Author: @christophe

The FAF holds a “Mini-Forum for Coffee Exporting leaders” at SCA

May 31, 2018 @christophe No Comments
SCA

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The Fairtrade Access Fund (FAF), managed by Incofin Investment Management (Incofin IM), held a “Mini-Forum for Coffee Exporting leaders” at the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), a half day seminar for its agricultural division clients. The Mini-Forum aimed at expanding the clients´ knowledge on some of the most important cross-cutting topics in smallholder agriculture today.

The FAF holds a “Mini-Forum for Coffee Exporting leaders” at SCA

The Fairtrade Access Fund (FAF), managed by Incofin Investment Management (Incofin IM), held a “Mini-Forum for Coffee Exporting leaders” at the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), a half day seminar for its agricultural division clients. The Mini-Forum aimed at expanding the clients´ knowledge on some of the most important cross-cutting topics in smallholder agriculture today.

Every year, more than 10,000 people descend upon the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) annual conference. Among them, exporters, importers, wholesalers, retailers, and many more actors participating in the specialty coffee value chain. The SCA conference is a chance for coffee buyers and exporters to negotiate terms for the upcoming harvest, get up to date on market trends, and meet with old and new industry actors. “It is the best opportunity to close deals with our buyers, and see what´s happening in the world of coffee”, said Paul Quezada, General Manager of Villa Rica Golden Coffee in Peru.

SCA

At this year’s conference in Seattle, WA, Incofin hosted a half-day “Mini-Forum for Coffee Exporting Leaders”, comprising seminars for 15 of its agricultural division clients (FAF and agRIF funds), including Coffee Cooperatives and sustainably focused Coffee SMEs from several Latin American countries. The Mini-Forum, sponsored by the Technical Assistance Facility of FAF, aimed at expanding our clients´ knowledge by presenting interactive perspectives from experts like Jorge Cuevas, Chief Coffee Trader at Sustainable Harvest, Rene Capote, Product Manager for Coffee at Fair Trade International, and Stacy Bocskor, Business Development Manager, North America at Utz/Rainforest Alliance. The forum also featured Mark Lundy, Senior Researched for CIAT and FAF Investment Committee Chair, for his expertise on Coffee and Climate Change. Finally, Eduardo Gustale from Fundación Paraguaya´s Poverty Spotlight Program addressed the topic of how poverty reduction can be actively targeted by our coffee exporting cooperatives and sustainably minded coffee SMEs. The event brought our clients together in a friendly atmosphere for learning, discussion, and sharing — with each other and the Incofin team.

“We very much valued participating at this mini-forum, as it gives us the chance not only to stay updated on our industry, but also to meet other exporters and learn from them.” – Juan Francisco Gonzalez, General Manager of Federación Comercializadora de Café Especial de Guatemala.

These seminars and panels ultimately provided a vibrant environment for our clients to learn, discuss and share with each other, key industry stakeholders and the Incofin team.

Kfw invests additional tranche in FAF

January 8, 2018 @christophe No Comments
KfW

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KfW, a founding shareholder of the FAF, invests an additional tranche in the fund. Impact investment manager Incofin IM announced two of its funds under advice, Fairtrade Access Fund (FAF) and FPM will both benefit from a capital contribution of 3.5m USD and 3m USD respectively, from the German Development Bank, KfW.

KfW invests additional tranche in FAF

KfW, a founding shareholder of the FAF, invests an additional tranche in the fund. Impact investment manager Incofin IM announced two of its funds under advice, Fairtrade Access Fund (FAF) and FPM will both benefit from a capital contribution of 3.5m USD and 3m USD respectively, from the German Development Bank, KfW.

KfW is a founding shareholder of the FAF, with the additional investment boosting the fund’s ambition to continue to be the best performing self-sustainable agro-focussed fund, generating both tangible impact and returns for its stakeholders. The FAF is an evergreen fund (currently open for investment) and aims to contribute to the development of a fair and sustainable agriculture sector. It addresses the financial and technical assistance needs of smallholder farmers by bridging the gap in working capital and providing long term financing.

The investment in FPM by KfW will support FPM’s objective to provide medium-term credit lines to financial institutions in the DRC. These lines of credit will then be used by the financial institutions to finance micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in DRC. FPM targets sustainable and well-governed financial institutions including microfinance institutions, cooperative savings organisations and commercial banks serving MSMEs. By supporting the development of an inclusive financial system in the DRC, FPM will play a role in poverty reduction, job creation and sustainable economic development.

About KfW

KfW is one of the world´s leading and most experienced promotional banks. Established in 1948 as a public law institution, KfW is owned 80 per cent by the Federal Republic of Germany and 20 per cent by the federal states (“Länder”).

KfW Development Bank is Germany’s leading development bank and an integral part of KfW. It carries out Germany´s Financial Cooperation (FC) with developing countries on behalf of the Federal Government. The 600 personnel at headquarters and 370 specialists in its 68 local offices cooperate with partners all over the world. Its goal is to combat poverty, secure the peace, protect the environment and the climate and make globalisation fair. KfW is a competent and strategic advisor on current development issues.

About Incofin IM

Incofin Investment Management (www.incofin.com) manages impact investment funds and is a global leader in rural and agricultural finance. It is an AIFM licensed fund manager, advising and managing 850m USD of assets. It is headquartered in Belgium and has a network of 4 regional offices and representations. It has a team of 45 experienced staff with in-depth knowledge of rural finance and private equity.