Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung - HRNS

🌱 How can smallholder farmers build resilience in the face of climate change? The Globo Rural news story, featuring the participation of Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung do Brasil, highlights some of the work we have been doing alongside coffee producers to adapt agricultural systems to increasingly frequent and intense climate events.☀️🌧️ 👨🌾 Meet Sebastiao de Lima Bento, a coffee farmer in São Francisco de Paula, Minas Gerais. Born into coffee farming, he began with 2,200 trees and has expanded to 20,000 today. However, like many smallholders, he is balancing additional work outside agriculture to maintain financial stability. Through the initiative for coffee&climate (c&c), Sebastiao adopted tailored practices like improving soil health, reducing agrochemical use, and promoting biodiversity. The result? Better coffee, lower costs, and a healthier environment. 🌎 At HRNS, we believe in collaboration. Together with farmers like Sebastiao, we co-create solutions that work for their specific needs.💚 By promoting crop diversification, agroecological practices, and sustainable land management, our initiatives support farmers in building more climate-resilient and inclusive production systems especially within family farming contexts. 🎥 Watch the full story here (in portuguese): https://lnkd.in/esWwRvNn #ClimateResilience #SmallholderFarming #Agroecology #SustainableAgriculture #CoffeeAndClimate #HRNSBrasil #FamilyFarming #CoffeeFarmers #SoilHealth #Biodiversity #MinasGerais #GloboRural #CaféSustentável ☕🌾🌎

📦 Higher Returns, New Financing Models, and Lessons for Growth The SEROJA Cooperative in Indonesia successfully completed its first direct coffee export, sending 8.1 tons of green beans to an exporter in Bandar Lampung. This shipment represents not only a financial success, but a proof of concept for how farmer organizations can enter export markets with professionalism, strategic planning, and innovative financing. 📊 Export Highlights: • Two quality grades shipped: 6.7 tons high-grade, 1.4 tons lower-grade • Yields of 83.2% and 87% respectively • Net revenue: Rp 572 million (~USD 35,700) • Selling price: ~USD 4.40/kg, exceeding local market by USD 0.40 • 8.1% ROI delivered to financing partners 💡 Key Enablers: Due to limited cash flow, SEROJA used a consignment-based financing model: 🔁 Cooperative members and external partners provided green beans as working capital 💼 The co-op earned a fixed service fee per transaction 💸 ROI was shared post-sale, spreading both opportunity and risk 🛠 Practical Takeaways for Cooperatives and Implementers: ✅ Start export readiness early: from documentation (keur) to quality protocols and legal support ✅ Track yields and pricing closely to build negotiation power and member trust ✅ Use flexible finance models like consignment to unlock growth without bank loans ✅ Maintain transparent pricing structures to ensure member satisfaction and loyalty This achievement is the result of long-term capacity building and partnership with The J.M. Smucker Co. and HRNS Indonesia, offering legal, operational, and business mentorship to farmer-led organizations. As SEROJA’s treasurer Yusuf shared: “It was our first time selling directly to an exporter. I was nervous, but our members are happy with the price and we’re already planning the next round with better quality and more volume.” 📈 A strong foundation has been laid. The next step: scaling sustainably. #HRNSIndonesia #CoffeeExport #SEROJA #InclusiveTrade #FarmerCooperatives #AgriFinance #SupplyChainDevelopment #SustainableAgriculture #PracticalInsights #CooperativeGrowth

🌟When people come together to believe in the potential of youth, entire futures can change.🙌 That spirit drives the work of Donya Golafshan, a founding member of MUT Academy, an initiative we proudly support at Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung (HRNS) through our local engagement in Northern Germany. Donya has now been nominated for the Goldene BILD der FRAU Award for her outstanding contribution to social change in Hamburg. She supports young people facing systemic disadvantages as they transition from school to life after graduation, offering coaching, mentorship, and the confidence to build their own paths. 📣 You can help honor her work. Vote for Donya today: 👉 https://ow.ly/eUv950Wl1oX At HRNS, our commitment to youth empowerment doesn’t stop with coffee-growing communities around the globe. We also invest in local solutions, supporting educational and social initiatives across Northern Germany that give youth a fair start, no matter their background. 🏙️ Learn more about our local engagement: https://ow.ly/pH4O50Wl1p1 Donya’s nomination is not just a personal achievement, it reflects the power of community, mentorship, and the belief that everyone deserves a chance to thrive. Let’s make her voice and the voices of the youth she supports even louder. 🗳️ Cast your vote today. Copyright: dirk schmidt photography / Bild der Frau #VoteForDonya #MutAcademy #HRNSNorthernGermany #YouthEmpowerment #SocialImpact #BildungFürAlle #HamburgInitiatives #GoldeneBildDerFrau #SupportChangemakers

