COCOA LIFE: EMPOWERING COCOA

FARMERS AND COMMUNITIES

2015 PROGRESS REPORT
 WE BELIEVE
Integrity and transparency are as important as sun and water.
A sustainable cocoa supply begins with thriving farmers.
Partnership is the key to lasting change.
Efficient farming practices lead to financial security.
The work of children is education and play.
Gender equality benefits everyone.
Conserving the land is a promise to future generations.

Together, we are growing: Cocoa Life

 3
The Challenge Why Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
of Cocoa Cocoa Life? Origins Future Outlook

Introduction

BUILDING LASTING CONNECTIONS TO SUPPORT OUR COCOA

ORIGINS AND BRANDS
Cocoa Life is a long-term $400-million commitment Cocoa Life’s groundbreaking approach links cocoa
to sustainability that strengthens our chocolate business farming with community development. The program
and deepens our connection with our cocoa origins. As includes a wide array of initiatives to support farmers
president of Global Chocolate for Mondelēz International, in local communities, helping them cultivate stronger,
I am proud of the progress we are making on the Cocoa more resilient crops and create more empowered cocoa
Life program. Today, Cocoa Life supplies 21 percent of communities. These programs range from detailed
the cocoa Mondelēz buys for our brands and some of farming-technique training to education and literacy
our brands such as Côte d’Or and Marabou are now programs to business management and financial literacy.
proudly displaying the Cocoa Life logo. I’m pleased by There is a deliberate emphasis to make sure women also
the transformational impact the program is having on benefit from these initiatives.
local communities and the demonstrated success of this
innovative, holistic approach to sustainability. In addition, deforestation and the related issue of global
warming impacts farming communities around the world
As our chocolate business grows, we need to ensure the and is a key challenge we are addressing through the
farmers can supply the cocoa we need. Based on that Cocoa Life program. This is so important because cocoa
central premise, Cocoa Life provides fuel to help support grows in a narrow tropical zone and is quite vulnerable to
our growth. However, our commitment goes beyond climate change. Cocoa farming needs the protection of
generating a sustainable cocoa supply for years to come. It’s the forest to help moderate temperature and conserve
deeply rooted in a desire to help cocoa farmers and their water. We empower farmers to take simple actions to
communities thrive. We are providing communities the tools lessen the impact of climate change and reduce our
they need to create inspiring places to live and work. carbon footprint by tackling deforestation.
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The Challenge Why Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
of Cocoa Cocoa Life? Origins Future Outlook

Introduction

I was born in the Dominican Republic, a As you’ll see in the many stories from our
beautiful place with a rich culture and a varied partners in this report, the holistic approach
terrain of rainforest, savannah and highlands. to Cocoa Life is truly innovative and we
It’s perfectly suited for cocoa cultivation and believe it will have a lasting, transformational
is, in fact, one of the leading exporters of impact.
organic cocoa. I’m pleased the Dominican
Republic is one of the origins where Cocoa
Life is operating.

— César Melo, President, Global Chocolate at Mondelēz International

 5
The Challenge Why Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
of Cocoa Cocoa Life? Origins Future Outlook

Introduction

GROWING TOGETHER: TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF COCOA

FARMERS AND COMMUNITIES
Without cocoa, there is no chocolate. Without the next goes directly into programs to benefit farmers and their
cocoa farming generation, there is no cocoa. It’s that simple. communities because this is where Cocoa Life must make
Yet, it’s more than a guiding philosophy. It’s at the heart of a measureable impact. First and foremost, farmers must
why Mondelēz International – the world’s largest chocolate begin to make a better living from cocoa by increasing their
company – created the Cocoa Life program in 2012. We productivity. Farmers have the potential to double crop
know a vibrant, strong cocoa supply chain is critical for the yields through adopting good agricultural practices which
future of chocolate. The Cocoa Life program is working in our will, in turn, increase incomes and ensure they can better
six cocoa-growing origin countries to empower cocoa farmers provide for themselves and their families.
in thriving communities as the foundation for a long-term
supply of sustainable, high-quality cocoa. As the Director of We are working to increase the resilience of these farming
the Cocoa Life program since 2012, I’ve seen firsthand the communities by improving their access to finance,
positive impact the program is having on cocoa farmers and secondary livelihoods and other business skills. This includes
their families, and it’s the most satisfying aspect of my work. a special focus on women as they are change agents who
quickly adopt new agricultural practices and start new
We followed a robust development process based on a businesses. Research shows that increasing women’s
long-term roadmap. Starting with our commitment in 2012, income has great benefits for families and their education.
we built and validated our Key Performance Indicators Altogether, this creates a sustainable approach: when cocoa
(KPIs) during 2013, focusing on the key impacts we want farms are thriving, communities are strong, women are
to achieve. Then, in 2014, we brought theory into practice empowered, and children are educated, the next generation
by implementing Cocoa Life in new origins and by finalizing is inspired to stay in cocoa farming.
our verification plan. From 2015 onwards, it has been all
about impact: scaling up our program, tracking progress, and The challenges in the cocoa supply chain are significant
bringing Cocoa Life to our brands. and Mondelēz won’t solve them alone. I'm most proud
that partnership is a cornerstone on which Cocoa Life is
It all starts with the cocoa farmers – working with them to built. Cocoa Life integrates the work of many stakeholders
transform production on the ground level. Our investment to achieve common goals in ways that are relevant and
 6
The Challenge Why Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
of Cocoa Cocoa Life? Origins Future Outlook

Introduction

tailored to the needs of the diverse Cocoa implementation of activities with our partners.
Life farming communities across the world. They also work to ensure that all actionable
The communities define their challenges and learnings are applied to the program across the
coordinate with local and international non- various origins.
governmental organizations (NGOs) to build
COCOA LIFE VISION: relevant solutions. This report brings together the voices of
farmers, community members and partners
EMPOWERED, THRIVING COCOA COMMUNITIES AS THE
Governments and national cocoa authorities from the six origins where Cocoa Life is
ESSENTIAL FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE COCOA
ensure alignment with broader cocoa operating. My hope is that the first hand
strategies and promote more sustainable stories in this report will give you a deeper
Based on 3 principles practices across the cocoa sector. Mondelēz’s understanding of the overall program and its
business leaders and our suppliers ensure wide-ranging impact.
training and resources reach farmers and
Holistic and Commited to Aligned with co-ops and are embedded at the core of Cocoa Life is on a long-term journey to
farmer centric partnerships our sourcing our cocoa supply chain. External advisors create a vibrant, strong cocoa supply chain
Multi-Stakeholder Governance

share their expertise on overall program while transforming the lives and livelihoods of
development and approaches to address child cocoa farmers and their communities. We are
Measuring, evaluating and reporting on determined to learn from our successes and
5 key areas defiing thriving communitities labor, women’s and youth empowerment,
sustainable cocoa farming, and environmental our challenges. We will continue to evolve the
protection. Our origin teams on the ground program because it’s the way we will drive real
in each country are experts in the cocoa impact at scale.
FARMING COMMUNITY YOUTH LIVELIHOODS ENVIRONMENT
development field and lead our Cocoa Life
Cross-cutting themes: Women's Empowerment & strategy and operations, coordinating the
Child Labor
- Cathy Pieters, Director of the Cocoa Life Program
Independently verified
 7
The Challenge Why Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
of Cocoa Cocoa Life? Origins Future Outlook

