March, a month dedicated to women’s rights, provides an opportunity to reflect on the women who are shaping industries and changing lives.
Among these trailblazers is Clarisse Nzungize, Managing Director of COOPAC Ltd, a family-owned coffee company that has become a beacon of innovation, sustainability, and empowerment in Rwanda’s coffee industry.
COOPAC Ltd, founded in 2001 by Emmanuel Nzungize Rwakagara and Maggie Kagimbanyi, started as a small initiative nestled in the hills surrounding Lake Kivu. Over the years, the company has grown into one of Rwanda’s most respected specialty coffee producers. Today, it not only produces and exports high-quality Arabica coffee but also stands as a testament to the power of female leadership in traditionally male-dominated industries.
Nzungize, the third-generation leader at COOPAC, is at the helm of a company that combines a rich family heritage with modern innovation. Her leadership exemplifies how women in Rwanda are reshaping the coffee sector.
Under her guidance, COOPAC continues to grow, focusing on quality, sustainability, and empowering local farmers. The company now works with over 5,300 farming families across three districts, helping to elevate their livelihoods while producing top-tier coffee that has earned Fairtrade and Organic certifications.
COOPAC’s success story is rooted in its people-centered business model. The company doesn’t just produce coffee; it reinvests in the communities that make its success possible. COOPAC actively empowers farmers through training in best agricultural practices, offering fair and stable prices, and providing women with leadership opportunities in the industry. This approach drives social change, making each harvest a step forward for community development.
The company is equally committed to sustainability, with environmental initiatives like planting thousands of indigenous trees each year, soil conservation through terracing, and safeguarding natural resources around Lake Kivu.
Besides, the company’s livestock programs have distributed over 3,000 cows and goats, improving nutrition and boosting household income. In addition, COOPAC supports education and healthcare by constructing and renovating classrooms and assisting local health centers and community clinics.
As COOPAC looks to the future, its vision remains rooted in the values of family, sustainability, and community. With a commitment to inspiring the next generation of coffee farmers, the company continues to share the rich culture of Lake Kivu’s coffee with the world.
Nzungize’s leadership exemplifies the role of women entrepreneurs in transforming industries and creating lasting social impact. As Rwanda celebrates women’s rights this month, it is leaders like Nzungize who are turning coffee into a powerful tool for empowerment, change, and hope.
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