🌱 Driving Change at Home: The HRNS Gender Household Approach in Ethiopia At HRNS, we believe that sustainable agriculture doesn’t start in the fields, it starts at home. That’s why we integrate the Gender Household Approach (GHA) across our programs: a method that empowers couples to plan, farm, save, and grow together. GHA is not a standalone initiative, it’s deeply embedded in our projects like EU Yayu DeSIRA and International Climate Initiative in Ethiopia’s Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve, where it is already creating lasting change: 📍 In the IKI project (last month alone): 🔹 500+ couples trained on gender equity, climate-smart agriculture & financial planning 🔹 370 joint bank accounts opened 🔹 Over 546,000 ETB saved during training 🔹 Couples are now leading climate-resilient change in their communities 📍 In the EU Yayu DeSIRA project: 🔹 1,550 couples participated in gender seminars 🔹 1,062 trained as local change agents 🔹 890 joint accounts opened with over 1.2 million ETB saved 🔹 Women earned over 4 million ETB and saved 1.3 million ETB through coffee value chains 🔹 Women's participation in extension services and climate initiatives grew significantly Beyond numbers, GHA shifts mindsets: it promotes joint decision-making, shared responsibilities, and transparent farming practices. It tackles long-standing gender inequalities and brings real, measurable results: ✅ Empowered women ✅ Resilient, climate-smart households ✅ Inclusive, productive farming communities We’re proud of what’s been achieved and even more excited about what’s ahead. #GHAforChange #GenderEquality #SustainableCoffeeFarming #HRNSEthiopia #DeSIRA #IKI #YayuBiosphere #CoffeeForFuture #EuropeanUnion #Agroecology #InclusiveDevelopment

🌿 From youth leadership in Ethiopia and Hamburg to climate-smart farming in Tanzania and women's water committees in Uganda – our new edition of the "Muddy Boots" newsletter is packed with stories of local change and global relevance. Examples? How do we measure impact beyond numbers? What drives a young data expert in Tanzania? Why mangroves matter more than ever? Curious? Dive in and see how people around the world are growing change! ⬇️  

Creating Space for Youth - Local Projects That Inspire 🌟 Did you know that we're part of the “Hamburger Spielräume” (Hamburg spaces to play and grow) fund? 🫶 It's a collaborative effort that shows how small grants can create meaningful change for children and young people in Northern Germany. Since 2020, this fund has supported 875 projects and reached more than 50,000 young people! Many of these initiatives are grassroots-driven, run by volunteers or small teams full of dedication and innovative ideas.💪 With strong and professional coordination by BürgerStiftung Hamburg, the fund enables foundations like ours to engage in targeted microfunding that reaches local neighborhoods with limited resources but a strong sense of community. Fostering creativity, participation, and social connection and giving young people the chance to grow in confidence and feel truly acknowledged. During the recent 5-year anniversary gathering, the message was clear: we need more spaces where youth can grow, express themselves, and build community. That’s why we’re committed to continuing our support, with the shared goal of reaching 10,000 young people every year. 💚 A big thank-you to our fellow partner foundations and all the people making this possible and creating new possibilities. 🤝 #HRNS #HamburgerSpielräume #YouthInHamburg #Microfunding #GrassrootsSupport #CommunityMatters #ZukunftGestalten #StiftungenWirken #HHST25 #HamburgFoundationDays

🌱 How Youth in Tanzania Are Transforming Coffee Farming ☕💼 What is possible when young people receive the right support? 2023 seven members of the Igale Youth Group joined the SAfA Tanzania project and trained with Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung - HRNS (HRNS), turning a shared vision into a real business. ✔ Raised 5M TZS (~1,927 USD) ✔ Built a Coffee Processing Unit (CPU) on land donated by their chairperson ✔ Launched operations in May 2025 ✔ Collected 10,443 kg of coffee cherry so far ✔ Borrowed 7.1M TZS from Igale Agricultual Marketing Cooperative Society (AMCOS) to support collection and operations Their CPU now serves both youth and other farmers. The group works through Igale AMCOS and aims to produce 10,000 kg of parchment this season. 📢 Tips from the team: • Work in committed, small groups • Start with what you have: land, ideas, energy • Reinvest in tools and training • Build trust in your community Their initiative is already inspiring others. New youth are starting farms to join the group. Even elders have expressed admiration! 🔍 What’s next? “We are planning to start vegetable gardening (tomatoes) on a 0.75-acre plot in August, after the coffee marketing season ends.” said Raphael Elia Shula, the Igale youth club leader. He added, “We have also initiated steps to establish a coffee nursery, beginning with seed sowing.” This is just one story from SAfA Tanzania, a youth-focused project with the aim of empowering over 50,000 Tanzanian youth aged 15-30 in the regions of Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Mbeya and Songwe, by enhancing their livelihood prospects. The project is a consortium of three implementing partners, Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) Tanzania, Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung - HRNS Tanzania and Kühne Foundation Tanzania, and is being funded by Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) and SAfA gGmbH. #YouthInAgriculture #CoffeeFarming #SAfATanzania #HRNS #Agribusiness #TanzaniaYouth #FarmingTips #SustainableFarming #Entrepreneurship #DevelopmentWork

