GLOBAL COFFEEPLATFORM

COFFEE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

I am the fourth generation of a family of small coffee producers in Costa Rica. I have been directly linked to the coffee business since 1981. I have held the positions of Legal Advisor, representative member of the producer, exporter and State sectors on the Board of Directors of the Costa Rican Coffee Institute, of which I was also the first female President and subsequently served from 2018 to 2022 as its Executive Director. I was also president of SINTERCAFE and Vice Minister of Agriculture of the Government of Costa Rica, during the presidency of Laura Chinchilla Miranda 2010-2014, a period in which we promoted the NAMA CAFE. I am currently a consultant for the UNDP (REED+ results-based payment project and also with UNIDO) as an expert on sustainable development issues in coffee.

INVOLVEMENT WITH GCP AND / OR OTHER SUSTAINABILITY ORGANIZATIONS

As a principal consultant for the UNDP REED+/ICAFE project, I led the pilot for CAFE DE COSTA RICA LIBRE DE FORESTACIÓN (Costa Rican Coffee Free from Deforestation), building the Implementation Guide. 2023-2024

• I promoted and led the “”Traceability & Sustainability STATEMENT”” project for Café de Costa Rica at ICAFE (2018) and currently, through a Consultancy with UNIDO, I am carrying out a review and proposal for strengthening Due Diligence in the Costa Rican coffee agro-chain within that platform.
• As a legal advisor for BENEFICIOS VOLCAFE COSTA RICA, I advised and trained the operation of CASA DE LA ALEGRÍA LA CALIFORNIA, as a care and attention center for children of coffee-picking parents and thereby contribute to preventing and discouraging child labor in the coffee-growing regions of influence.
• Working at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica, I contributed to and promoted the NAMA CAFE in Costa Rica starting in 2012.
• During my tenure as Executive Director at ICAFE, I led the way until the gender policy for the sector was achieved.
• I served as a member of the commission that proposed the law to create the Coffee Stabilization Fund as a tool for financing and sustainability of the coffee sector in Costa Rica.
• I participated as an IICA consultant in an advisory service to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of Mexico for a proposal on institutionality and governance in the coffee sector and similarly for the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI) of the Government of Peru.

HOW WILL YOU SUPPORT GCP’S WORK AND GOAL?

Given my capacity as a lawyer and my experience in the coffee business, I believe I can contribute to capacity building in producing countries with tools that help small coffee producers to face the challenges generated by climate change, but also to encourage traceability and transparency actions that complement due diligence and responsible business conduct. I can also support gender and youth actions, as well as good governance and institutions aligned with sustainable development goals.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR A SUSTAINABLE COFFEE SECTOR?

My vision for achieving sustainability within the coffee sector necessarily involves a rational use of resources, guaranteeing practices that do not harm the environment, but also a rational and certain economic recognition for those who grow coffee, as well as improving the standard of living and closing inequality gaps. It also implies observing social aspects, appealing to their triple utility: social, economic and environmental.