The Coffee Farmer Income Resilience Program (CFIRP), launched in Kenya and Uganda by the IKEA Foundation and IDH, aims to address the daily challenges faced by coffee farmers and improve their livelihoods. The programme focuses on increasing income resilience by integrating sustainable farming practices, known as regenerative agriculture, with support services tailored to farmers’ needs.

Coffee farming is vital to many families in Kenya and Uganda but it remains a precarious livelihood. Farmers grapple with challenges like declining soil fertility, low yields due to pests such as coffee berry disease, outdated plant varieties, and inefficient use of inputs like fertilizers and pesticides. These issues are compounded by volatile coffee prices, negative income shocks from events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged droughts, making it difficult for farmers to recover their costs and sustain their farms.

CFIRP works to tackle these problems by equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools to adopt sustainable practices that restore soil health, boost yields, and diversify their income sources. By blending agricultural training, input access, financial support, and market connections, the programme helps farmers build resilience and secure a stable livelihood. At its core, CFIRP aims to ensure coffee farming remains a viable path to a better future for the 20,000 families it serves, safeguarding not just their incomes but their way of life.

Results

KIT Institute, in partnership with ETC Consulting, conducted a comprehensive mid-term evaluation of the CFIRP in Kenya and Uganda. This evaluation validated the programme’s theory of change and examined key outcomes, including production levels, income improvements, and diversification among beneficiary farmers. By analysing both quantitative and qualitative data, the evaluation provided actionable recommendations to enhance the programme’s effectiveness. These insights have been summarised in a mid-term report, which will guide the programme’s efforts to achieve lasting impact and prepare for the endline evaluation in 2025.