Over 25 Fairtrade producers representing coffee cooperatives all over Africa arrived early in Ethiopia to follow a two-day training workshop. The workshop was set up in collaboration with Oxfam Wereldwinkels.

Producers were trained on corporate governance during the first day, while financial management was the main focus on day two. Producers lack access to finance as financial institutions often see them as a liability. Problems identified by banks include lack of transparency in handling of the accounts and inadequate knowledge on cost projections and risk management. All of these were addressed during the workshop.

'The workshops were very lively and the producers were asking for more sessions in the future,' says Marion Ng'anga, Fairtrade Africa's Regional Coordinator for Eastern Africa. 'I am also impressed that Vedastus Ngaiza of KCU, who is the sole remaining member of the coffee network committee, was persuading participants to revive the network.'