Introduction

COCOA LIFE ORIGIN COUNTRY LEADS

Yaa Peprah Mbalo

Amekudzi Ndiaye
CÔTE
GHANA D’IVOIRE

Andi Sitti KP
Asmayanti Magudapathy
INDONESIA
INDIA

David Dora
Preece Guimarães
DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC BRAZIL
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Why Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
Introduction Cocoa Life? Origins Future Outlook
The Challenge
of Cocoa

A NARROW BAND
The cocoa tree ( Theobroma cacao L.) originates from the Amazon basin Cocoa trees are sensitive to the local climate and can only
and grows under the natural canopy of the rainforest. Around two years thrive in a slender belt of countries between 20 degrees
after planting, the cocoa tree begins to produce fruit that ripens to north and south of the equator. Cocoa grows well under the
shade of other rainforest trees and requires high rainfall and
golden yellows, reds and browns. Cocoa pods are produced directly on temperatures. They require plenty of light but shade is required
the trunk and main branches of the tree, reaching a maximum production to protect the farm from too much light, damage caused by
after eight years and, with good agricultural practices, can continue to wind, and to conserve water. Given that these conditions only
exist in a few origins, cocoa trees need protection to flourish,
produce good economic yields for a further 15 to 20 years. Each pod takes making the expansion in other areas difficult.
around six months to grow from a flower to a ripe pod. Following harvest,
the pods are opened and the cocoa beans are fermented and dried before
they are made into chocolate.
 9
Why Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
Introduction Cocoa Life? Origins Future Outlook
The Challenge
of Cocoa

THE CHALLENGE OF COCOA AND COCOA FARMING

The challenge of cocoa starts with providing the best environment for the Many cocoa farmers have limited knowledge of good agricultural practices
cocoa tree to thrive. Inability to maintain this best farm environment has and lack access to resources needed to apply this knowledge to improve
limited cocoa productivity for many years and continues to pose challenges their business. Cocoa yields per hectare have not increased in line with
to creating a vibrant cocoa supply chain. other crops, yet demand for chocolate continues to grow, especially in
emerging markets. Productivity is further held back by low farmer incomes
These agricultural and environmental challenges are compounded by and limited development, which means many cocoa communities are
socioeconomic obstacles. The majority of the world’s cocoa beans are not attractive places to live, thus creating a cycle – a cycle that needs
harvested on small, family-run farms. Cocoa is no longer a prosperous business to be broken. Without improved productivity and incomes, thriving
for many of these farmers. The farmers lack access to agricultural inputs and communities and inspiring models for the next cocoa farming generation,
also the ability to invest in the improvement of the farm, such as new planting cocoa production will not meet global demand, leading to destructive and
material. Additionally, the next generation of potential cocoa farmers is unsustainable cycles of boom and bust.
pursuing other careers, migrating to cities to seek a better way of life.
 10
Why Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
Introduction Cocoa Life? Origins Future Outlook
The Challenge
of Cocoa

A GLOBAL PASSION FOR COCOA

When the Spanish first learned of the chocolatl beverage produced by
the Mayans of South America, they kept it a secret for nearly a century.
Eventually, word spread. By the 18th century, chocolate was available in
much of the new and old world, sparking an expanding global passion. Today,
more than four million metric tons of cocoa beans are processed annually to
satisfy the world’s appetite for chocolate.

The demand for chocolate continues to grow, and with it, the need for
cocoa. As the world’s largest chocolate company, Mondelēz International is
determined to create chocolate for many more generations. Transforming
the cocoa farming sector in the face of complex challenges requires a
coordinated effort from governments, industry, cocoa suppliers and other
organizations. That’s why Mondelēz International came together with its
partners to create Cocoa Life. The Cocoa Life team understands the
importance of investing to empower cocoa farmers on a large scale, training Mondelēz International is also committed to the World Cocoa Foundation’s
farmers to adopt better practices, and building thriving communities to (WCF) CocoaAction, a strategy which unites cocoa and chocolate
inspire the next generation. companies to work together to sustain the cocoa industry and improve the
livelihoods of cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. In West Africa,
Diverse stakeholders in the cocoa sector must work together to ensure Mondelēz International helped establish an independent foundation, the
a long-term supply of sustainable, high-quality cocoa to meet future International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), which oversees efforts to eliminate
demand. Mondelēz International engages a range of stakeholders, such child labor and forced labor on cocoa farms in hundreds of cocoa-growing
as the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), which brings together communities. As leaders in the cocoa sector, Mondelēz International shares
governments of cocoa-producing and cocoa-consuming countries and best practices and learnings from Cocoa Life and is part of the global
the private sector. In addition, the team works with non-governmental conversation on cocoa sustainability that ranges from insights on agricultural
organizations (NGOs), such as CARE International, Save the Children, practices and community development to recommendations on issues of
Solidaridad, Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) and World Vision, which gender and child labor.
have a lot of experience working with cocoa communities.
 11
The Challenge Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Origins Future Outlook
Why Cocoa
Life?

WHY COCOA LIFE?

Cocoa Life is a holistic, verified program designed to create an Launched in 2012, Cocoa Life will invest $400 million USD
essential foundation for sustainable cocoa while transforming the by 2022 to empower at least 200,000 cocoa farmers and
reach one million community members in six key cocoa-
lives and livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their communities. growing origins: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Indonesia, India, the
Dominican Republic and Brazil. This effort builds on the
Simply put, Cocoa Life is Mondelēz International’s program Cadbury Cocoa Partnership, which was founded in Ghana
in 2008.
to create empowered cocoa farmers in thriving communities
to develop and maintain a sustainable cocoa supply. It is the
company’s ultimate goal to source all of its cocoa sustainably,
“COCOA LIFE HELPS TO TRANSFORM THE GLOBAL COCOA
mainly through Cocoa Life. SUPPLY CHAIN BY WORKING WITH FARMERS, COMMUNITIES,
AND OTHER KEY PEOPLE ALONG THE SUPPLY CHAIN TO
HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON LIVELIHOODS, COMMUNITIES,
AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS EFFORT IS COMPLETELY
ALIGNED WITH THE WORLD WILDLIFE FUND’S MARKET
TRANSFORMATIONS MISSION AND OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO WORK TOGETHER AND INNOVATE TO CREATE A MUCH
MORE SUSTAINABLE COCOA SUPPLY CHAIN.”
– David W. McLaughlin, Cocoa Life Advisor and Managing
Director and Vice President of Agriculture,
World Wildlife Fund
 12
The Challenge Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Origins Future Outlook
Why Cocoa
Life?

PRINCIPLES & APPROACH

Cocoa Life is based on three non-negotiable principles:

HOLISTIC AND COMMITTED TO ALIGNED WITH

FARMER CENTRIC PARTNERSHIPS OUR SOURCING

By listening to cocoa farmers, their families Partnership is the key to lasting change. By Cocoa Life strives to ensure that all
and their communities, Cocoa Life designs creating partnerships with governments, non- partners along the cocoa supply chain
interventions that empower their own government organizations, supply chain partners support the approach. By sourcing Cocoa
development, improve their incomes and and communities, the program can support Life beans from the farmer organizations,
help their communities to thrive. Cocoa Life communities in finding real solutions Cocoa Life farmers become active
that lead to measurable transformations. This members of the supply chain.
can’t be done alone.

