Safeguarding Futures: A Community-Based Child Rights Coalition for Sustainable Coffee
What is the main objective of the project?
The project aims to prevent, identify and remediate child labour and other child protection violations in Mexico's coffee sector by establishing a locally owned Community-Based Child Rights Monitoring and Remediation System (CRMRS). It addresses the root causes of child protection issues in sourcing communities. It provides appropriate remediation pathways by connecting companies, public authorities, local civil society and communities in one coordinated response that protects children's rights and strengthens responsible sourcing.
How will the project contribute to sustainable coffee production?
The project strengthens the social sustainability of coffee production by integrating child rights into everyday supply chain management. Community monitoring, trained social workers, company agronomists, and public child protection services work together to prevent child labour, support vulnerable families, and improve access to education, livelihoods, and social services. Shared data and coordinated remediation create more transparent, resilient and responsible coffee supply chains while supporting long-term community well-being.
How does this project foster collaboration across the coffee sector?
The project establishes a pre-competitive coalition of coffee roasters, traders, civil society, government and local communities that share one common approach to child rights due diligence. Partners use harmonised standards, a joint monitoring and case management system, shared resources and coordinated governance instead of separate company initiatives. This reduces duplication, improves efficiency and creates collective responsibility for protecting children across shared sourcing landscapes.
How do you ensure a lasting impact beyond the project's duration?
Long-term impact is achieved by embedding the CRMRS within Mexico's public child protection system, local community structures and coffee companies’ daily operations rather than creating a stand-alone project. Community-Based Child Rights Committees, trained government social workers and formal partnerships ensure local ownership, while companies integrate the system into their regular sustainability programmes. Capacity building, digital case management and clear transition plans agreed upon with all actors enable the model to continue after project funding ends.
Organisations involved
