African Cocoa Initiative II

The World Cocoa Foundation African Cocoa Initiative II program is a public-private partnership that responds to the need for enhanced capacity in the cocoa sector among national institutions and address specific gaps in cocoa productivity improvements, including the provision of better planting materials, pesticides and fertilizers, and credit to cocoa farmers.

Cocoa in West Africa contributes significantly to households, communities and national economies. Collectively, this region’s estimated two million smallholder cocoa farmers produce approximately 70% of the world’s supply.

It is a highly valued cash crop across the region, one grown in association with multiple food crops presenting important food security benefits and is often grown alongside other cash crops like rubber, oil palm, coffee and cashews. Exported cocoa also provides national economies with vital revenues, bringing in an estimated $7 billion in 2012 to the national economies of West Africa. With projected strong, long- term demand, cocoa has great potential as a profitable anchor in smallholder farming systems.

Achieving this potential requires continued effort in improving productivity to make cocoa farming more economically attractive and environmentally sustainable. Additionally, effective provision of financial services based on a clear understanding of the farm finance environment in the region is essential to fostering inclusive growth in the sector.

African Cocoa Initiative II (ACI II) Objectives

Increase production and use of quality cocoa planting materials. Planned activities under this objective include initiating trials of new techniques to improve planting materials, piloting innovative irrigation strategies, supporting regulatory bodies to understand and adopt new technologies, developing screening protocols for drought and heat tolerant planting materials, initiating new sensory panels in two new countries, and training extension agents and farmers on flavor quality.
Increase the provision of financial services in support of the cocoa value chain. Planned activities under this objective start with a foundational landscape assessment of financial services across the dominant cocoa markets of West Africa. The analysis will then recommend a number of areas for further project investment that increase access to credit. For all activities, the project will document interventions and lessons learned while setting the foundation for future scale up.
Include a strong focus on women and youth farmers across all of its activities, as well as a deeply integrated monitoring and evaluation strategy.

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Featured Experts Nene Akwetey-Kodjoe

Program Manager & ACI II Deputy Chief of Party
World Cocoa Foundation

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Download Materials

ACI II 2019-2020 Semi-Annual Report
pdf Jun 30, 2020
African Cocoa Initiative II 2019 Annual Report & Annexes
pdf Dec 4, 2019
African Cocoa Initiative II Semi-Annual Report 2019
pdf Jul 3, 2019
African Cocoa Initiative II - Fact Sheet
pdf Dec 10, 2018

ACI II Focus Countries

Our Private Sector Partners

Barry Callebaut, Blommer Chocolate, Cargill, Guittard Chocolate Company, The Hershey Company, Mars Wrigley Corporation, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, Olam, TCHO, and Tree Global.

Our Partner Organizations

The U.S. Agency for International Development through its Global Development Alliance mechanism and the Better Than Cash Alliance.