“WORKING WITH NGO PARTNERS IN COCOA LIFE FARMING COMMUNITIES, WE CAN HOLISTICALLY REACH EVEN MORE FARMERS ON THE GROUND AND
SEEK TO IMPROVE THE ENTIRE SOCIOECONOMIC ECOSYSTEM. ECOM AGROINDUSTRIAL CORP. LTD’S (ECOM) ROLE IN PROVIDING ACCESS TO FARMING
MATERIALS AND TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING TOGETHER WITH THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS OF OTHER PARTNERS
BRINGS COCOA LIFE’S INTEGRATED APPROACH TO LIFE.”
—Alexi Koffi Oulo, Cocoa Operation Manager Ivory Coast, ECOM
 13
The Challenge Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Origins Future Outlook
Why Cocoa
Life?

COCOA LIFE DRIVES CHANGE IN FIVE FOCUS AREAS

FARMING COMMUNITY LIVELIHOODS YOUTH ENVIRONMENT

Help farmers improve yields Enable men and women to Improve business skills Make cocoa farming Protect the land and
and earn higher incomes work together to transform and provide access to a more attractive forests in which cocoa
via the application of good their communities by microcredit so that profession for young is grown to maintain
agricultural practices. developing action plans farmers can develop people after they finish ecosystems and provide
These should be combined to improve infrastructure, additional sources of school by creating jobs viable environments and
with better access to gender equality and income and reinvest in at the village level and farming land for future
demonstration parcels and education; build a sense of their businesses. developing training for generations.
the distribution of improved opportunity and ownership these positions.
planting material. within communities.

In addition, Cocoa Life has embedded women’s empowerment and elimination of

child labor as cross-cutting themes to support each of these five areas.
 14
The Challenge Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Origins Future Outlook
Why Cocoa
Life?

TAILORING THE APPROACH TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY

When entering into new communities, Cocoa Life conducts a thorough full partners in the program. The needs assessment covers all focus areas
participatory needs assessment that allows the team to identify priorities and informs the program design with partners.
in the region and map the various communities. As part of the needs
assessment process, the team visits some 25 percent of all registered As a next step, community members develop a Community Action Plan
farmers in the community. This process is the starting point for (CAP), facilitated by the Cocoa Life partners, which provides a detailed
communities to take ownership of their development and helps introduce roadmap for community activation. The CAP is entirely generated and
the goals of the Cocoa Life program. It also helps manage expectations, owned by the community.
build trust with the new cocoa communities and allow the community to be
 15
The Challenge Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Origins Future Outlook
Why Cocoa
Life?

COMMITMENT TO THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION

Cocoa Life tracks and reports impact against 10 global key performance indicators (KPIs) that correspond to the program’s five key areas.

FARMING COMMUNITY LIVELIHOODS YOUTH ENVIRONMENT

• Net income from • Increase in women’s • Net income from • Reduction in child labor • Helping future farming
cocoa (men/women) participation in decision- sources other than and forced child labor generations through
making process cocoa (men/women) sustainable natural
• Cocoa productivity • Increase career resources use on farm
(men/women) • Increase of capacity in • Reduced vulnerability opportunities
the community to plan of cocoa farmers to for youth in • Increase conservation of
and advocate for their external shocks cocoa sector forests and maintenance
own social development of ecosystems

“THE COCOA LIFE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO EMPOWER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO CREATE POSITIVE
CHANGE. FURTHER, THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES INCREASING THE AGENCY OF WOMEN WHO ARE TYPICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY
ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE COCOA FARMING COMMUNITIES FLOURISH TODAY AND TOMORROW.”
– Mil Niepold, Cocoa Life Advisor and mediation expert, The Mara Partners
 16
The Challenge Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Origins Future Outlook
Why Cocoa
Life?

Cocoa Life aims for a scalable transformation at farm level. As part of Cocoa Life has engaged FLOCERT, a leading global certification body,
its long-term Cocoa Life roadmap, in 2014, Mondelēz International to trace both the flow of Cocoa Life cocoa from Cocoa Life farms and
released its Measurement, Evaluation, Verification and Learning plan. This the premium that is then paid to benefit the farmers. FLOCERT provides
committed that Cocoa Life would be externally verified. verification services for social, trade and environmental standards and
private codes of conduct. In 2015, these verification efforts focused first
Cocoa Life began engaging an independent research team to provide in Côte d’Ivoire, where the team began to track supply chain volumes
third-party verification of the program and measurement of its impact on between farmer organizations and first buyer.
the ground. Cocoa Life uses these results to learn about how the program
is delivering on its goals and make the adjustments necessary to meet its FLOCERT’s FLOTIS tracking system is now operational for all the volume
objectives. The verification consists of: that is recognized as Cocoa Life. The system tracks volumes sold by
Cocoa Life farmers to suppliers and matches with the volumes bought by
• Annual outcome assessment against the 10 Global KPIs Mondelēz International from the same suppliers. It also tracks payment
from Mondelēz International to the suppliers and, in turn, to the Cocoa Life
• Impact evaluation, every three years, comparing participating communities
communities, and verifies that premiums have been paid to the Cocoa Life
with control communities
farmer groups.
Additionally, it is very important to have transparency in the supply chain
Throughout this process, Cocoa Life is guided by a group of advisors and
to help empower farmers. Supply chain verification is, therefore, a critical
strategic partners from outside the business. They helped develop the
element of Cocoa Life so it is known that participating farmers are part of a
program’s approach and provided oversight for the implementation of
healthy supply chain and that their terms of trade are clear and respected.
Cocoa Life.

“TRANSPARENCY IN TODAY’S VALUE CHAINS IS A CRITICAL PART OF SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS; IT PROMOTES EFFICIENCY IN OPERATIONS AND ALLOWS
COMPANIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OVERALL IMPACT. WE ARE PLEASED TO PROVIDE VERIFICATION SERVICES TAILORED SPECIFICALLY TO THE COCOA
LIFE PROGRAM AND LOOK FORWARD TO BEING PART OF ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.”
– Rüdiger Meyer, CEO of FLOCERT
 17
The Challenge Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Origins Future Outlook
Why Cocoa
Life?

IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ON FARM PRODUCTIVITY

To help address challenges faced by cocoa farmers, the Cocoa Life Research Cocoa Life farmers in 2016. The R&D team is working with Cocoa Life’s
and Development (R&D) team is leading projects to improve farm productivity partners to establish plant production nurseries in the other origins. At least
in the six cocoa supply origins. This global team consists of plant science 200,000 seedlings will be distributed to Côte d’Ivoire in 2016.
experts and local technical representatives who work closely with the Cocoa
Life origin teams to implement research projects on the ground and introduce • Ensuring farmers follow and apply the best agricultural practices for
new technologies to Cocoa Life farms. All research projects are carried out in maximizing cocoa yields to increase farm productivity and income.
partnership with the national cocoa research institutes1, universities and/or other For each of the key origins, the Cocoa Life R&D team has developed a
government and industry partners. Engaging with local research institutes is productivity package which includes a good agricultural practice (GAP)
critical to ensuring the adoption of new technologies on the ground and to build curriculum, demonstration plot best practices, and guidelines for establishing
and sustain local technical capacity. a professional, community-based cocoa nursery. The GAP curriculum is
tailored to each origin and details 12 activities to help increase yields from
The Cocoa Life R&D team is committed to improving cocoa productivity by: the baseline average, including prevention and control of cocoa diseases,
shade management, pruning and soil health.
• Breeding higher yielding, more disease-resistant varieties. Together with other
industry partners, the Dutch Government and Cocoa Research Institute of The Cocoa Life R&D team will be using data from the Mapping Cocoa
Ghana (CRIG), Cocoa Life supports the Mebang Megakarya Selection Productivity project to generate farm-specific recommendations, which will
Program (MMSP) – a breeding program in Ghana developing cocoa varieties improve the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of interventions. Mapping Cocoa
that are capable of producing higher yields and are more resistant to black Productivity is a three-year study of about 300 farms across West Africa and
pod, which is one of the most destructive cocoa diseases in West Africa. Indonesia, running in collaboration with the University of Reading, UK. The
project measures cocoa yield with the agricultural inputs and GAP applied
• Providing Cocoa Life farmers with new cocoa plants to help rejuvenate on the farms to demonstrate the impact of individual farming practices and
farms and improve cocoa yield. In Ghana, Cocoa Life has teamed up with environmental factors such as weather and soil composition. Other R&D
Tree Global, a professional tree nursery company, to establish a state of projects include assessment of farm rejuvenation techniques in Brazil, best
the art cocoa seedling nursery which will deliver 500,000 seedlings to fermentation practices in Indonesia and optimum planting density in India.

