DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - OJALÁ QUE LLUEVA CAFÉ EN EL CAMPO

The song "Ojalá que llueva café en el campo" by Juan Luis Guerra, a Dominican singer-songwriter, expresses the desire for prosperity, abundance, and relief from poverty. The idea of "raining coffee" symbolizes a divine blessing, a miraculous solution to the difficulties of rural life, where people depend on crops for survival. In this context, beyond wishing for this "coffee rain" to fall, it is important to diversify income sources in the coffee sector, so that women coffee producers or workers can expand their earnings beyond selling green beans. Engaging in non-coffee agricultural activities related to finca management reduces risks, increases the family's economic resilience, and can strengthen their financial autonomy. One of the key factors for successful diversification is access to technical training on processes, quality, and entrepreneurship. IILA, within the framework of the "Entrepreneurial Training in Latin America with a Gender Approach" Project, funded by Italian Development Cooperation, has implemented a project in collaboration with the Dominican Coffee Institute – INDOCAFE, a local partner, to strengthen the capabilities of 20 young women in food product processing using local fruits and vegetables, with the aim of promoting socio-economic empowerment of women in the coffee sector, fostering value addition in the production chain, diversification of income sources, and creation of decent work in coffee-growing communities.