Nepali coffee is considered specialty coffee for its distinct flavour, aroma, and body. It is a hugely important cash crop to the Himalayan country where 68% of the total population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods (ILO). Grown mostly by smallholder farmers in 40 districts of Nepal between 1000 meters up to 1600 meters altitude with organic and eco-friendly practices, Nepali coffee is also a valuable source of foreign currency for the nation.

Between 2017 – 2019, the European Union funded Hamro Coffee Project was implemented in six major coffee-growing districts of Nepal. The Project was primarily focused on enhancing the quality and quantity of coffee cherries produced, improving primary processing facilities, strengthening and market linkages for domestic and international traders of Nepalese coffee, and increasing employability of youth in the coffee sector.

Based on the learnings of Hamro Coffee project, a pilot project under FCDO’s Disability Inclusive Development (DiD) initiative is being implemented in two districts of Nepal. The main objective of the Inclusive Hamro Coffee Project is to promote disability inclusive coffee value chain in Nepal. Together with active involvement of Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and coffee value chain actors, innovative ideas are being co-created and tested to develop a more inclusive future for Nepalese coffee.