International Coffee Partners (ICP) – comprising Delta Cafés of  Portugal, Franck of Croatia, Joh. Johannson Kaffe of Norway, Lavazza of Italy, Lö  ergs of Sweden, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe of Germany, and Tchibo of Germany – celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. In 2001, during the devastating coffee crisis, a group of dedicated European coffee companies decided to cooperate pre-competitively to support resilient coffee farming and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farming families. In the past 25 years, the six ICP shareholders have invested 25 million Euros in ICP activities mobilising additional resources from donor organisations and other partners for fostering effective solutions that lead to meaningful change.

Years of Meaningful Change

In 2026, ICP is marking 25 years of continuous support for smallholder farming families and communities. Back in 2001, ICP has embarked on a continuous learning journey with its project work based on the realities of smallholder farmers with all their complexities and needs. The idea is to understand the farmers’ perspectives, meet their expectations, and encourage their ownership. This led to the development of a holistic approach in which ICP focuses its activities not only on productivity and quality of coffee but truly emphasises the comprehensive livelihood situation of smallholder families addressing family business, farmer organisations, climate resilience, youth engagement, gender equity and equal participation of women and men in decision making.

“Our partnership has invested 25 million Euros in ICP activities in the past 25 years promoting meaningful change”, says Rui Miguel Nabeiro, chair of the Steering Committee of International Coffee Partners. “Making coffee farming resilient and securing a more prosperous future for farmer families and communities are issues we all need to work on together. It was and it is clear to us that by bundling know-how and resources among us and with farmer communities we can achieve more.”

Back in 1999, Michael R. Neumann began working towards a joint development initiative, which lead to the foundation of ICP in 2001. The basis was responsible family entrepreneurship on the part of the European shareholders, with the aggregation of each individual shareholder’s sustainability efforts into one package offering clear advantages.

“It is impressive to realise that its entrepreneurial and ethical approach bore fruit for 25 years in 2026. This exemplifies how consistent and collaborative efforts can lead to meaningful holistic change for the benefit of our partners, the smallholder coffee farming communities in Africa and many other countries”, says Michael R. Neumann.

Impact on the Ground: Improved Coffee Farming and Livelihoods

Since 2001, more than 125,700 farming families have been engaged in ICP projects in 13 coffee producing countries. Sustainable agricultural practices and diversified production systems at the farm level have supported smallholder families to improve coffee farming. Tools and practices to support adaptation have enhanced the resilience of farming families in the face of changing climate conditions. Smallholder farmers have been supported in growing additional crops to diversify their production for their own food security and to successfully market their products to generate additional family income, and improve their livelihoods.

“Over the past decade, ICP projects in the Amhara Regional State have pioneered an integrated approach that goes beyond supporting smallholder coffee production. By combining climate-smart coffee production practices, strengthened cooperative governance, youth empowerment, and the Gender Household Approach, the projects have contributed to building more resilient and sustainable smallholder coffee-farming households and communities.”- Rahel Adugna, Co-Country Manger, Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung Ethiopia

To this end, working towards establishing and professionalising farmer organisations and cooperatives has turned out crucial as they provide member farmers access to relevant services and competitive markets. Since 2001, ICP has worked with more than 2,700 farmer organisations across its project regions, supporting the establishment of new organisations and the further development of existing ones.