1
Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG); Centre Nacional de Recherche Agronomique (CRNA), Côte d’Ivoire; Indonesian Coffee & Cocoa Research Institute (ICCRI); Tamil
Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), India; Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), India.
 18
The Challenge Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Origins Future Outlook
Why Cocoa
Life?

OUR COCOA LIFE ROADMAP

The aim is to reach and about

200,000 1 million
The team is focused on achieving scale
and driving impact in origin countries
where cocoa is produced.
cocoa farmers... people in cocoa
communities
by 2022

CÔTE
GHANA INDONESIA
D’IVOIRE

DOMINICAN
INDIA BRAZIL
REPUBLIC
 19
The Challenge Cocoa Life Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Origins Future Outlook
Why Cocoa
Life?

GHANA

CÔTE
D’IVOIRE

INDIA

INDONESIA

DOMINCAN
BRAZIL
REPUBLIC
 20
The Challenge Why Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Cocoa Life? Future Outlook
Cocoa Life
Origins
Ghana Côte d’Ivoire Indonesia Additional

28,000 GHANA
Farmers currently

446
participating in THE ORIGINS OF COCOA LIFE BEGAN IN 2008,
Cocoa Life*
AS THE CADBURY COCOA PARTNERSHIP
Cocoa Life
(CCP) IN GHANA – THE WORLD’S SECOND
communities* LARGEST COCOA-PRODUCING COUNTRY. THE
CCP SERVED AS THE FOUNDATION FOR COCOA
LIFE. HERE IS A LOOK AT HOW THE PROGRAM
Cocoa Life active IS INCREASING WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT IN
in country since COCOA FARMING, PROMOTING PROFITABLE

2012 LIVELIHOODS AND ENSURING A SUSTAINABLE

COCOA SUPPLY.

6
Cocoa Life origin
team members
GHANA
COCOA BOARD
(COCOBOD)
Cocoa Life's
government partner
● Cocoa Life regions
*
End of 2015
 21
The Challenge Why Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Cocoa Life? Future Outlook
Cocoa Life
Origins
Ghana Côte d’Ivoire Indonesia Additional

MAKING PROGRESS IN GHANA, YET MORE TO DO

Initial results from Ghana show that Cocoa Life size or self-reported knowledge of being part was a big task, and the results of the first impact
farmers’ incomes in the first 100 communities of certification. Likewise, yield per hectare study indicate that Cocoa Life has made a
to join the program increased from around increased by 37 percent more than control positive difference.
1,000 Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) to nearly 3,000 communities, but the survey identified no clear
GHS between 2009 and 2014. This increase driver for this increase. Introducing a new verification program is an
was 49 percent more than experienced by ambitious and challenging undertaking. A
farmers in control communities that were not These results are based on data taken by a critical component to this is the understanding
part of the program. research team from Harvard University. The team of whether the efforts being taken are having
was brought in during 2014 to measure and verify the impact expected to support real change on
The research found that nearly three-quarters the impact of Cocoa Life in Ghana across a range the ground.
of this increase was driven by greater volume of factors — including farm incomes, benefits
of cocoa sold and did not link this increase in for women and youth, and environmental impact While these findings suggest a strong positive
incomes to cocoa prices, training received, — and compare those results with baseline data contribution to Cocoa Life’s key performance
memberships of farmer organizations, farm collected in 2009 for the same communities. It indicators (KPIs) on net income from cocoa
 22
The Challenge Why Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Cocoa Life? Future Outlook
Cocoa Life
Origins
Ghana Côte d’Ivoire Indonesia Additional

and cocoa productivity, the results were not yet differentiated by men
and women. In addition, there is a need to understand better what is COCOA LIFE VS. CONTROL COMMUNITIES
driving these increases to ensure improvements are sustained and can
be repeated elsewhere. Further, the study did not show clear results
on other Cocoa Life KPIs. However, as the KPIs were established in
2013, well after the original 2009 baseline data collection, it may not Net income X3,
be possible to fully assess progress on these KPIs against the control increase

49%
communities.

As part of its long-term Cocoa Life roadmap, Mondelēz International

released its Measurement, Evaluation, Verification and Learning plan in more than control
2014. This committed that Cocoa Life would be externally verified with communities
an annual third-party outcome assessment against the 10 KPIs and
and an impact evaluation, every three years, in addition to supply chain
verification by FLOCERT. This initial impact evaluation from Ghana is
a first step towards that commitment, and provides opportunities to
improve the timeliness of results, alignment with Cocoa Life’s KPIs and Yield increase

37%
the level of gender disaggregation. These improvements are necessary
to help to improve Cocoa Life on the ground and will be achieved
by implementing annual outcome assessments completed by an
independent third-party for our top three origins, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire more than control
and Indonesia. communities

About the study: Data reported are from the first 100 communities to join the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership (CCP) in 2009. The results are from a survey during 2014 that compared
these Cocoa Life communities in Ghana with control communities that were not part of the program. The 2014 survey followed a complete cycle of the CCP program and compared
progress against 2009 baseline data. As part of our long-term Cocoa Life roadmap, KPIs were validated and published in 2013. Baseline measurements have been retrospectively aligned
where possible; however, the overall level of gender disaggregation in the results is much lower than expected in the future.
 23
The Challenge Why Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Cocoa Life? Future Outlook
Cocoa Life
Origins
Ghana Côte d’Ivoire Indonesia Additional

A STORY ON WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT

 24
The Challenge Why Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Cocoa Life? Future Outlook
Cocoa Life
Origins
Ghana Côte d’Ivoire Indonesia Additional

WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN FOR A

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN COCOA FARMING

Women cocoa farmers face many challenges – they earn less than their male counterparts
and struggle with lower farm productivity, smaller farms and less access to financing and
farm inputs. This is why JANET OPARE-ADDO, a Cocoa Life Women’s Extension
Volunteer in Ghana, finds enormous fulfillment in her role helping empower the women
in her community to be strong, accomplished cocoa farmers. Supporting gender equality
and women’s empowerment not only helps women to better support their families and
contribute to the development of their communities, but ultimately secures the future
supply of cocoa by improving its productivity and quality.
A mother of six, Janet leads community mobilization for many Cocoa Life activities,
including the development of Community Action Plans (CAPs). She serves as a liaison and
support for women who take part in training programs to ensure that correct methods are
applied on farms. Janet supports 570 men and women in community development projects
across Asukyerema and five satellite communities. This includes leading two Village Savings
and Loans Associations (VSLA). Here, Janet shares details about her work.
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WOMEN’S
EMPOWERMENT
STORY BY
JANET OPARE-ADDO

