Strengthening innovation, entrepreneurship and value creation across Kenya’s coffee sector. Starting July 2026.
10+ global partners delivering world-class training
“One of the ACT Coffee Programme’s key initiatives to strengthen human capital across the coffee value chain in East Africa.”
About the Programme
The Executive Programme in Coffee Innovation and Business is a landmark initiative under the ACT Coffee Programme (Advancing Climate-Resilience and Transformation in African Coffee). Designed for Kenya's leading coffee entrepreneurs and cooperative leaders, it delivers world-class business education anchored in the realities of the African coffee sector.
Participants gain expert knowledge across the full value chain — from climate-resilient production to international market positioning — supported by a distinguished faculty of global coffee industry leaders and development specialists.
Initiative of
A landmark collaboration uniting leading international development organisations, renowned coffee companies, and Kenya’s foremost academic and research institutions.
8
Months
156h
Training
3
Modules
Initiative of
Our Partners
Eligibility
The programme is designed for established coffee sector professionals and entrepreneurs based in Kenya who are ready to take their business to the next level.
Kenya Coffee Value Chain
Ventures must be based and actively operating in Kenya, serving local and regional coffee markets.
Applicants must operate within the coffee sector — production, processing, trading, roasting, or retail.
Minimum 3 years of professional experience in the coffee value chain as an entrepreneur or manager.
Women- and youth-led ventures are strongly encouraged to apply and will be given priority consideration.
Demonstrated commitment to social equity, farmer welfare, and environmental sustainability practices.
Demonstrated proficiency in English, both written and spoken, is required for programme participation.
Applications from women- and youth-led ventures are particularly encouraged.
Curriculum
Three interconnected modules covering the full coffee value chain — from farm to market.
Module 1 · UpstreamExplore farm-level and post-harvest innovations, climate-resilient agricultural practices, and processing techniques that enhance quality across the upstream value chain. Participants engage with leading agronomists, farmers, and researchers driving transformation in East African coffee.
Module 2 · DownstreamMaster market access strategies, brand positioning, export readiness, and specialty coffee marketing. Learn from industry leaders how Kenyan coffee can capture premium international markets and build lasting commercial relationships.
Module 3 · Project WorkDevelop a comprehensive, practical growth project for your own coffee venture. Receive personalised mentoring from sector experts, then present your business case to a distinguished expert jury for feedback and recognition.
Duration
8 months
Venue
Nairobi, Kenya + Online
Format
In-person · Online · Tutoring
Start Date
July 2026
Programme Value
Five high-impact outcomes that separate ACT Coffee Programme graduates from the rest of the field.
Receive a certificate co-signed by UNIDO, E4Impact, and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore — recognised by global coffee industry leaders.
Sharpen your competitive edge through expert-led cohort sessions, personalised tutoring, and peer learning with Kenya's top coffee entrepreneurs.
Build mastery across the full coffee value chain — from farm-level production and processing through to international marketing and distribution.
Design and present a real growth project for your venture, receiving structured feedback from an expert jury and actionable recommendations.
Join a network spanning UNIDO, illycaffè, Lavazza, Slow Food, and leading Kenyan institutions — opening doors to partnerships and markets worldwide.
East Africa Coffee Innovation Summit
Join a network of East Africa’s most influential coffee leaders
Programme Fees
Thanks to the support of UNIDO, the Italian Cooperation, and our partner organisations, the full programme fee is just $150 — a fraction of its real cost. This is a single, one-off payment made upon acceptance into the programme.
Total Programme Fee
$150
Paid as a single, one-off payment upon acceptance.
Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses. The $150 fee covers all tuition, materials, and faculty access.
Programme Venue
Sessions are held at the Coffee Research Institute (CRI) — Kenya's foremost authority on coffee science — combining immersive in-person learning in the heart of Kenya's coffee country with flexible online collaboration.
156 hours of structured learning
Coffee Research Institute (CRI)
Ruiru, Nairobi County, Kenya
Kenya's national centre for coffee research and innovation
Cohort 1
Thirty coffee sector leaders from across Kenya were selected to launch the Executive Programme in Coffee Innovation and Business — entrepreneurs, cooperative managers, agronomists, and value chain specialists, each already shaping the future of Kenyan coffee.
30
Participants
12 / 18
Women / Men
21
Under age 35
22 / 8
Private sector / Cooperatives
News & Updates
Stay up to date with training activities, events, and programme milestones. Photos and updates from cohort sessions, Italian partner visits, and field activities will be shared here as the programme progresses.
Field ActivityNOVEMBER 2026
Participants spend a week at Kenya's national coffee research station, linking classroom learning to practice through hands-on processing sessions, market-focused training and the launch of their individual project works.
Partner VisitNOVEMBER 2026
Partner faculty from Lavazza and DeKUT join the cohort at the Coffee Research Institute in November for an intensive week of in-person sessions on coffee processing, marketing and consumption in international markets.
Bootcamp 1JULY 2026
Module 1 opened with three days of in-person training at CRI led by illy, followed by online sessions on quality control, climate-smart production, processing technologies, sustainability, certifications and mycotoxin risk.
Programme LaunchJULY 2026
The Executive Programme in Coffee Innovation and Business opened in July 2026 at the Coffee Research Institute, bringing together illy, Lavazza, UCSC, DeKUT, CRI and E4Impact to equip Kenyan coffee entrepreneurs with skills from farm to cup.
Applications Open · July 2026 Cohort
Join an elite cohort of Kenya’s leading coffee professionals, cooperatives, and entrepreneurs. Build the expertise, network, and strategy to drive lasting change.
For enquiries: coffee@e4impact.org
