With a new member in our team, of course, we couldn’t pass up the chance to chat with her and learn more! Keep reading for our interview with Marie. Marie: ´Agriculture has always been a big part of my journey. I started my studies in agricultural economics and rural development at ESA/INPHB in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire. Later, I continued at BFH/HAFL in Switzerland, where I gained a broader perspective on global agricultural supply chains, value chains, and sustainability. I’ve had the chance to work on exciting projects in both Côte d’Ivoire and Switzerland, mainly in the cocoa sector. My focus has been on market analysis, project coordination, and research to help make agriculture more sustainable. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to supporting smallholder farmers and creating better opportunities for them. Excited to Be Part of Progreso Joining Progreso feels like the perfect fit, as it combines my passion for

Iris brings a wealth of experience in international economics, sustainability, and social impact to her role as Program Director for Equity Action at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). With a Master’s degree in International Economics, Iris has dedicated her career to improving lives through strategic partnerships, innovation, and creating inclusive solutions. Her journey began at Rabobank Foundation, where she managed a program portfolio aimed at supporting farmer organizations and microfinance institutions in Asia. Her work laid the foundation for her commitment to sustainable development and social impact. Iris later joined IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, where she served as the Global Director for Innovation & Insights and as a member of the Management Team. At IDH, she played a pivotal role in driving forward critical innovations, particularly in the areas of Living Income, Living Wages, Inclusive Business Models, Gender Equity, and integrating the Climate and Social Agendas

Join us in the exciting role of managing Progreso Fund and be part of our mission to facilitate impactful finance for “the missing middle” smallholder coffee & cocoa farmer organizations.  Location: Amsterdam/Hybrid Start: Immediate Hours: 24 hours contract Language: Dutch and English (Spanish and French are a plus) About Progreso Progreso is a Foundation (25+ years) strengthening coffee and cocoa producer organizations to become professional businesses. We focus on sustainable production, access to markets, and access to finance. Progreso is active in seven key countries of origin in Latin America, Africa & Asia with 20 experts on the ground. Progreso is well supported by a variety of donors allowing us to expand our activities. The strategy evolves around 3 interlinked pillars which strengthen each other in a unique proposition that we offer to producer organizations:  Progreso Fund Progreso Fund is providing small-scale pre-export financing for coffee & cocoa smallholder organizations.

We are pleased to welcome a new colleague, Phiona Nakusi to the Progreso team, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge from nearly two decades in the coffee industry.

MECAHC, one of our partners in Uganda, has secured a substantial loan of USD 200,000 from Root Capital. This critical financial boost allows them to strengthen their business, expand their reach, and maintain their independence. It’s a milestone that reflects MECAHC’s growing capacity and resilience in the competitive coffee market, and it highlights how Progreso’s support can open doors to larger financing opportunities. 

In September 2024, Progreso Foundation, Rabo Foundation, and Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) visited Koperasi Kopi Lintong Humbang Hasundutan in North Sumatra to monitor the cooperative's progress. The team included representatives from Progreso, Rabo Foundation, and LDC, including program managers and agronomists.

Earlier this month, a key visit took place to three coffee cooperatives in Eastern Uganda—MEACCE, MECAHC, and Bushika—by Anne Rappoldt (Program Manager Africa at Rabo Foundation), Imke Straaten (Program Manager Africa at Progreso Foundation), and Janet Maate (Project Manager Uganda at Progreso Foundation). These cooperatives are great examples of how targeted support and collaboration can significantly boost the coffee sector in Uganda.

From September 8th to 21st, Progreso’s Federica Marra - Senior Product Owner at Beyco - and Natan Yao - Progreso’s Project Manager for Cote d’ Ivoire - travelled from west to east across Cote d’ Ivoire, exploring cocoa plantations and meeting dedicated producers and innovative technologies along the way. 

Progreso está contratando un Asesor Comercial – Nicaragua.  Tienes sólidas habilidades para el análisis comercial y financiero de organizaciones de productores; demostraste capacidad técnica para el desarrollo de proyectos; te apasionan las iniciativas con productores de café y cacao, microfinanzas, agroforestería y conservación. ¡Este puesto es para ti! Como parte del equipo, usted reportará al Country Manager Nicaragua y al Coordinador de Programa en Latinoamérica. El candidato/a seleccionado será un punto de referencia para las operaciones en el país y punto de contacto para nuestros equipos y socios, ayudará en la mejora de los diseños de proyectos y la gestión del equipo.  Para la descripción completa, por favor dirígense aquí

Over the past months and as a part of their Final Master Thesis students from the Master in Big Data & Analytics at EAE Business School Barcelona have collaborated with the Netherland-based NGO, Progreso and Beyco, a blockchain coffee trading platform, to conduct and analysis of the overlaps between Progreso´s Colombian coffee plots and deforestation areas under the EU Regulations. The research project examines the overlap between Progreso-supported coffee farming regions and deforestation areas, particularly in Colombia, in response to the EU Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR). As part of their research, the students have developed a geospatial data analysis framework to identify these overlaps. Colombia was chosen due to its significant data availability on deforestation and coffee farming, provided by Progreso. This enables thorough analysis and robust conclusions. The framework aims for scalability, helping Progreso proactively assess environmental risks across its network using satellite imagery and geospatial data. According