At the Collective Empowerment Foundation (CEF), our mission is to empower the world’s most remote and isolated communities—those often left behind by conventional development. While much of our work focuses on critical infrastructure like electricity, water, and internet, we also recognise that lasting transformation requires more than just physical access. It requires economic inclusion.
That’s why we’ve partnered with Pacific Bean Villages (PBV)—an organisation dedicated to building ethical, transparent supply chains for cash crops like coffee in Papua New Guinea. Together, we are laying the foundation for a future in which remote village producers are not only connected to essential services, but also connected to markets.That’s why we’ve partnered with Pacific Bean Villages (PBV)—an organisation dedicated to building ethical, transparent supply chains for cash crops like coffee in Papua New Guinea. Together, we are laying the foundation for a future in which remote village producers are not only connected to essential services, but also connected to markets.
Why This Partnership Matters
For many communities in rural Papua New Guinea, agriculture is not just a way of life—it’s the most viable path to economic self-reliance. But producing high-quality coffee or cocoa is only half the challenge. The other half is getting it to market.
In isolated areas, especially those without roads or communications infrastructure, smallholder farmers are often unable to access fair buyers, and are vulnerable to exploitation by predatory intermediaries or poor prices due to distance. Even those who produce exceptional products may never see them sold beyond local trade.
That’s where the partnership between CEF and Pacific Bean Villages comes in.
A Partnership Rooted in Shared Values
The partnership between CEF and PBV is grounded in a shared commitment to:
- Empowering village-based producers, not extracting from them.
- Building long-term, sustainable economic pathways, rather than short-term trade relationships.
- Respecting the unique rhythms and cultures of remote communities while opening doors to opportunity.
Through this collaboration, CEF supports local communities by:
- Leveraging our deep community relationships across remote regions of PNG.
- Identifying and introducing interested communities to PBV.
- Showcasing PBV-sourced village coffee and other products through our online shop, helping to build brand presence and promote direct-to-consumer ethical trade.
Meanwhile, Pacific Bean Villages offers:
- Market access and logistical pathways for communities engaged in coffee production.
- A framework for fair and transparent trade, ensuring that village farmers retain more value from what they grow.
- Support for quality standards, product traceability, and eventually, export-readiness for international buyers.
A Vision for Market-Ready Villages
While no joint field project has launched yet, the groundwork is being laid.
As CEF continues to deliver solar power, water systems, and internet connectivity to underserved villages, we are also identifying communities with strong potential for cash crop cultivation—particularly coffee, vanilla, and cocoa. These are communities where, once the infrastructure is in place, the next frontier is economic empowerment.
When the time is right, PBV will be able to step in—offering these communities not just a buyer, but a partnership built on respect, sustainability, and long-term value.
This is not a handout model. It is a model of mutual enablement—where CEF opens the door to foundational infrastructure, and PBV helps communities walk through it economically.
Strengthening Ethical Trade Through Visibility
One of the early fruits of this partnership is already visible on the CEF online shop, where PBV’s village coffee products are being featured and promoted.
By helping connect PBV with ethically minded consumers—many of whom are already CEF supporters—we are not only strengthening our partner’s visibility, but also showcasing the quality and value of what remote PNG villages can produce.
This small but important step is part of our broader commitment to ensuring community-made products are seen, valued, and purchased on their own terms.
Looking Ahead: Future Implementation
While on-the-ground collaborative projects are still in the planning phase, both organisations are aligned on what’s next.
In 2025 and beyond, as CEF continues its infrastructure rollouts in Western Province and other regions of PNG, we will:
- Identify and support coffee-growing communities ready for structured market engagement.
- Facilitate connections between those communities and PBV’s growing supply chain.
- Ensure that ethical, community-led economic empowerment is embedded alongside our core infrastructure goals.
Together, we hope to build a new standard for rural economic development—one that doesn’t treat remote farmers as inputs in someone else’s value chain, but as partners with knowledge, skill, and sovereignty.
In Summary
The partnership between the Collective Empowerment Foundation and Pacific Bean Villages represents a natural alignment of mission, values, and vision.
Where CEF works to ensure that communities are no longer physically and socially disconnected, PBV works to ensure they are no longer economically excluded.
Together, we’re not just delivering services—we’re helping create the conditions where remote villages in Papua New Guinea can thrive through connection, choice, and commerce.
🌱 To learn more about our collaboration with Pacific Bean Villages, or to browse village-grown coffee and other ethically traded goods, visit our [Shop Page] or contact us at
📧 contact@collectiveempowermentfoundation.org
