Agreement at World of Coffee San Diego focuses on data, regulation, and support for Africa’s coffee sector
San Diego — Qahwa World
Structured Cooperation Across Key Areas
The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration in several technical and strategic areas relevant to the evolving coffee landscape.
These include improving data collection and analysis, supporting compliance with regulatory developments such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), advancing research into climate resilience, and strengthening capacity along the coffee value chain.
While the agreement does not introduce binding commitments, it provides a basis for coordinated initiatives and information exchange between the two organisations.
Africa’s Position in Focus
The partnership also reflects a continued effort to better integrate African perspectives into global coffee discussions.
African producing countries play a significant role in global coffee supply, yet continue to face structural challenges, including exposure to climate risks, limited access to finance, and evolving market requirements.
Through closer institutional coordination, the ICO and IACO aim to support member countries in navigating these challenges and engaging more effectively with international frameworks.
Institutional Context
The International Coffee Organization, established in 1963, serves as an intergovernmental platform for cooperation between coffee-exporting and importing countries, with a focus on market transparency, sustainability, and sector development.
The Inter-African Coffee Organisation represents African coffee-producing nations and works to promote production, improve quality, and enhance the competitiveness of the region’s coffee sector.
The MoU reflects a continuation of engagement between the two bodies rather than a new institutional direction.
World of Coffee as a Meeting Point
World of Coffee, organised by the Specialty Coffee Association, provides a platform for industry stakeholders ranging from producers and exporters to roasters, researchers, and policymakers.
The San Diego edition highlights ongoing conversations around sustainability, regulation, and market dynamics, with a growing emphasis on coordination between producing and consuming regions.
Participants
- Vanusia Nogueira, Executive Director of the International Coffee Organization
- H.E. Ambassador Solomon Rutega, Secretary General of the Inter-African Coffee Organisation
- Claude Bizimana, Executive Chairman of the Inter-African Coffee Organisation
- Celestine Gataraiha, Director of Research and Development at the Inter-African Coffee Organisation
Analysis
Memoranda of understanding are a common instrument in international cooperation, often used to formalise intent and provide a structure for future collaboration rather than immediate operational change.
In this context, the ICO–IACO agreement can be seen as part of a broader pattern of institutional alignment within the coffee sector, particularly as regulatory and environmental pressures increase.
Its practical significance will depend on how the outlined areas of cooperation translate into concrete programmes and measurable outcomes over time.
