Dejene Dadi is the General Manager of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (OCFCU), one of Africa’s largest and most influential coffee cooperatives. Representing over 550,000 smallholder farmers, he is a prominent advocate for the economic empowerment of producers and a leading voice in the global conversation on climate resilience at origin.
Under his leadership, the OCFCU has become a model for sustainable development, successfully integrating high-quality organic coffee production with innovative climate-finance solutions. Dejene has pioneered initiatives ranging from large-scale carbon credit projects and renewable energy distribution to advanced water-treatment infrastructure. By championing agroforestry and regenerative farming techniques, he directly addresses the impacts of climate change on Ethiopian Arabica, ensuring the long-term viability of the communities that form the backbone of the global coffee supply.
At the C20 Summit, Dejene brings a vital “origin-first” perspective, emphasizing that true sustainability can only be achieved when smallholder farmers are treated as equal partners in the value chain. He is a steadfast proponent of moving beyond voluntary initiatives toward systemic, collaborative investment—calling on industry stakeholders to co-invest in the adaptation strategies required to safeguard both the future of coffee and the livelihoods of those who grow it.