The Muungano Coffee Cooperative (La Cooperative de cafe Muungano) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on the slopes above Lake Kivu, was founded in 2009 with 350 founding members who perfectly capture the meaning of the Swahili word, “muungano”, or togetherness. Through this cooperative, members from diverse communities unite to rebuild and restore regions once fractured by civil conflict. The area’s high altitude, rich soil, and climate offer perfect conditions for cultivating Arabica coffee.

Despite the many challenges faced by coffee producers in the DRC, the cooperative’s members are committed not only to producing high-quality coffee, but also to improving community well-being by advancing gender equity and fostering economic stability through reinvestment in their communities.

We began partnering with Muungano in 2014 and have since invested in several relief projects, from Covid relief packages, to financial aid following a devastating landslide in 2024.