Research Study on Gender, Climate Change, and Coffee Production

Coffee is vital globally, sustaining 25 million producer families and over 100 million dependents. Despite increased coffee consumption, global production faces challenges such as extreme weather and diseases. Coffee is pivotal to the economy in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, significantly contributing to the export GDP. Climate change impacts coffee production through erratic rainfall, higher temperatures, and the spread of diseases, resulting in over 50% production losses in the region.

 

Women represent 70% of the coffee production workforce, yet their involvement in farm ownership is limited. Gender divisions in agricultural tasks perpetuate inequalities, with women focused on planting and harvesting while men exert more control over sales and profits. These dynamics affect the productivity and well-being of coffee-producing families.

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Our Approach: Our focus was on providing technical assistance and proposing a regional regulation (i.e., regional policies) on the gender issue in the coffee sector related to competitiveness and climate resilience in the context of TNC's work in the region. Beyond the proposed regulation, we aimed to share information and more concrete, in-depth recommendations. EarthEmpower conducted literature reviews and field research through interviews with key stakeholders and groups of producers (both men and women). We analyzed five policies and recommendation reports to compare suggestions and balance the intersectionality of climate change, gender, and competitiveness interests. We formulated a battery of recommended best practices, providing suggestions in the proposed regulation, recommendations for NGOs and other organizations, and specific guidance in the context of TNC and RESCA (Resilient Central America). Our recommendations aimed to foster competitive and climate-resilient Central American coffee value chains that are equitable for both men and women.

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Key Achievements

• Generated key intersectional information regarding gender gaps, coffee production, resilience, and adaptation to climate change.

• Developed a regional regulation focusing on gender for the competitiveness of agriculture in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.

• Produced a report with specific recommendations for different stakeholders, contributing to transformative solutions for gender-inclusive coffee agriculture in Central America