We recently released a blog detailing our 1% for the Planet Commitment. Through our blog, I plan dive deeper into one of the organizations we support through that movement: The Chain Collaborative. This incredible organization partners with local leaders in coffee-growing communities to drive community-led development initiatives. By investing in leadership, fostering project management skills, and providing first-time funding for grassroots initiatives, The Chain Collaborative empowers coffee communities to create lasting change.
Community Led Development
The Chain Collaborative takes a unique approach to development in coffee-growing regions by emphasizing local leadership and community-driven initiatives. Rather than imposing external solutions, they provide resources, training, and support to local leaders who understand their communities' needs best. Their grant program funds various projects, from agricultural improvement initiatives to education and environmental conservation efforts. The organization's emphasis on building local capacity and supporting grassroots leadership has led to more sustainable and effective development outcomes in coffee communities.
Going Deeper
The Chain Collaborative does their work through what they call their Community-Led Development Incubator Program. For 18 months, TCC partners with local leaders from coffee growing communities in Latin America and East/Central Africa to cultivate their project design and management skills while fostering the development of their farming and community enterprises. They, and we, believe sustainable change comes from within. That’s why The Chain Collaborative’s Community-Led Development Incubator is such a powerful program—it equips local leaders with the resources and support they need to design and implement solutions tailored to their communities’ unique challenges. Past projects have included training initiatives, infrastructure improvements, education programs, and gender equality initiatives.
Where does One Village fit in?
Through TCC, One Village Coffee financially supports the self-directed development of coffee-growing communities worldwide. We’re thrilled to contribute to The Chain Collaborative’s mission of empowering local leadership and fostering sustainability in the coffee sector.
Our 1% For the Planet commitment is currently supporting the next cohort of TCC's East & Central Africa Community-Led Development Incubator. The program cohort will onboard in April, and launch into phase one of the program, whereby they will take part in six months of collaborative learning and project design training. Each of the program participants, alongside their communities, will then design a project of their choosing based on their specific needs. Stay tuned for more updates as we share the program's participants for the year.
We are very excited to grow this new collaboration with The Chain Collaborative, and seeing all the projects that eventually come to life in East & Central Africa with our support.
