Women’s Economic Empowerment in Peru’s Coffee Value Chain
At TechnoServe, women’s economic empowerment (WEE) starts small—with individuals and families—before rippling through communities and markets. This transformation often begins with someone like Lludy Bartra, a family trainer in Peru who has dedicated her life to changing the reality of women in the coffee value chain.
In rural areas, women are often excluded from economic roles and are instead kept within the limits of care and household responsibilities— a deeply rooted part of how societies are organized. While care work is essential, its unequal distribution hinders opportunities for women and limits the prosperity of families and communities.
For over 57 years, TechnoServe has worked with coffee-growing communities, understanding that addressing restrictive social and cultural norms is essential for driving meaningful change. In Peru’s former coca-growing regions, the Alianza CAFE project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has supported farmers for more than seven years in transitioning to more profitable and sustainable livelihoods. By improving productivity, enhancing coffee quality, and connecting smallholder farmers with formal markets, the program has helped create a more inclusive coffee sector.
Alianza CAFE worked across several fronts:
- Productivity training
- Market connections
- Regenerative agriculture
- Financial access
- Women’s economic empowerment
The WEE component was particularly impactful, as it focused on transforming norms and attitudes, with significant efforts made to build leadership and agency among women. A key innovation of Alianza CAFE was the Family Trainer model, in which agronomists like Lludy received specialized training in gender equality. Through one-on-one conversations with families, they addressed topics such as shared responsibilities, decision-making, and women’s participation in coffee commercialization—key indicators for the project’s success.
How Lludy Bartra is Advancing Gender Equality in Coffee Farming
From 2018 to 2024, Lludy Bartra Ramirez served as a family trainer for the program. She leveraged her background in agronomy and gender inclusion to work with communities close to her heart—those where she grew up in Peru’s coffee-growing regions. Her deep local roots and commitment to gender equality enabled her to build trust and drive transformation from the ground up.
As part of their work, family trainers conducted three visits per household, one each month, “When I first visited families, I encountered a lot of machismo,” Lludy recalled. “Women didn’t participate in decision-making, and husbands often didn’t want their wives involved in our program activities.”
The Role of Women in Agriculture: Breaking Barriers
Through family visits, Lludy worked to shift these dynamics. “I always approached them with joy,” she explained. “When I arrived, I’d head straight to the kitchen and ask, ‘What are you cooking? Do you need help?’ This caught the attention of the husbands—they saw a professional not expecting to be served but instead serving them. I even cooked for them, and that gesture allowed me to connect on a deeper level.”
Lludy understood early on that to create meaningful change in household dynamics, she needed to gain the support of husbands. By breaking down their initial resistance, she could foster open and natural conversations. Using dynamic, visual training methods such as drawings, flipcharts, and storytelling, she kept families engaged in an inclusive and effective way. “Visuals worked well, especially for women who couldn’t read,” Lludy added. “It made the training accessible and impactful.”
“That’s how it starts—gradually, little by little,” Lludy explained. “At first, some families didn’t accept me. But as they got to know me, they started saying, ‘She’s so kind; she really understands us.’ That’s when I knew we could create change together.”
As a result, women started attending meetings and workshops with their husbands. She no longer heard phrases like, ‘Don’t go.’ Instead, men joined them, participated, and together, they began building a path toward change.
The Alianza CAFE project yielded remarkable progress towards a more inclusive coffee value chain in Peru. Key milestones include:
- 1,600+ families now make joint decisions about coffee marketing and income allocation.
- 59% of leadership positions in coffee producer organizations are held by women.
- 88% of women trained report greater decision-making power at the farm and household levels.
- Households experienced an 82% increase in income from coffee sales.
Celita’s Story: A Journey from Hardship to Hope
One of the most moving stories from Lludy’s work is about a family in El Vencedor, located in Pinto Recodo, near Moyobamba.
During her first visit, the wife opened up to Lludy about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband. When she returned for a follow-up visit, Lludy approached the husband, engaging him in a conversation about shared responsibilities, and steered the conversation toward the topic of mistreatment, sharing examples of men who hurt, humiliated, and failed to support their wives. To her surprise, the man broke down in tears, admitting his wrongs and expressing a desire to change.
“The three of us cried together—him, his wife, and I. Through that conversation, he reflected deeply. He promised he would improve, though he admitted he couldn’t change overnight. He said, ‘I will change my attitude, the way I think and act toward my wife.” Lludy recalled. Over time, with Lludy’s guidance, the family’s dynamics transformed. The man became supportive of his wife, and their children acknowledged the difference it made in their lives.
Although the wife, Celita, eventually passed away due to illness, her gratitude remained with Lludy. “She told me, ‘Thank you. Because of you, my husband now treats me well.’ Moments like these remind me why I do this work.”
Local Leadership: The Key to Lasting Empowerment
“I truly enjoy my job,” Lludy shared. “In every family, I found peace and affection, and I feel like they are part of my own family. In fact, I’ve become a godmother to children. All of this fills my heart and strengthens my commitment to what I do.”
The success of programs like Alianza CAFE is largely rooted in the dedication of local staff members like Lludy Bartra, whose deep community ties and passion drive meaningful change.
Discover how you can support gender equality and women’s economic empowerment through TechnoServe’s initiatives in agriculture.
