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The legacy of the Reclaim Sustainability! programme in Honduran coffee (2021-2025)

07 April 2026

Five years ago, Honduras’s coffee sector set out to prove that sustainability means more than yield and quality. A landmark gender policy, blockchain traceability and a growing network of international partnerships have since repositioned the country as a model for inclusive, market-connected coffee production. Farmers, women and young people are at the centre of this change.

In February 2021, a global initiative began with a clear mission: to advance genuine and inclusive sustainability. As this five-year cycle (2021-2025) comes to a close, we reflect on the impact of the Reclaim Sustainability! (RS) programme in the Honduran coffee sector. The initiative was implemented globally by Solidaridad in partnership with Fairfood, TrustAfrica and Business Watch Indonesia (BWI), with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

Over five years, Honduras has built a model of inclusive coffee production that is connected to global markets and backed by a strong network of partnerships and global learning. The country has progressed not only in quality but also in social justice, technological innovation and international positioning. Through digital innovation, policy dialogue and civic engagement, the programme contributed to positive results, helping to transform the sector.

Below, we highlight the milestones, partnerships and experiences that define the progress of the Honduran coffee sector during this period, marked by the strengthening of a model that integrates sustainable growth with a strong connection to global market demands and opportunities.

Public policy: a historic milestone in gender and inclusion

One of the most significant legacies of the RS programme has been the strengthening of coffee sector institutions to make them more inclusive, contributing to systemic change through institutional support. This commitment materialized on 18 February 2021, when the National Coffee Council (CONACAFE) approved the National Gender Policy for the Coffee Subsector, positioning Honduras as a global frontrunner in this area.

The RS programme recognized that a policy must go beyond paper. Therefore, it supported implementation through concrete actions to translate principles into practice, ensuring that inclusion became tangible rather than declarative.

  • Interinstitutional gender roundtable: A strategic platform brought together 14 institutions, including the Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), Rikolto, SOCODEVI, IWCA Honduras and AMUCAFE to coordinate concrete actions.
  • Territorial outreach: Policy guidelines were shared across six key producing regions: Santa Bárbara, Copán, Cortés, El Paraíso, Olancho and Montecillos, with technical staff and farmers trained on inclusion and access to resources.
  • Land access: At the first national Land Management Forum, stakeholders reached a key agreement to help women secure legal ownership of their land. This commitment led to the creation, in September 2025, of the Guide for the acquisition and management of property for coffee cultivation. The guide was developed by Solidaridad to address longstanding informality and provide a clear pathway for women and young people to formalize land ownership.

Global learning: exchange of experiences and South-South cooperation

The RS programme recognized that coffee sector challenges are global and that solutions are strengthened through shared experience. South-South learning connected Honduras with other leading coffee-producing countries.

  • Knowledge exchange with Colombia: In October 2022, together with IHCAFE and PROCAMBIO-GIZ, the programme led an exchange visit to Cauca. Women leaders from CAPUCAS, PROEXO, AMPROCAL and the Lempira Women’s Network explored successful models of association, commercialization and leadership, returning with strategies adapted to the Honduran context.
  • Connection with Ethiopia: The programme facilitated knowledge exchange with Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee. This engagement enabled dialogue on origin differentiation, climate resilience and value chain management across continents, enriching the strategic vision of Honduran producers.
  • National exchanges: Organizations such as AMPROCAL hosted women from AMUCAFE and Flor del Campo to share insights on microcredit and differentiated seals such as “Con Manos de Mujer.”

Innovation: traceability and regulatory compliance (EUDR)

The RS programme recognized that the future market is digital and regulated. It focused on preparing Honduran coffee to meet new international requirements and ensure continued access to European markets.

  • Traceable coffee: In partnership with Fairfood and using blockchain technology (TRACE tool), the programme marked a milestone in August 2022 by shipping the first 100% traceable container of Honduran coffee to Europe from the Capucas Cooperative. This technology makes it possible to track the bean’s history, identify who produced it and ensure payment transparency.
  • Preparing for the EUDR: Anticipating the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the programme prioritized education and commercial readiness. In key international forums, producers and exporters received strategic guidance on compliance requirements. The traceability pilot laid the operational foundation for validating bean origin, a key requirement for maintaining competitiveness and access to the European market.

Global positioning, events and media

The RS programme ensured Honduran coffee was present in major global forums, influencing agendas and opening markets.

The power of partnerships

The RS programme’s success was rooted in strong multi-stakeholder collaboration.

  • Public institutions: Close coordination with IHCAFE, CONACAFE and SAG ensured alignment with national policies.
  • Civil society and producer organizations: Collaboration with AMUCAFE (IWCA Honduras) was central to advancing the Gender Policy.
  • International cooperation: Partnerships with Swisscontact, GIZ, USAID and the Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung expanded outreach, particularly on youth engagement and communications initiatives like the Cafeína Catracha podcast.
  • Private sector and cooperatives: Implementing partners such as the Capucas Cooperative, Proexo and technology partners, including Fairfood, were essential to bringing innovation into practice.

Young people and women’s leadership

The RS programme leaves a tangible human legacy, recognizing the contributions of women and young people to sustainable development.

  • Generational renewal: In collaboration with AHPROCAFE, 52 producers’ sons and daughters completed a coffee farm management course. In addition, 16 young people received certified training in cupping and barista skills to strengthen quality control capacity.
  • Women’s leadership (Capucas case): Ten gender committees within coffee cooperatives strengthened their work plans aligned with the Gender Policy, enhanced leadership capacity and increased visibility of women’s contributions within their organizations. 

A future shaped by farmers’ voices

At the conclusion of its 2021-2025 cycle, the Reclaim Sustainability! programme leaves behind a stronger social and technological foundation and a more visible, connected coffee sector in Honduras. Its impact goes beyond traceable exports or approved policies. It helped change how the sector is perceived through strategic partnerships and improved access to European markets.

Today, Honduran coffee is defined not only by cup quality but also by robust policies, innovation and value chain transparency. Women coffee farmers now have policies that support them and tools to secure legal land ownership. Young people have platforms and role models to raise their voices. The sector is better prepared technologically to address climate and regulatory challenges.

While the programme concludes, the transformation continues, grounded in stronger foundations that support long-term sustainability.

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