Project 1

Overview:

The Coffee Market Building for Peace and Prosperity project aligned with Rwanda’s national strategies and leveraged the Challenges Group’s expertise in market-driven, systemic approaches to address key value chain barriers. The project focused on improving the quantity and quality of coffee, building a resilient market system, and supporting community economic growth.

In partnership with Enactus and Matthew Algie Coffee, the initiative engaged cooperatives to boost performance, improve coffee quality, and strengthen livelihoods. Rooted in Rwanda’s powerful story of resilience, coffee has played a critical role in post-crisis recovery, community healing, and national economic development.

This initiative aimed to unlock the untapped potential of Rwanda’s coffee sector by promoting sustainable social, environmental, and economic benefits for rural communities.

• The quantity of coffee exported increased from 309360kilograms to 364380kilograms with the average export price increasing from 3.5$/kilogram to 5$/kilogram
• 37 youth led SMEs were formed within the coffee cooperative communities (Nyamagabe, Rusizi, Gisagara, Muhanga, Karongi, and Rutsiro)

My responsibilities included

Conducting baseline data collection, Bi-annual data gathering for monitoring, Developing case studies, Performing mid-term assessments, and Leading endline evaluations

We conducted a baseline study, constructed cooperative- and SME-specific case studies, mapped opportunities for climate resilience integration, and tracked training effectiveness.

Techniques Used

Process tracing tests, SWOT Analysis, PESTLE Analysis, Process Mapping, Desk Review, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Observations, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Progress Monitoring Tools, Outcome Mapping, Case Studies, Theory of Change Review, and Pre-post comparison

• Data Analysis: Carried out qualitative and quantitative analysis using tools like Excel and MAXQDA to compile insights that informed project design and adjustments at baseline, midterm, and endline stages.

• Descriptive and Diagnostic: Identified initial cooperative needs in terms of capacity, resources, and infrastructure.
• Formative and Adaptive: Evaluated mid-project progress to identify effective elements and areas needing improvement for real-time course correction.
• Summative and Accountability-driven: Assessed the overall impact, efficiency, and sustainability to inform future programming.

Change & Adaptive Management Responses

• Applied for the Climate Justice Fund to meet the climate resilience needs of coffee cooperatives. With the fund, 6 waste water treatments were constructed and drying metals for 5 cooperatives along with the cost benefit analysis findings that informed the scaling. 
• Designed a revolving fund tailored to youth entrepreneurship support whereby 37 youth benefited and started businesses.
• Promoted innovation in the coffee value chain, including coffee tourism and youth-led handicraft initiatives

• Management Training Impact Assessment
• End-term Evaluation Report
• Sample Case Study