CONCENTRATED TRAINING HELPS WOMEN The programs are structured as group educational
discussions. Some training sessions also include
SUCCEED AS COCOA FARMERS THE COCOA LIFE PROGRAM AND
hands-on demonstrations on a farm, like the lessons
related to pruning techniques. Other trainings teach ABANTU SHARE A COMMON GOAL
When I visit the cocoa farms in my region each day, how to control and prevent cocoa farm diseases. OF ACHIEVING GENDER EQUALITY
I see a wonderful thing. I see many successful and
WITHIN THE COCOA INDUSTRY
capable women from my community working as More than 100 women from our community have
independent farmers to cultivate their cocoa fields. participated in the Cocoa Life training program. AND AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.
This is a beautiful sight, because I have devoted THAT’S WHY WE OFFER GENDER
myself over the last three years to ensuring the WOMEN COCOA FARMERS FACE MAINSTREAMING TRAINING FOR
women of my community have support and training
MANY CHALLENGES KEY STAKEHOLDERS, WHICH
to be successful cocoa farmers who can care for
their families. INCLUDES CREATING ACTION PLANS
The biggest challenge women face is the ability to FOR INCORPORATING GENDER
The Cocoa Life training program focuses on several acquire land for farming. Most women do not have
PERSPECTIVES IN THEIR WORK
areas of significant need in Ghana. For example, we access to land. As a result, some depend on their
conduct education on cocoa farm maintenance and husbands for property. Even when land is available, GOING FORWARD.
discuss important issues related to the prevention of most women do not have money to buy it.
—Rose Mensah-Kutin,
child labor. We also spend a large amount of time in PhD, Director, West Africa Regional
training sessions about nursing and planting of Women have traditionally been excluded from some Office, ABANTU for Development
cocoa seedlings. farming techniques, such as felling trees, crop-
spraying or pruning. The enhanced skills we gain
through the trainings help address these challenges.
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WOMEN’S
EMPOWERMENT
STORY BY
JANET OPARE-ADDO

Some women have learned ways to acquire or maintenance and increased crop yield. Those who
access land from their husband or family members participate in the programs have realized significant
THROUGH TRAININGS FROM COCOA
to start their own farms. And we are helping women increases in their crop yields.
access their own cocoa farms through either shared LIFE AND VSO’S WOMEN EXTENSION
cropping or buying land for cultivation. Women are And, because of the training, more women feel VOLUNTEERS ON TECHNICAL,
now active members of the Cocoa Life societies empowered with the knowledge and skills to manage
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND
at the community level. Because of this, women in their cocoa farms. Now, they know how to access
loans, which helps them pay for labor. We’ve learned LEADERSHIP SKILLS, WOMEN
the group usually support the other women during
harvesting and pruning. firsthand that cocoa farming is a business and that FARMERS COME TO VIEW
what men can do women can do too. THEMSELVES AS BUSINESSWOMEN.
The most rewarding part of my work is when I see
The Cocoa Life program is helping us earn more GENDER TRAINING FOR A RANGE
my other sisters apply new skills on their farms. I’m
proud of them and all the women in our community. money, and loans enable investment and cocoa farm OF STAKEHOLDERS HELPS
They are great role models for the next generation maintenance, resulting in trees giving more fruits. ENSURE WOMEN OF COCOA
and I hope to inspire my sons and daughters to grow We can then not only support our families, but also
FARMING COMMUNITIES ACTIVELY
up to be cocoa farmers too. give back to our community. It helps women build
confidence in their abilities to be cocoa farmers, and PARTICIPATE IN DECISION-MAKING
EMPOWERING WOMEN IMPROVES LOCAL through this program, communities are encouraged PROCESSES THAT HAVE A DIRECT
to lead their own development. These are amazing IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES.
COCOA FARMING COMMUNITIES accomplishments.
—Fidelis Yapel, Cocoa Life Program
The impact of Cocoa Life is far-reaching and Manager, VSO, Ghana
goes beyond the women we train. Because of this
program, many aspects of cocoa farming in my
community also have improved – from planting
through to lining and pegging, regular farm
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COCOA LIFE PRIORITIZES WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

Stephanie Barrientos, Professor at the University of Manchester’s Global Development Institute, visited Cocoa Life communities in Ghana and
offers insights on how Cocoa Life is addressing women's empowerment and gender equality, which are key components of the program.

Gender inequality and a traditional viewpoint Cocoa Life is promoting gender equality by This is critically important because there is
that women’s roles are subordinate in farming recognizing women as producers and providing evidence women are more likely than men
are deep-rooted in cocoa communities. At better access to credit, training and extension. to spend income on children’s education and
the same time, there are increasing concerns Women’s empowerment is also a cornerstone health. Women often have greater concern for
about future productivity and quality of cocoa. of the design and implementation of the the social viability of cocoa communities. To
Research has found women are engaged in Community Action Plans (CAPs). CAPs are an secure the future supply of cocoa and vibrant
activities that enhance cocoa yields and quality, excellent platform for women to have a voice cocoa communities, Cocoa Life must continue
including early plant care and post-harvest in shaping their communities’ future success. to support and build efforts promoting gender
fermentation and drying. However, they face However, there is still much work to be done equality and women’s empowerment.
specific challenges and their role in family farm to overcome challenges of embedded gender
labor is unrecognized. Promoting a cultural bias. The work at the community level must
shift to ensure gender equality in the cocoa- be reinforced at regional and national levels to
chocolate value chain is central to guaranteeing ensure gender equality efforts are consistent
future resilience of supply and ensuring future and become the norm.
generations find the occupation attractive.
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A STORY ON LIVELIHOODS
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ENSURING THRIVING LIVELIHOODS AND

LIVELIHOODS EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES THROUGH ACCESS TO FINANCE

Financial security is an aspiration often out of reach for many cocoa farmers,
whose varying seasonal earnings and low incomes can be unattractive to banking
institutions. To provide an additional financial resource for these farmers, Cocoa
Life joined forces with CARE International and other NGOs to introduce
Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) in cocoa farming communities.
THEOPHILUS NKANSAH of CARE International provides insights on
the program.

