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HOW COFFEE FOR PEACE PROMOTES WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN THE BARMM

ByJoji Felicitas Pantoja

As the Chair and CEO of Coffee for Peace, Inc., I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of empowering women, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). In this historically conflict-affected region, our peacebuilding initiatives have intentionally placed women at the heart of economic, political, and social development. Through our inclusive value-chain approach to coffee farming, we have trained and equipped over 300 women across various Indigenous and Moro communities in BARMM. These women are not only becoming skilled agripreneurs and quality coffee producers, but also emerging as community leaders and peace advocates.

Coffee for Peace, in collaboration with PeaceBuilders Community, Inc., integrates gender justice into every level of our peacebuilding framework. We ensure that women have equal access to capacity-building programs such as post-harvest processing, coffee cupping, cooperative leadership, and digital financial literacy. These initiatives help amplify their voices in local governance, community-based decision-making, and interfaith dialogue.

By supporting women as active agents of transformation, we are also addressing systemic issues like poverty, land marginalization, and violent extremism. Our data indicates that in communities where women are economically empowered and socially engaged, household incomes increase by up to 40%, and incidents of localized violence decrease significantly.

As we continue to expand our peacebuilding footprint across Mindanao, we remain committed to gender-inclusive programming that fosters equity, dignity, and resilience—building a future where peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice for all, especially for the women who have long borne the brunt of war and marginalization.

Through strategic programs and partnerships, Coffee for Peace (CFP) actively promotes women’s empowerment in the following key areas:

1. Increasing Women’s Economic Opportunities

  • Capacity-Building in Coffee Production: CFP trains women in sustainable coffee farming methods, post-harvest processing, and quality control. These skills empower them to enhance the quality and marketability of their coffee, providing stable income streams for their families.
  • Women-Led Micro-Enterprises: CFP supports women-led coffee businesses, guiding them through business registration, marketing strategies, and access to capital. This strengthens their roles as economic contributors in their communities.
  • Fair Trade Partnerships: By linking Bangsamoro women coffee farmers to ethical coffee markets, CFP ensures they receive fair prices for their products. This improves household income, strengthens food security, and uplifts entire communities.

2. Promoting Women’s Participation in Political & Public Life

  • Women’s Peacebuilding Leadership Training: CFP trains women leaders in conflict transformation, mediation, and dialogue. These women now actively participate in local peace and security councils, advocating for women’s rights and inclusive development.
  • Empowering Women’s Voices in Policy Development: CFP collaborates with the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) to support gender-responsive policies that advance women’s participation in governance.

3. Innovating Gender-Sensitive Industrial Equipment

  • Ergonomic Coffee Processing Tools: CFP has invested in developing coffee roasting, grinding, and sorting equipment designed for women operators. By ensuring these tools are user-friendly and safe, CFP reduces workplace hazards and ensures women’s full participation in the coffee value chain.
  • Community-Based Innovation: CFP actively involves Bangsamoro women in co-designing processing tools that align with cultural values and promote sustainable practices.

4. Training Young Women to Become Entrepreneurs

  • Entrepreneurship Bootcamps: CFP conducts intensive training for young women to develop skills in coffee shop management, financial literacy, and social enterprise development.
  • Mentorship and Coaching: Through partnerships with successful women entrepreneurs, CFP provides personalized mentoring to help aspiring young women navigate challenges and launch successful enterprises.

Through these initiatives, Coffee for Peace integrates economic empowerment with peacebuilding values. By equipping women in BARMM with skills, resources, and leadership opportunities, we aim to foster a more just, inclusive, and peaceful society.

Empowering women is not just about providing opportunities — it’s about ensuring they are leaders, decision-makers, and vital contributors to the region’s growth and stability.

Mabuhay ang mga kababaihan sa Bangsamoro! Mabuhay ang kapayapaan!