers, etc. is
essential for a sector regulator. This output ultimately aims to
enable UCDA to assess the sector export potential and meet
the demand on the international coffee market .
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PROJECT OUTPUTS
In order to expand market linkages between producers and
potential international buyers, participation of the selected
farmer associations in trade fairs will be facilitated.
Participants will be trained in preparing for trade fairs, and
negotiating with potential buyers, through the use of ITC e-
learning modules. This will help to enhance knowledge and
good practices for effective participation in international
coffee trade, including awareness of key actions needed in
approaching buyers.
Time: 2014 - 2016
Budget: USD 300,000
OUTPUT 2: Capacity of Trade Support Institutions
(TSI) increased in providing services to export-
oriented firms in the coffee sector
OUTPUT 1: Export capacity of farmer associations
increased by facilitating 4C verification through
linkages to finance
OUTPUT 3: Business linkages between coffee
exporters and buyers created or expanded
‘Having good bankable business plans would
build confidence among financial institutions
to offer us loans. Once farmers get access to
finance, production and prices of graded
coffee will increase by 30%, and by
approximately 200% for ungraded coffee.’
Joseph Nkandu, Executive Director, National Union of Coffee
Agri businesses and Farm Enterprises (NUCAFE)
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