Photo courtesy of CARE International

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LIVELIHOODS
STORY BY
THEOPHILUS
NKANSAH

IMPROVING SOCIOECONOMIC ECOSYSTEM Under the leadership of CARE International in

Ghana, Cocoa Life and other NGOs came together
FOR COCOA FARMERS AND THEIR to form Village Savings and Loans Associations ACCESS TO FINANCE IS KEY TO ENSURING
COMMUNITIES (VSLA) in cocoa farming communities. Members of a THRIVING LIVELIHOODS AND EMPOWERED
VSLA make small, regular monetary contributions to a COCOA FARMING COMMUNITIES. THE
The Asunafo North and Amansie West Districts in shared pool, from which they may each take out low- COCOA LIFE PROGRAM HAS NOT ONLY
Ghana are home to more than 6,000 registered interest loans – up to three times the amount of their
contribution – after three months of contributions. SEEN CARE’S VILLAGE SAVINGS AND
cocoa farmers in cooperative societies. These cocoa
farmers face complex challenges that affect their
LOAN ASSOCIATION (VSLA) MODEL
At the end of a one-year cycle, the sum of the pool is SUCCESSFULLY BRING COMMUNITIES
productivity and livelihoods. Shocks to the community,
shared out among members based on contributions
such as bushfires, and poor yield are common to cocoa TOGETHER, BUT ALSO ENABLE THE
made and a new contribution cycle begins. Members
farmers. Their vulnerability is worsened by financial DEVELOPMENT OF A SAVINGS CULTURE,
also establish a dedicated insurance fund meant to help
insecurity due to unstable farm-related incomes and INCREASED LITERACY LEVELS AND
with emergencies, such as illness and accidents.
lack of access to banking services.
IMPROVED MANAGEMENT SKILLS. MOST
The pioneering VSLA program began as a pilot in 2012.
Also, a lack of financial literacy means there is
As of August 2015, we have implemented 217 VSLAs
IMPORTANTLY, THE PROGRAM IS A
not a culture of saving in the cocoa communities. KEY DRIVER TO EMPOWERING WOMEN
across 60 communities in Ghana and 132 VSLAs
Banking institutions and microfinance companies
across 11 communities in Côte d’Ivoire – involving ECONOMICALLY. ULTIMATELY, IT LEADS
are reluctant to extend loans to rural groups because
more than 7,600 members. Other partners are also TO A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR
these groups do not have the collateral required.
implementing VSLA programs and similar savings THESE FAMILIES.
Moreover, the financial institutions can also find it
programs in Cocoa Life communities in Ghana and
expensive to deal with rural communities because
across other origin countries. – Christine Svarer, Head,
they have small amounts of money to save.
Private Sector Engagement,
CARE International UK
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LIVELIHOODS
STORY BY
THEOPHILUS
NKANSAH

ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS in the lean season when the family struggled to
obtain three meals a day.
IN VSLAS ARE WOMEN THE VSLA GROUP CHANGED MY LIFE. EVEN
Since Cecilia became a member of “Onuado WHEN I JOINED, I NEVER DREAMED OF SUCH
Members of VSLAs use the funds for a broad Kuo,” a VSLA group, the tides have turned, EARNINGS AT THE END OF ‘SHARE OUT.’ NOW
range of investments including: purchase and her face now beams with joy. Cecilia
I CAN BORROW MONEY FROM OUR GROUP
of fertilizers allowing them to increase their contributes every week to her group fund with
yield, start-up capital for new businesses, the small savings she gets from farm proceeds. FUND TO SUPPORT MY HUSBAND AND PAY
expansion of existing businesses, starting new As a result, she received funds as part of a FOR OUR CHILDREN’S SCHOOL FEES. I HAVE
cocoa farms, rehabilitating old cocoa farms ‘share out’ benefit from her contributions plus ALSO BEEN ABLE TO ESTABLISH MY OWN CHOP
and hiring laborers. The social fund helps with group-accumulated interest over the period.
BAR, HIRE LABOR AND BUY AGROCHEMICALS
emergencies such as illness, hospitalizations or
a death in the family. Women like Cecilia comprise about 70 FOR MY FARM. MY FARM HAS BECOME MORE
percent of participants in these VSLAs. One BEAUTIFUL. THE VSLA IS A BLESSING.
The success story of Cecilia Manu, a mother woman participant used microloans from her
of four, who lives in the Bonsaso community, VSLA to open a shop that helped her family – Cecilia Manu, Onuado Kuo, Bonsaso
is an excellent example of how the VSLA during a time when their cocoa farm was
program changes lives of families in these underperforming. Others like Mary Adjei,
communities. Cecilia has worked in cocoa whose family lived hand-to-mouth until
farming for decades. Because of financial participation in a VSLA in Otwebediadua,
challenges and inconsistent incomes common have been afforded opportunities to properly
to most cocoa farmers, Cecilia and her maintain their farm, pay for laborers and send
husband had been struggling to buy books and their children and grandchildren to school.
pay school fees for their children’s education.
Their plight became even more disheartening
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A STORY ON ENVIRONMENT
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IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

ENVIRONMENT
OF FARM LAND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS IN GHANA

Ghana supplies about 20 percent of global cocoa. However, excessive reliance on plant
monocultures, failure to plant trees for shade and other poor agricultural practices have left
this country’s crop vulnerable to deforestation and resource depletion, impacting its future
sustainability. To reverse this trend and ensure a sustainable future for the region’s cocoa
production, the Cocoa Life program is working with the United Nations Development
Programme’s (UNDP) Environmental Sustainability and Policy for Cocoa Production in
Ghana (ESP) project, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and cocoa traders.
ATSU TITIATI, Project Coordinator for ESP, shares insights regarding these efforts.
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ENVIRONMENT
STORY BY
ATSU TITIATI

ENCOURAGING FARMERS TO ADOPT At ESP, we are working to address environmental

sustainability issues in hundreds of Ghana’s cocoa- TO ENSURE YOUTH INTEREST IN THE
SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES growing communities through implementation of
the principles central to the environmental key
COCOA SUPPLY CHAIN, PROVIDE ACCESS
Ghana’s cocoa landscape has changed dramatically area of the Cocoa Life initiative. Our efforts center TO PLANTING MATERIALS AND CREATE
in recent decades. Some off-reserve or protected on conserving the natural ecosystems within the JOBS, COCOA LIFE CREATED THIRTEEN
areas within the cocoa belt in Ghana, which were cocoa landscapes to maintain and provide viable YOUTH GROUPS IN THE WASSA EAST
once occupied with high-moisture forest, have been environments and farmland for future generations. DISTRICT IN GHANA’S WESTERN REGION.
grossly deforested, resulting in the gradual intrusion These efforts enable and encourage cocoa
of grassland and changing micro-climatic conditions THE YOUTH GROUPS DEVELOP COCOA
farmers to move toward more sustainable “green
that are not capable of supporting profitable cocoa production” principles.
NURSERIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
production. Current production practices are AND SOME MEMBERS GO ON TO JOIN
generally unsustainable and continue to worsen ENCOURAGING BIODIVERSITY COCOA FARMING SOCIETIES. AFTER
the cycle of environmental degradation, which SUCCESSFULLY NURTURING 600
potentially poses significant threats to farmers’ CONSERVATION AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL
SEEDLINGS, 25-YEAR-OLD JANET OTABIL
livelihoods. These unsustainable practices include
continued crop expansion into forested areas The UNDP believes in incorporating community- ESTABLISHED HER OWN COCOA; SHE NOW
and using unapproved chemical pesticides. These based approaches to natural resources management IS THE PROUD OWNER OF A ONE-AND-A-
challenges are a potential roadblock to the long- in order to address problems at the broader HALF ACRE COCOA FARM.
term development of cocoa farming in Ghana. landscape level. To that end, we are piloting
Community Resource Management Areas – Emmanuel Aboagye, Development
(CREMA) in 36 communities within the Asunafo Facilitator, World Vision Ghana (WVG)
North cocoa landscape.
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ENVIRONMENT
STORY BY
ATSU TITIATI

