Peru

In 2012, we pioneered one of the first youth involvement initiatives in Peru’s cocoa sector. We launched our coffee programme in 2014. Currently, we are running our Cocoa & coffee programme, and our Good Food for Cities programme in the cities of Lima and Chanchamayo (Pichanaki).

Sustainable Cocoa and Coffee programme highlights for 2025

We worked with cooperatives to create opportunities for women and young people to take on technical and leadership roles in the cocoa and coffee sectors. At CASIL coffee cooperative, young people are now at the centre of digital traceability and quality control, with all technicians hired to monitor agroforestry systems, being young people. At Allima Cacao, 40% of active female members are now involved in processing and value-added production. Across both sectors, more than 100 women and young people gained access to productive employment and technical roles, achieving a 25% representation rate among leadership delegations at major negotiation spaces like EXPOCAFÉ and the Cocoa and Chocolate Salon. In addition, we coordinated the Meeting of Women Coffee Producers of Cajamarca, where a policy manifesto was developed to strengthen the visibility and inclusion of women producers, focusing on access to credit, leadership positions in cooperatives, and capacity building. This entails that we will continue to raise awareness on gender issues through targeted workshops for field promoters and the design of a childcare service to reduce barriers to participation for women.  

Good Food for Cities programme highlights for 2025

As part of Rikolto’s support to the professionalisation of Agroferias Campesinas, we facilitated their participation in the World Farmers’ Markets Coalition in Rome in 2025. This exchange contributed to strengthening their leadership and helped attract new members, including young entrepreneurs working with bio‑products. Together with ECOSAD, we systematised a school garden educational model at Ardiles School in Lima. This evidence is being shared with the Ministry of Education (MINEDU) and the Local Education Management Unit (UGEL) to inform policies on healthy eating in schools. In parallel, a learning community is being developed with UGEL to support the adoption of the model by other schools. In Pichanaki, Rikolto worked with the ACPC cooperative to strengthen its women’s committee (CODEMU). A market study led to the introduction of product diversification, with a focus on fruits and value‑added products. This contributed to improved participation in local fairs and to building an alliance with the municipality. During the year, these combined efforts reached 1,215 families, who achieved an average income increase of €41, which represents 14.38% of the Peruvian minimum wage (€280.20)