BPP Partnership Impact Series: Specialty organic coffee bringing Timor-Leste to the world

Since its launch, the Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) has worked with ambitious partners to deliver meaningful, lasting change in communities across the world. Our BPP Partnership Impact Series celebrates the outcomes and lessons from partnerships, highlighting their contributions to inclusive economic growth, resilience and sustainable development.

Our COVID-19 Recovery partnership in Timor-Leste was established to support farmers develop a speciality coffee market in Timor-Leste, improving incomes and creating a sustainable export business. The partnership ended in 2024 after successfully supporting the response to the social and economic impacts of the pandemic.

Changing lives, one sip at a time

Orijem Timor, a specialty coffee export business, is bringing organic Timor-Leste coffee to the world – increasing incomes for farmers and improving the environment.

Thanks to its partnership with coffee lab Kape Diem, consultancy 1LM and the Australian Government, more than 1,000 farmers were supported to transition to cleaner, greener and fairer organic coffee production. As global demand grows, over three million cups of Orijem Timor coffee are expected to be enjoyed worldwide in this year!

About the partnership

Coffee is the largest non-oil export in Timor-Leste and a vital income source for rural communities. However, around 60% of farmers produce commodity-grade coffee, which has seen declining prices since 2020.

This partnership helped farmers transition to organic specialty coffee, where higher demand and better pricing offer increased and more stable incomes benefiting not only farmers but their families and communities. Orijem Timor also introduced more sustainable milling methods, significantly reducing fuel and water use and improving local environmental conditions.

The partnership also helped address inequities between men and women in coffee production. Female field managers were employed and put through specialist English-language courses to build their negotiation and stakeholder management skills. Female farmers received support to pivot their businesses and women were directly contracted for coffee harvest and seasonal work, rather than via their male partners.

Impact

During the BPP partnership period, the impact included:

• Higher quality crops – supported over 1,000 farmers to produce organic specialty-grade coffee, moving away from commodity-grade coffee.
• Sustainable practices – new milling processes cut fuel use and halved water use.
• Investment in women – training and networking opportunities helped more young women in coffee production secure employment and grow in confidence.
• Local leadership – transitioning production to local people, with partners shifting to a broader oversight role. Local teams now manage the full coffee supply chain, including entries for Timor-Leste’s national coffee competition.
• Improving trade – developing networks direct to buyers in Indonesia, Australia and Japan.
• Global recognition – Orijem Timor’s coffee was served at the Australian pavilion at the COP29 forum in Azerbaijan, through a partnership with the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The team also attended the World Coffee Expo in Jakarta in May 2025 after achieving first place in Timor-Leste’s national coffee quality competition.  

Overcoming barriers and opening doors: Felismina’s story

Life has never looked brighter for 40-year-old barista Felismina Da Costa, thanks to Orijem Timor.

After years of irregular work sorting beans, Felismina joined Orijem Timor through a family referral. She started sorting coffee beans and has since moved to full-time work, training as a barista while also assisting with operations at the Orijem Timor café

It’s a triumph for the mum, who had experienced limited employment opportunities due to living with disability. Felismina lost the use of her right arm and hand at the age of four after having a paralysis. She also has impaired control of her right leg and was unable to attend school.

The company brought in modified equipment for Felismina so she could measure beans, froth milk and make coffee with one hand. Teaching Felismina through demonstrations and experiences, rather than written materials also helped her overcome literacy and numeracy barriers.

While Felismina is still growing in confidence, she is proud that her earnings help cover the cost of food and her daughter’s education.

“I am grateful for the chance to work and support my family,” she said.

“It is a new experience for me, and I am learning every day.”

View the full partnership impact story below or download here.