Kinini
- First time cooperation: 2021
- Cooperation model: Indirect Trade
About
Kinini, meaning “this big thing right here,” is not just the name of a washing station but a symbol of an ambitious project. Located in the Northern Province, Kinini Washing Station serves 48 members from Tumba village, with 85% being women, demonstrating a strong commitment to gender equality in the coffee industry.
INSPIRING JOURNEY
Kinini Washing Station’s story begins with the dream of Jacquie Turner and Malcolm Clear. From building schools for children after the genocide, they expanded their vision to coffee to create lasting community impact. Despite initially lacking coffee knowledge, they spent years researching, consulting experts, and searching for ideal land, ultimately selecting a location one hour north of Kigali with elevations surpassing the famous Lake Kivu region.
UNIQUE MODEL
Launched in 2014, Kinini Washing Station created an unprecedented project structure. They signed “lease” agreements with local farmers, committing to provide seedlings, training, and organizational support. In return, farmers only needed to commit to delivering cherries to Kinini washing station. Malcolm used his life insurance policy as collateral for the Development Bank loan.
COFFEE INDUSTRY
Since 2000, the coffee industry has seen remarkable growth under President Paul Kagame’s leadership. From 0% in 2002, specialty coffee production reached 60% of total production by 2018. With washing stations in 26 out of 30 districts, coffee has become a significant agricultural commodity nationwide. Notably, 99% of production is exported, primarily to the US, Japan, and Europe.
VISION AND DEVELOPMENT
Kinini Washing Station is more than a conventional business project; it’s a comprehensive community development model. 10% of profits are directly invested in education and healthcare development projects. They focus not only on coffee quality but also on empowering farmers, especially women, through gender equality training programs.
WHY WE CHOOSE KININI
The partnership with Kinini Washing Station is not our first encounter. Since 2021, XLIII Coffee has had the opportunity to work with them and has always highly valued what Kinini washing station brings to the table. This renewed collaboration reaffirms our commitment to building a responsible and sustainable coffee value chain. Their unique model of farmer support, focus on gender equality, and community development perfectly aligns with XLIII Coffee’s core values.
Notably, their excellent coffee quality scoring 87 points in their first production year demonstrates the project’s immense potential. Through collaboration with Kinini Washing Station, XLIII Coffee not only accesses high-quality coffee but also contributes to the sustainable development of this East Africa’s coffee community.
