Empowered Communities

The World Cocoa Foundation and our members are committed to fighting child labor in the cocoa supply chain.

According to the International Labor Organization, child labor is widespread in African agriculture, which is largely based on family farms. A recent report by NORC at the University of Chicago indicates that about 1.6 million children engage in child labor on cocoa farms in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, the two main cocoa-producing countries. Smallholder farmers often struggle there with poverty and poor infrastructure. They have few labor alternatives other than their children. Limited access to schools, cultural practices, lack of awareness and gender inequalities also drive child labor.

This is not right. WCF helps achieve Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 and 5 by convening cocoa and chocolate companies in fighting child labor, fostering community development, increasing access to quality education, improving child survival and empowering women.

The Challenge of Child Labor and Cocoa

What Are We Doing to Stop Child Labor in Cocoa?

Cocoa and chocolate companies, governments and partners such as the International Cocoa Initiative,  (ICI) have been working together to eliminate child labor in cocoa. For example, they convened under the 2001 Harkin-Engel Protocol and the 2010 Framework of Action.

With a focus on boosting and diversifying farmer income, child labor monitoring and remediation, gender empowerment, school construction and rehabilitation, and awareness-raising, these programs have had good results where they were implemented and need to be expanded:

  • A recent study demonstrates that hazardous child labor has been reduced by one-third in communities where company programs are in place.
  • Governments’ actions on education have led to almost all children now attending school in Ghana, and 4 out 5 in Côte d’Ivoire.
  • A more than 60 percent increase in total cocoa production over the past 10 years did not bring a similar surge in child labor.

Now, more investments and a focus on the root causes of child labor are needed to scale up impact. We are working on a more transformational approach to ending child labor in cocoa with producing and consuming governments, UN agencies, farmer groups, and civil society organizations.

Sustainability, cocoa sustainability, sustainable cocoa, why is sustainability important, sustainability defined, sustainability movement, cocoa plant, cocoa bean, cacao, raw cacao, deforestation, what is deforestation girl studying in school in cocoa growing community
Children Belong in Classrooms, Not in the Field Photo: Lucy OBryan Absolute Options LLC

Download Materials

100% by 2025 coverage of child labor monitoring and remediation systems

To protect children, leading companies will increase the coverage of child labor monitoring and remediation systems to 100% by 2025 in their direct supply chains in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, up from about 20% in 2019.

How are these programs making a difference? Read Bernice’s story here. Watch this video to understand how community facilitator Opong Poku protects children in his community.

Photo of children in school in a cocoa growing community in West Africa
Almost all children are now in school in Ghana, and 4 out of 5 in Côte d'Ivoire
Sustainability, cocoa sustainability, sustainable cocoa, why is sustainability important, sustainability defined, sustainability movement, cocoa plant, cocoa bean, cacao, raw cacao, prosperous farmers, women in cocoa
Millions of farmers rely on cocoa for their livelihoods, notably in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, the top producers
$100s of millions in extra revenues for cocoa farmers

To help raise farmers out of poverty, companies have supported the new Living Income Differential pricing policy of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana in 2020/21 that will provide 100s of millions in extra revenues for cocoa farmers on top of official market prices.

100% by 2025 farmers in coaching

To boost household incomes and yields, leading companies will reach 100% coverage by 2025 of all farmers in their direct supply chains in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana with training, coaching, or farm development plans on good agricultural practices.

Why? Read how coaching and hard work changed Elizabeth’s life here, and how it helped Kenneth support his family here. Watch this video testimony by Dogo Soko Gabriel here.

Sustainability, cocoa sustainability, sustainable cocoa, why is sustainability important, sustainability defined, sustainability movement, cocoa plant, cocoa bean, cacao, raw cacao, deforestation, what is deforestation
With training and coaching, farmers can grow more cocoa and less land
Children in a cocoa community in school
We must ensure today’s generation of children reach their full potential and have a chance at the bright future they deserve
$65 million invested in 2019 to address child labor

In 2019, companies invested $65 million in a wide range of social development activities to address child labor, covering child protection, education, community development, income diversification for vulnerable households, and other child survival activities – about six-times higher than what was spent a year in 2001-18.

Is There Forced Labor in Cocoa?

Forced labor in agriculture has been a persistent and abhorrent global issue. The U.S. Department of Labor flags forced labor risk in peanuts from Bolivia, sugarcane from Brazil, sesame from Burma, tomatoes from Mexico, cotton from Pakistan, fish from Thailand, cotton from Uzbekistan, and cocoa from West Africa.

Forced labor is not the same as child labor. How? Read this explainer by ILO’s Benjamin Smith for more details.

The cocoa and chocolate industry has zero tolerance for any instances of forced labor, modern slavery or human trafficking in the supply chain. Though unacceptable, forced labor is extremely rare in cocoa farming, with about 1% of children in child labor estimated to be in that serious situation. Any evidence found by companies is reported to the local authorities who have the power to pursue, arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators.

Download Materials

Sustainability, cocoa sustainability, sustainable cocoa, why is sustainability important, sustainability defined, sustainability movement, cocoa plant, cocoa bean, cacao, raw cacao, deforestation, what is deforestation

Featured Experts Youssouf N’djoré

Country Director, Côte d'Ivoire
World Cocoa Foundation

Women’s Empowerment

Empowered women are formidable catalysts for sustainable community development. They are involved in almost all stages of cocoa production, providing an estimated 50% of the labor force. However, women are often marginalized from services and decision-making. Strategies such as microfinance, improved access to land ownership and membership in farmer groups or cooperatives can have a positive impact on women and their families.

WCF’s CocoaAction and Cocoa Livelihoods Program contributed to Sustainable development Goal 5, achieving gender equality, by working to empower women and girls. Gender empowerment is now included in all World Cocoa Foundation activities.

Access to Quality Education

Cocoa and chocolate companies invest to achieve systemic change in education, with co-financing and expertise brought by partners such as the Jacobs Foundation. Access to quality education is also a means of combating the vicious circle of poverty, low productivity and child labor linked to illiteracy in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.

Download Materials

Fighting child labor in cocoa

Related Resources