Africa

 

Context and Needs

Cocoa is one of the most significant crops in West and Central Africa, occupying between 5 and 6 million hectares in the coastal humid zone. West and Central Africa accounts for nearly 70% of the world cocoa supply, 90% of which is grown on nearly 2 million small family farms, the majority with land holdings of 2 hectares or less.

The World Cocoa Foundation works to engage West and Central African cocoa farmers, their families and communities, and the institutions that impact their wellbeing to further the economic, social and environmental sustainability of cocoa production. Areas of focus in West Africa include:

• Training farmers to better manage pests and disease, diversify crops for cash and consumption, improve pruning and shade

   management, practice sound environmental stewardship

• Working with farmers to establish and strengthen farmer organizations, helping them better understand market needs and

   opportunities, acquire improved management and marketing skills, and collectively sell their cocoa at a higher price

• Diversifying farm income and promoting environmental stewardship through the practice of agroforestry and intercropping
• Providing youth and young adults with vocational agricultural training and entrepreneurship skills
• Improving the quality and relevancy of primary and secondary school education in cocoa-growing communities
• Building functional literacy and numeracy skills for youth and adults
• Sensitizing adults and children to important health and safety issues including HIV/AIDS, malaria, farm safety, and child labor

 

Country Coverage

Currently, WCF supports active programming in the following countries:

• Cameroon
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Ghana
• Liberia
• Nigeria

(Click here to view a map of WCF project sites in West Africa)

 

World Cocoa Foundation Programs

1. Farmer Outreach

• Cocoa Livelihoods Program
• Sustainable Tree Crops Program
  • Sustainable Tree Crops Program Overview
  • Sustainable Tree Crops Program - Cameroon
  • Sustainable Tree Crops Program - Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
  • Programme pour le Développement Durable des Cultures Pérennes - Côte d'Ivoire
  • Sustainable Tree Crops Program - Ghana
  • Sustainable Tree Crops Program - Liberia
  • Sustainable Tree Crops Program - Nigeria
• Livelihood Improvement for Farming Enterprises (Liberia)
• CocoaLink - Connecting Cocoa Communities - Ghana

 

2. Health and Occupational Safety

• Improving Occupational Safety and Health Project on West African Cocoa Farms
• Project for the Prevention of STI, HIV/AIDS and Malaria among Cocoa Farmers and their Families in the Region of Bas Sassandra
• Building and Strengthening Health and Wellness Activities for the Sustainable Tree Crops Program in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana

 

3. Youth Education

• ECHOES Alliance

 

4. Challenge Grants

• 2008/2009 Challenge Grants – Farm Level Category
• 2008/2009 Challenge Grants – Education & Community Development Category
• 2010 Challenge Grants – Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

 

5. Research Exchanges

• Cocoa Borlaug Fellows Program Africa
• Project on Cocoa Productivity and Quality Improvement: A Participatory Approach (International Cocoa Organization/Common Fund        for Commodities/Bioversity International)
• Farm Models/Socio-Economic Research
• Cocoa of Excellence: Promoting Diverse, High Quality Origins Project.

 

 

 

Information on programs was updated in May 2010.