🎯 From Field Data to Fairways - Meet Madina Hussein ⛳ Since 2013, Madina Hussein has been part of the HRNS family, bringing deep dedication and precision to her role as Data Coordinator. With a strong passion for agriculture and a drive to support smallholder farmers, she’s become an essential pillar of our operations in Tanzania. 📊 What does Madina do? She organizes, collects, and analyzes data, transforming raw numbers into clear insights that help our teams make better, faster, and smarter decisions. Whether it’s measuring climate adaptation efforts or evaluating gender equity outcomes, Madina ensures that our project implementation is always guided by solid evidence. 💡 Her mission? To continuously improve how we use data to support sustainable agriculture. By sharpening her analytical skills and staying deeply connected to the needs of the field, she contributes directly to the long-term success of coffee-growing communities. ⛳ But there’s more to Madina than data... She’s also an award-winning golfer! Recently, Madina made headlines by winning the Zambia Ladies Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship. Her second consecutive title. Competing against top players from across Africa, she proved that focus and discipline pay off, on and off the course. Congratulations! 🌿 When she’s not analyzing data or perfecting her swing, Madina enjoys hiking and swimming, activities that, much like her work, require patience, endurance, and a love for the outdoors. 💬 One quote she lives by: "Rich is not about possessing or a lot of money but richness is life." - Bob Marley #TeamHRNS #DataForImpact #WomenInAgriculture #SustainableFarming #MeetTheTeam #GolfChampion #CoffeeDevelopment #HRNSVoices

🌱Closing the Gap between Bean and Tree In Tanzania, coffee nurseries are becoming thriving businesses and a diversified income. Through the HRNS Tanzania Integrated Carbon and Coffee based Livelihoods Project, we are focused on ensuring genetically compliant and quality seedlings availability throughout the Mbinga district in Tanzania. One of the four cooperative societies supported by HRNS Tanzania is the Kigoti Agricultural Marketing Society (AMCOS) for example. 🌿 What has changed? • Before 2022, knowledge gaps in seed propagation and nursery management limited productivity • After targeted HRNS training, AMCOS now operates a nursery with more than 60,000 quality coffee seedlings • Sales of seedlings are boosting cooperative income and farmer livelihoods • Four additional nurseries are planned, aiming for 240,000 seedlings per season across Mbinga 💬 “We had limited access to knowledge about nursery operations, especially seeds propagation techniques. Additionally, with the limited availability of modern (compact) coffee seedlings and shade trees, it was difficult for us to achieve our goals,” noted Grace Ndunguru, the AMCOS leader. 💡 Why it matters: Coffee seedlings are the root of long-term sustainability. With improved genetics, better nursery practices, and a business mindset, cooperatives like AMCOS are building resilience from the ground up. 👏 During his visit to AMCOS in Mbinga, Victor Komakech (Climate Change Coordinator at HRNS Uganda) praised their well-structured coffee nursery and clear business plan. 💬 “By selling seedlings and later harvesting coffee, farmers create two income streams. That’s the real value of a well-managed nursery,” he said. A strong example of how smart, sustainable farming leads to lasting impact. #CoffeeFarming #ClimateResilience #Agroforestry #Livelihoods #HRNS #TanzaniaAgriculture #CoffeeNurseries #SustainableDevelopment #Mbinga #CooperativeSuccess

Why Small Things in Farming Matter 🌾 In farming, small decisions like when to sow 🌱, how to space crops 🌿, or whether to mulch, can make a huge difference. These minor details often determine whether a harvest feeds a family or grows a business. For smallholder farmers in places like Tanzania, such choices shape futures. For years, Magdalena Bernard Shayo relied on traditional bean farming, no spacing, no fertilizer, and low-quality seeds. The result? Just one can of beans from a quarter-acre. 🫘 Rethinking Traditional Farming In 2023, Magdalena joined SAfA Tanzania’s conservation agriculture training, led by HRNS Tanzania. It focused on simple, ecological improvements, rethinking old habits with smarter methods. A New Method, A New Outcome She learned to: ✅ Wait for soil to warm ✅ Loosen soil 8 inches deep ✅ Plant closely in wide beds ✅ Water and mulch regularly 💧 ✅ Avoid wet plants to prevent disease 🚫🦠 ✅ Harvest only when dry 🌞 These small changes brought a big impact. “Now I expect five cans from the same land,” Magdalena says proudly. The yield increase has improved her food security and opened doors, she now plans to expand her farm and grow it into a source of income 💼. 🌱 For her, this is about empowerment, climate resilience, and change driven by youth. 💡SAfA Tanzania, is a youth-focused project with the aim of empowering over 50,000 Tanzanian youth aged 15-30 in the regions of Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Mbeya and Songwe, by enhancing their livelihood prospects. The project is a consortium of three implementing partners, Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW), Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung - HRNS Tanzania and Kühne Foundation Tanzania, and is being funded by Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) and SAfA gGmbH. #YouthEmpowerment #SAfATanzania #HRNS #SmartFarming #BeanProduction #WomenInAgriculture #ClimateResilience #KilimanjaroYouth #AgricultureThatWorks