CREMAs serve as natural resource management from COCOBOD and more than 1,400 cocoa
and planning tools that are the basis for community farmers including chiefs, assemblymen and women COCOA LIFE IS A GLOBALLY IMPORTANT
initiatives. CREMAs provide communities, from the seven local districts have been trained on
landowners and land users important resources more sustainable farming practices.
AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAM TO PROMOTE
to help them protect forest and wildlife resources AND SCALE UP SUSTAINABLE COCOA BY
within the boundaries of the CREMA. Partnerships across the cocoa production industry PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND BEST
are crucial to the success of our long-term efforts. PRACTICES VIA MONDELĒZ INTERNATIONAL’S
As a result of ESP’s efforts, cocoa farmers in the Therefore, we work directly with government
SUPPLY CHAINS AND PARTNERS. THE
Cocoa Life operational areas are gradually moving agencies, including the Forestry and Lands
away from their “old farming methods” that placed Commissions, the Land Administration Project PROGRAM PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL
no value on environmental sustainability and (LAP), the Environmental Protection Agency SUSTAINABILITY AT THE FARMER,
embracing green production practices. They are (EPA), COCOBOD, Ghana Cocoa Platform COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL LEVELS,
reintroducing native shade trees to cocoa farms as (GCP) and other actors. FOCUSING ON REDUCING DEFORESTATION
part of efforts to conserve biodiversity and enhance AND PROMOTING THE USE OF SHADE TREES
biophysical conditions on cocoa fields. Together, we implement national strategies for
sustainable environmental management, including ON COCOA FARMS. COCOA LIFE IS ADVANCING
TRAINING FARMERS TO BE the UN programme to Reduce Emissions from STRATEGIES TO INCREASE SCALE. THIS
Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), SHOULD RESULT IN A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION
SUSTAINABILITY STEWARDS ensuring that field-level realities feed into national TO CARBON EMISSION REDUCTION AND MAKE
dialogues and policies. COCOA FARMS MORE SUSTAINABLE AND
Simultaneously, we’re hosting farmer training
workshops through the Cocoa Life program and in RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
coordination with training programs developed by
– Andrew Bovarnick, Cocoa Life Advisor
the COCOBOD. Community Extension Agents
and Lead Natural Resource Economist
and Global Head, United Nations
Development Programme’s Green
Commodities Programme
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ENVIRONMENT
STORY BY
ATSU TITIATI

PLANTING SHADE TREES ACHIEVES FARM destroyed trees or undertake new plantings on
farms. Farmers who have planted economic shade
DIVERSIFICATION AND SUSTAINABILITY trees on their farms receive help registering them
with the Forestry Commission in order to guarantee
As part of the ESP activities, farmers receive their ownership of the trees.
support from the UNDP to help them plant and
conserve economic trees – those planted for Since 2014, the project has distributed more than
purposes other than producing cocoa – which 787,000 economic tree seedlings to more than
diversify the farms, provide alternate revenue 9,600 cocoa farmers. It is gratifying to report that
streams, and also make the forests more resilient to seedling planting and survival rates are about 90
the risk of pests and disease. UNDP has launched percent and 95 percent, respectively.
a campaign to encourage farmers to either replant
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PARTNERING WITH COCOBOD IN GHANA

Dr. Francis Baah, Executive Director of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), explains how Mondelēz International and COCOBOD launched
a public-private partnership to enhance farmers’ access to cocoa production technologies and empower farming communities. This was an
important effort in Ghana, where cocoa is a pivotal crop for farmers and the national economy.

There are more than 800,000 rural families Life, this has risen to 39 CEAs working in Division, to ensure holistic development for
in Ghana that depend on cocoa for their 330 communities. This has led to significant farm families and empowerment of farming
livelihoods. Our Cocoa Extension and Advisory adoption of good agricultural practices and communities. This work has changed and will
Services program, which counts Mondelēz farm business skills. Farmers in the program continue to change the cocoa landscape for
International and Cocoa Life as partners, is harvest 700 kg/ha, well above the national betterment of Ghana’s farmers.
working to reduce poverty for these farmers average of 450 kg/ha.2
and enhance export earnings for Ghana. We
started with 17 Community Extension Agents The Cocoa Life program has also brought
(CEAs) working in 110 communities to train together a range of other partners, including A 2014 survey of Cocoa Life communities in Ghana
2

farmers on agricultural practices and provide Department of Co-operatives, Abantu found that nearly three-quarters of the increase in
access to quality seedlings, fertilizers and for Development, World Vision, CARE Cocoa Life farmers’ incomes was driven by greater
International, and Non-Formal Education weight of cocoa sold (see page 21).
pesticides. Since the partnership with Cocoa
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17,600
Farmers currently
219
Cocoa Life
participating in
Cocoa Life*
communities* CÔTE D’IVOIRE
COCOA LIFE HAS A STRONG PRESENCE IN
Cocoa Life active in
CÔTE D’IVOIRE, THE WORLD’S LEADING

5
country since

2013 Cocoa Life

COCOA PRODUCING COUNTRY. HERE IS A
LOOK AT HOW EFFORTS TO ADDRESS CHILD
LABOR ARE DRAWN FROM ON-THE-GROUND
origin team
members FAMILY AND FARMING EXPERIENCES AND
HOW ONE FARMER IS TRANSLATING COCOA
LIFE TRAINING INTO HIGHER YIELDS,
BENEFITING BOTH HIS FAMILY
AND COMMUNITY.

CONSEIL DU
CAFÉ-CACAO
Cocoa Life's
government partner

● Cocoa Life regions

*
End of 2015
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A STORY ON FARMING
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INCREASING COCOA YIELD AND

FARMING
BUILDING STRONG FARMING COMMUNITIES IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE

AMADOU OUATTARA, a 52-year-old farmer and father of 11 children ages 3 to 22,

is a lead farmer and member of ECAM, a large cooperative of more than 900 farmers
participating in the Cocoa Life program in Côte d’Ivoire. ECAM is led by
Madame Fanny Assata Doumbia in the village of Meagui.
Amadou provides his insights on being a farmer in Côte d’Ivoire and the impact of the
program on his village and his family.
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FARMING STORY BY
AMADOU OUATTARA

MASTERING ADVANCED FARMING Cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire face a variety of

problems, including soil degradation and plant
TECHNIQUES TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY WE CREATE PROGRAMS AS PART
diseases. The cocoa trees are old and the soil fertility
depletes as we grow the same crop on it over 40 OF COCOA LIFE TO HELP COCOA
I belong to a family of several generations of cocoa years. Productivity falls, and we do not have enough FARMERS IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE INVEST
farmers. Both my father and grandfather cultivated access to compost and fertilizer. We also lack access IN THEIR FARMS AND GROW THEIR
cocoa, and I have been doing so since I was 17 years to planting materials (seeds and seedlings).
old. I enjoy working the land and farming supports SMALL BUSINESSES. THE PROGRAM
me well. My farm is among the biggest in the Through Cocoa Life, we are able to expand our STARTS WITH INSPIRING YOUNG
community. Unlike many farmers in my community knowledge about new farming techniques and learn ADULTS TO PURSUE COCOA FARMING
who rent the land they cultivate, I own my land. to master good agricultural practices. Through
IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AS AN
trainings, we learn pruning techniques that have
My daily work starts at 8 a.m. and continues until raised the quantity and quality of the cocoa ALTERNATIVE TO MOVING TO BIG
midday when I take a break at home, especially harvested. Prior to the Cocoa Life trainings, there CITIES TO LOOK FOR EMPLOYMENT.
during a hot day. I resume in the afternoon at 3 p.m. were cocoa tree diseases that I didn’t know how to WE ALSO INCREASE ACCESS FOR
and work until 6 p.m. The daily tasks I accomplish treat. Now, I know methods to protect my trees
consist mainly of harvesting pods, breaking them YOUTH TO LEARN LIFE SKILLS, SUCH
from the diseases and that has increased my harvest.
to extract the cocoa beans, pruning my trees, AS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT,
maintaining the soil and improving the fertility of the Before joining the Cocoa Life program, I was FINANCIAL LITERACY AND BUSINESS
land. The harvesting season lasts three months from producing 350 kilos of cocoa per hectare. Today,
PRINCIPLES, EMPOWERING THEM
early October until January; it is the busiest time of after two and a half years in the program, my yield
the year. has almost doubled – to 600 kilograms per hectare. TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE FARMING
COMMUNITIES.
– Ahmadou Cis, Solidaridad Country
Representative, Côte d’Ivoire
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FARMING STORY BY
AMADOU OUATTARA

