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principles of gender equality can sign up as change agents
and receive further support through training and household
visits. Change agents assume a strong role within their
community by sharing their own experiences and sensitizing
fellow communitymembers.
Since its inception, more than 17,000 households in Uganda
have taken part in HRNS’ gender household approach.
Feedback from participants is promising and independent
studies show that impact is positive. Couples report that they
decide jointly on how the income from coffee is spent and
increasingly collaborate in the division of household tasks.
During the Couple Seminar, participants learn the benefits of
communicating transparently about their income, as well as
of having equal control over the proceeds from coffee. As a
result, couplesbudget for their incomesaccordinglyand since
there is no side-selling of unripe cherries, their incomes have
increased and the families aremore stable.
The impacts of the gender household approach have
trickled down into all aspects of a family’s daily life. Due to
better cooperation on household tasks women’s workload
has significantly reduced and their participation in trainings
increased. Through the trainings, women have acquired
crucial know-how on coffee production, which has resulted
into amore productivity andbetter quality of the coffee.
Thishas subsequently led toenhancedperformanceof farmer
organizations through increased bulk sales as well as the
overall family’s income andbetter livelihood.
Due to better cooperation and joint decision-making on
household income, families are more likely to re-invest in
long-termcommonobjectives, suchas theeducationof their
children or building a new shed to store their harvests. They
can also opt to hire additional labour to help them on the
farm.
In conclusion, raising women’s stake in coffee production
and decision making has proven effective in improving
livelihoods and making coffee farming a lucrative and long-
termbusiness that benefits all householdmembers and thus
a sustainableway of ensuring tomorrow’s cupof coffee.
During theCoupleSeminar,
participants learn thebenefits
of communicating transparently
about their income, aswell as
of havingequal control over the
proceeds from coffee.
