☕ Coffee Policy and Law Certificate
Empowering Farmers, Baristas, and Coffee Entrepreneurs through Legal Literacy and Advocacy
Offered by: Kenya Coffee School (KCS™)
Duration: 4–6 weeks (Flexible / Modular Learning)
🎯 Course Goal
To equip learners with the knowledge, tools, and skills to understand, interpret, and influence coffee laws and policies in Kenya — ensuring smallholder farmers benefit from fair trade, affordable inputs, and sustainable value addition.
📘 Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Explain Kenya’s coffee policy framework and the key legal institutions governing the sector.
- Analyze how national and county coffee laws affect farmers, traders, and consumers.
- Propose legal and policy reforms to improve smallholder farmer welfare.
- Advocate for fairer systems of pricing, inputs, and trade through organized farmer representation.
- Develop a personal or community coffee policy action plan aligned with GOOD Trade Certification principles.
🧭 Course Structure
| Module | Title | Key Topics | Outcomes & Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Introduction to Coffee Law and Policy | Understanding the Coffee Act and Governance Structure | – Overview of the Coffee Act 2021 – Institutions: AFA, Coffee Directorate, County Governments – The role of Parliament, cooperatives, and farmers | Learners map the governance chain of coffee from farmer to regulator. |
| 2. Farmer Rights and Input Affordability | Protecting the Smallholder Farmer | – Legal rights of farmers under Kenyan law – Input subsidies and cooperatives – The economics of fertilizer, seedlings, and sustainability | Workshop: Draft a farmers’ charter on input affordability. |
| 3. Coffee Cooperatives, Marketing & Trade Law | From Factory to Market | – Cooperative Societies Act – Licensing and marketing agents – Transparent payment systems – Ethics and accountability | Case Study: Analyze a local cooperative’s governance and suggest reforms. |
| 4. Value Addition and Domestic Consumption Policy | From Cherry to Cup | – National coffee value addition policy – Export vs. domestic roasting – Tax incentives and youth enterprise laws | Project: Create a county-based “Coffee Value Addition Bill” proposal. |
| 5. Education, Inclusion & Farmer Empowerment | Legal Literacy for All | – Gender and youth inclusion in coffee policy – Coffee education in TVETs and universities – Intellectual property rights for farmer brands | Role Play: Simulate a policy hearing defending a farmer-led idea. |
| 6. Digitalization and GOOD Trade Certification | Future of Coffee Governance | – Digital traceability and direct trade – GOOD Trade Certification model – Fairness, transparency, and sustainability in practice | Capstone: Design a local coffee policy reform or digital advocacy campaign. |
🧑🏽🏫 Teaching & Learning Methods
- Interactive lectures and discussions
- Case studies from Kenya and other coffee-producing countries
- Guest lectures from policymakers, cooperative leaders, and exporters
- Field visits to coffee cooperatives or county offices
- Policy simulation and debate sessions
- Capstone project presentation
🧾 Assessment
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Participation & Discussions | 20% |
| Written Assignments (policy briefs) | 20% |
| Case Study Analysis | 20% |
| Capstone Project (policy proposal or advocacy plan) | 40% |
🎓 Certification
Upon completion, participants receive a: Kenya Coffee School Certificate in Coffee Policy and Law,
endorsed by GOOD Trade Certification™ — signifying competence in understanding and applying coffee law and governance frameworks.
🌍 Impact
This program creates:
- Policy-literate farmers and baristas capable of influencing local and national coffee reforms.
- Youth advocates who can navigate trade systems and push for inclusion.
- Coffee professionals who can connect farm-level realities with global trade standards.