About Abakundakawa
“Abakundakawa” means “those who love coffee” in Kinyarwanda.
Our Mission
To contribute to the socio-economic development of our members by producing high-quality and high-quantity coffee, adding value at every stage, and securing strong market access.
Our Vision
To be a leading cooperative in Rwanda—recognized globally for producing, processing, and exporting premium specialty coffee.
Our Objective
To promote sustainable coffee production that consistently meets market demands and strengthens farmer livelihoods.
A Cooperative Built on Trust
Located in Rwanda's Northern Province, our cooperative was born from a simple but powerful idea: farmers working together achieve more.
Abakundakawa means ‘ coffee lovers” born in 1999 as association of 100 coffee growers. During this period, farmers were struggling to get a market as they were working at individual basis. To solve that issue, they decided to join efforts and established a group of farmers with aim of accessing the market collectively. In 2004 the cooperative was legally registered under the Rwandan Law.
In 2021 the cooperative sources the coffee from 2272 cooperative members and 3,800 non-members in the vicinity which makes it a total of 6,072 farmers that are benefiting from the cooperatives. All the cherries are processed from both Minazi and Rushashi coffee washing stations both owned by the cooperative. The coffee washing stations have the capacity of processing 1800 Tonnes of cherries. In the beginning the production was too low, around one container but now the yearly average production is 11 containers of green coffee .The main market of our coffee is USA and Europe.
Abakundakawa serves as a prime example of how Rwandan cooperatives can become sustainable by constantly improving quality and operating sustainably. The cooperative is member of MISOZI, a local private but social exporting business. With the help of Misozi they are able to sell their unforgettably complex coffees worldwide - it’s no surprise that they frequently earn a place in the Rwanda Cup of Excellence competition (highest: 3dplace!)
Our Core Values
Professionalism
We uphold high standards of integrity, accountability, and excellence in every aspect of our coffee production and cooperative activities. Through discipline, transparency, and commitment to quality, we ensure that our members and partners receive reliable and professional services.
Teamwork
We believe in the power of unity and collaboration. By working together as farmers, leaders, and partners, we strengthen our cooperative, support one another, and achieve shared success for our community and the coffee industry.
Innovation
We embrace new ideas, modern farming practices, and value-added solutions to improve coffee quality, increase productivity, and expand market opportunities. Innovation drives our growth and helps us remain competitive in the global coffee market.
A History of Growth
Founded by 120 founding farmers in Gakenke District
First export to European specialty coffee market
Want to Learn More or Partner With Us?
We're always open to conversations with buyers, partners, and coffee enthusiasts.