🌍 UNEP and UN-Habitat Global Mandate Inspires Kenya Coffee School’s Climate-Smart Vision
Building Coffee Resilience and Protecting Livelihoods through Education and Skills
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat stand as two of the most influential global institutions created by nations to champion sustainable development and climate resilience. Their shared mandate — advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — calls for environmental protection, inclusive urban and rural growth, and the empowerment of communities through education, innovation, and sustainable livelihoods.
Aligned with this global vision, Kenya Coffee School (KCS) and its social enterprise wing, Barista Mtaani, have emerged as pioneering institutions that translate the SDGs into tangible action on the ground. Under the visionary leadership of Alfred Gitau Mwaura, the founder of both institutions, Kenya Coffee School is equipping Africa’s youth and farmers with climate-smart skills, coffee resilience training, and environmental awareness — to ensure that coffee, one of the world’s most cherished crops, continues to sustain lives even under the threat of climate change.
☕ Coffee Education for a Sustainable Planet
At the heart of the Kenya Coffee School model lies a simple but powerful belief: education is the strongest tool for adaptation. Through its training programs in coffee agronomy, sensory analysis, value addition, green entrepreneurship, and circular economy, the school empowers young Africans to be climate innovators and environmental custodians.
Students and farmers are taught not only how to produce exceptional coffee but also how to do so in ways that reduce emissions, preserve biodiversity, and protect soil and water systems — directly reflecting the goals of SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
🌱 Barista Mtaani: Youth Empowerment in Action
Barista Mtaani, meaning “Barista in the Community”, extends this vision beyond the classroom. It provides hands-on barista training, storytelling, and entrepreneurship mentorship to urban youth — many from underserved backgrounds — creating a new generation of coffee professionals who are proud, skilled, and sustainability-minded.
Through coffee and storytelling, Barista Mtaani connects global climate awareness with local passion, showing that sustainability begins at home — in every café, every bean, and every community that values responsible growth.
🏫 Partnerships for Resilient Futures
Kenya Coffee School’s approach resonates strongly with the UNEP Global Adaptation Network (GAN) and UN-Habitat’s Resilient Cities Programme, which emphasize local knowledge, innovation, and institutional partnerships as the backbone of sustainable adaptation.
By working with organizations such as the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and aligning with the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), KCS is positioning itself as a continental hub for Climate-Smart Coffee Education — where policy meets practice, and global frameworks meet grassroots transformation.
🌍 Alfred Gitau Mwaura’s Vision: Protecting Livelihoods, One Cup at a Time
The vision embodied by Alfred Gitau Mwaura is not just about coffee — it is about people, resilience, and purpose. Through Kenya Coffee School and Barista Mtaani, he envisions an Africa where climate adaptation is powered by knowledge, where youth are equipped to innovate, and where farmers earn fairly for their efforts in an equitable global trade system.
As UNEP and UN-Habitat continue to advance global treaties and sustainable frameworks, Kenya Coffee School serves as a living example of how education, environment, and enterprise can come together to build a resilient future — for coffee, for communities, and for the planet.
“Climate adaptation begins with learning — because when people understand their land, they can protect their livelihoods.”
— Alfred Gitau Mwaura, Founder, Kenya Coffee School & Barista Mtaani