Because most women are marginalized and face unequal access to opportunities, leadership is so important. It empowers and challenges inequality as it provides them with a platform to voice out their concerns and societal norms, pushing for policies that promote gender equality.
Winnifred Kwala, the founder of Kooki Coffee is among the 22 Ugandan rural women that were selected by UNYFA and the German Association of rural women (dlv) to participate in the prestigious International Exchange Programme. She hails from Rakai District in the Greater Masaka region.
You recently participated in the international rural women exchange programme, what were some of the key Lessons from the study tour?
From the exchange study tour, some of the key take lessons I learnt include, the need to incorporate the aspect of succession in most agribusiness ventures as family businesses. For the success of agribusiness ventures, there is need for carrying out proper market analysis to reduce on some of the risks associated with marketing and prices, the need for contract marketing and farming.
Diversification of ventures is quite important. Lastly, even with minimal space different agribusiness ventures can be carried out properly. From the WoFAK in Embu County, I learnt the need to have structures, in any organization as these help to organize frameworks of operations and creating partnerships.
How did the recently concluded follow up workshop impact you?
As a social enterprise just like Kooki Coffee, focus should not only be about fundraising of money, but also the tangible impact that is created within the society. And with the process of setting up a product for success, three things should be considered and that is;
a) the product itself, focusing on the (inputs used, the cost incurred, the environment and the skills needed).
b) the marketing focusing on the relevant pricing, competition and the unique selling point.
c) the finances focusing more on the costs of production and available resources.
Why do you think Leadership is important to the women?
Because most women are marginalized and face unequal access to opportunities, leadership is so important. It empowers and challenges inequality as it provides them with a platform to voice out their concerns and societal norms, pushing for policies that promote gender equality.
Leadership is also important in the women perspective as it inspires and provides mentors for the future as leadership roles act as role models for the future generation.
When women are empowered, there is fueled economic growth and resilience as women advocate for policies that support other women, creating different opportunities that help in navigating some of the challenges that they face like conflicts and poverty.
While in Kenya you were clad in a Masai mara attire, how significant was the exchange in terms of culture and networking?
Being clad in the masai attire, I was amazed embracing the beauty of the masai culture.
The significance in the exchange in terms of culture and networking, was that it fostered cultural awareness, breaking stereotypes, deepening the diversity of customs. This also promoted inclusivity, showing respect for cultural diversity
You’re into value addition how do you intend to implement your transfer idea project with the start-up capital you received from dlv?
With the support from the German Association of rural women (dlv), I intend to implement my transfer idea “Empower Her Coffee Initiative.” Firstly, by mobilizing key beneficiaries, where a call for applications will be put out and key selected beneficiaries will be identified on the criteria of teenage mothers interested in coffee value addition and stake holder engagement, partnering with local leaders, coffee experts, and coffee cooperatives.
This will be followed by the real implementation where the selected partners will be skilled and trained in the different agribusiness ventures, along the coffee value chain straight from coffee nursery be establishment, up to coffee value addition (post-harvest handling, coffee grading, packaging and branding). With these, business management and entrepreneurship skills will be incorporated into the training.
Additionally, market development and branding leveraging on Kooki Coffee, existing networks to market products both locally and internationally. Establishing clear indicators to track progress and evaluation of impact on the participants and the community introducing story telling marketing.