Nairobi, 7 July 2026 – The Executive Programme in Coffee Innovation and Business has officially started, with its first module running from 7 to 9 July 2026 at the Coffee Research Institute (CRI) in Ruiru, Kenya. The programme received strong interest from the Kenyan coffee sector, with 25 companies selected to participate in this first edition.
The initiative is developed within the framework of the ACT Coffee Programme (Advancing Climate-Resilience and Transformation in African Coffee), implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). A flagship initiative of the Mattei Plan for Africa and the European Global Gateway, funded by Italian Cooperation, the ACT Coffee Programme brings together public institutions, development partners and the private sector in a single, coordinated framework to drive a structural transformation of Africa's coffee value chain. Starting from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi and designed to scale out across the continent, it strengthens climate resilience, encourages sustainable industrial development and enables greater local value creation from farm to export, while improving the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers and rural communities that sustain the sector.
The Executive Programme in Coffee Innovation and Business represents one of the key initiatives of the ACT Programme dedicated to human capital development, entrepreneurial strengthening, and innovation investment within the coffee value chain in East Africa.
The initiative is implemented by E4Impact Foundation as lead partner, in collaboration with Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan), illycaffè and Fondazione Ernesto Illy ETS, Alumni of the Master program in Coffee Economics and Science - Ernesto Illy, Lavazza, Slow Food, the Coffee Research Institute, and Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.
Strengthening skills, innovation and local value
In Kenya, the coffee sector employs approximately six million people and is characterized by fragmented production, price volatility, and challenges related to quality, compliance with international standards, and the impacts of climate change.
In this context, the Executive Programme in Coffee Innovation and Business aims to:
- strengthen managerial and entrepreneurial skills across the entire value chain;
- promote innovation and local transformation;
- enhance climate resilience of enterprises and cooperatives;
- facilitate market access and attract sustainable investments.
The programme supports coffee value chain operators in Kenya in building sustainable businesses, innovating product valorization, and engaging younger generations.
Programme structure
The programme is structured into three complementary modules:
- Module 1 – UPSTREAM: innovations in coffee production and processing;
- Module 2 – DOWNSTREAM: innovations in distribution, branding and marketing;
- Module 3 – PROJECT WORK: development of an individual project or business plan with dedicated mentoring and final presentation before a jury composed of partner representatives.
Overall, the programme includes 236 hours of activities:
- 156 hours of training (80 in-person, 26 synchronous, 50 asynchronous)
- 80 hours of individual mentoring
Each edition will involve approximately 20 participants, ensuring highly personalized support. The overall duration will be 8–10 weeks.
Statements
“With the Executive Programme in Coffee Innovation and Business, we invest in human capital as a strategic lever for the sustainable transformation of the coffee value chain. Strengthening entrepreneurial skills, innovation and climate resilience means creating local value, attracting investments and structurally improving the socio-economic conditions of producer communities.” stated Andrea De Marco, UNIDO Programme Manager and Partnership Advisor.
“This programme represents a concrete example of effective cooperation between institutions, universities, and businesses to strengthen a strategic value chain such as coffee, creating value in producing countries while promoting sustainable and inclusive development. As the E4Impact Foundation, we have been committed for years to supporting African entrepreneurship through training and innovation. It is a project I particularly value because, in my work at the European Parliament, I have paid close attention to the coffee sector, ensuring that European policies take into account the needs of producers, the sustainability of value chains, and the fair valorization of the product without placing undue burden on prices, businesses, and end consumers. Only through an integrated approach, combining international cooperation with forward-looking policies, we can ensure a more equitable and resilient future for the entire sector.” commented Letizia Moratti, President of the E4Impact Foundation.
Anna Illy, President of the Ernesto Illy Foundation ETS and Chief Ethical Officer of illycaffè, highlighted: “For the Ernesto Illy Foundation ETS and illycaffè, professional training and the dissemination of knowledge are fundamental pillars for fostering sustainability in coffee-producing countries. We firmly believe that investing in people and in their skills is the key to building a more equitable and responsible future across the entire coffee value chain. For this reason, we have chosen to concretely support the Executive Programme in Coffee Innovation & Business, confident that a high-level educational pathway, innovation, and collaboration among all actors of the value chain represent essential elements to achieve a sustainable and inclusive transformation of the sector. Supporting this initiative means believing in the value of skills, promoting local development, and generating positive impacts for coffee-producing communities.”
“Since 2017, Lavazza has been committed to training new generations seeking opportunities in the coffee sector, engaging over 700 young people across 20 countries over the years. The participation of the Lavazza Foundation in the Executive Programme in Coffee Innovation and Business represents a further confirmation of its commitment to investing in the future, promoting skills development and growth for coffee-producing communities.” these are the words of Veronica Rossi, Lavazza Foundation.
“Through strong coffee farmers’ cooperative societies and industry linkages, DeKUT enhances productivity, product diversification, and global competitiveness, positioning Kenya’s coffee value chain for innovation driven growth and long-term resilience. DeKUT is honoured to be partner in the Executive Programme in Coffee Innovation and Business.” stated Prof. Eddy E. Owaga – Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs and Research)