HOLISTIC APPROACH WITH FARMERS THE NEXT GENERATION AS HOPE FOR

AT THE CENTER OF THE COMMUNITY THE FUTURE
Cocoa Life actively encourages community All of my children, eight boys and three girls, are in
development. Close to 100 producers in and around school. I would like for my children to follow in my
my village work together to choose activities that footsteps and become cocoa farmers.
benefit our social well-being. Farmers meet and
initiate programs, and women are actively involved in My immediate hope for the future is simply to
the decision-making. have a larger harvest, a good crop. I would hope
to have a bigger crop this year and improve the
One challenge in our region is related to the farm’s productivity using new techniques. Before, I
management of income. The farmers struggle to didn’t know all of these techniques and did not have
manage money after large harvests and, as a result, support. With help from the Cocoa Life program,
they face difficulties in meeting their families’ needs we have increased yields and are working together to
during the lean season. I believe community support build a thriving and prospering community.
for financial management and social development
should be one of the priorities of the program.

For years, many cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire

were selling their produce to individual buyers at
prices unfavorable to farmers. Due to Cocoa Life
and CARE International, more farmers joined the
partner farmer organization and sell cocoa under
better terms of trade, with premiums and volumes
agreed upon upfront.
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HOW THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT DRIVES A TAILORED APPROACH FOR COCOA LIFE
In May 2014, Cocoa Life worked with CARE and their communities in the Cocoa Life communities face. It is also used to identify ways
International, cocoa suppliers and independent program. To gather this information, one-on- Cocoa Life can support farmers in furthering
university experts to conduct a needs one interviews and focus groups are conducted their own development and transforming the
assessment in the five major regions of Côte with farmers, community leaders, women’s communities into thriving places to live.
d’Ivoire where the program is in place. groups, youth associations, government, non-
governmental organizations (NGOs) and private Here are some key findings from this needs
Needs assessments are conducted when the partners in Côte d’Ivoire and the other origins. assessment and how the areas of the Cocoa Life
program is starting in selected regions and The information is then analyzed to better program in Côte d’Ivoire will be developed to
aim to build participation and engage farmers understand the challenges farmers and their address them.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT FINDINGS IMPLICATIONS FOR COCOA LIFE KEY AREAS

More than 83% of surveyed Only 10% use certified seeds from FARMING efforts include training and access to certified seeds and seedlings
farmers use local non-certified the National Center for Agronomic
seeds for replanting Research (CNRA)

Most cocoa farmers (61%) have Of 39% who went to school, 24% FARMING and COMMUNITY efforts include access to knowledge/literacy
not been to school only attended primary school and production knowledge and tools

97% of farmer members earn most Nearly 70% think they do not LIVELIHOODS efforts focus on increasing income from sources other than
income from cocoa earn enough for basic family and cocoa, mainly through the empowerment of women farmers
farming needs

Majority of cocoa farmers (88%) own their farms, which they inherited YOUTH efforts include training and support for the provision of services to
from parents; there is a limited opportunity for young farmers to own land farmers; these consist of support services such as the production of certified
and invest in cocoa farming planting material, pruning, plant protection and extension services to farm
owners

While most villages are clean, several communities lack local waste ENVIRONMENT efforts address sanitation and hygiene issues via community
management services and have poor sanitation; in addition, deforestation is development plans; partnerships will be developed with key stakeholders
a threat to sustainable management of local resources engaged in controlling deforestation due to cocoa growing
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A STORY ON CHILD LABOR

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EMPOWERING COCOA-GROWING
CHILD LABOR COMMUNITIES TO HELP ERADICATE CHILD LABOR IN WEST AFRICA

Child labor, in its different forms, is prevalent in cocoa-growing regions of Côte d’Ivoire
and Ghana.3 Many factors, from the relative poverty of farmers to the lack of national
infrastructure, schools and healthcare, make children vulnerable to risks and contribute to
the problem.
Over the years, we have worked to help eliminate child labor in cocoa-growing
communities. Cocoa Life addresses child labor directly as well as its root causes. Our NGO
partners, like CARE International and Solidaridad, raise awareness of child labor in Cocoa
Life communities with training for both children and parents. And importantly, Cocoa Life
helps to address the root causes of child labor with actions to improve the livelihoods of
farmers, empower women, and promote education.
As part of this commitment, Cocoa Life has partnered with Embode, an independent
human rights consultancy, to analyze the environment and national child protection
infrastructure in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Indonesia. AARTI KAPOOR, managing
director of Embode, has spent considerable time looking at the issues in the region, and
provides her insights.

3
Tulane University. 2013/14 Survey Research on Child Labor in the West African Cocoa Sector.
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CHILD LABOR
STORY BY
AARTI KAPOOR

CHILDREN AT THE HEART OF As a minimum standard, the term “child labor”

covers any type of children’s work that has a negative
COCOA COMMUNITIES THE ONLY WAY TO EFFECTIVELY
impact on the child, either physical or mental. Child
labor also refers to work by an individual under the TACKLE CHILD LABOR IS TO ADDRESS
Cocoa farmers and their families care deeply about minimum legal age of employment. In some cases, ITS MULTIPLE ROOT CAUSES, WHICH
their children and the future they promise. They have individuals exploit vulnerable children from within or REQUIRES GATHERING MANY SKILL
an inherent desire to invest in the education of their around the community, or who have migrated from
children, not only formally through schools, but also SETS. THAT’S WHY THE COCOA LIFE
other parts of the country or across the border.
informally in cocoa and other agricultural cultivation. The most egregious end of the child labor spectrum COMMITMENT TO PARTNERSHIPS
includes child slavery and trafficking. IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT. AS
Children’s work can be seen as a broad range of
activities. Acceptable children’s work is at one end of THE PROGRAM SCALES UP, COCOA
Despite our best intentions, we cannot tackle
the spectrum, including light work and chores that this important issue by focusing on child labor LIFE WILL HAVE A TRANSFORMATIVE
are age-appropriate, safe, and don’t interfere with alone. I have visited numerous cocoa growing EFFECT ON THE COMMUNITIES
schooling and well-being; acceptable work can even communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and spent WHERE IT’S IMPLEMENTED AND WILL
support aspects of the child’s informal education. time talking with families and children. I have also
However, when children’s work moves beyond age- HAVE AN IMPORTANT IMPACT ON A
had the opportunity to discuss the issues with key
appropriate light work and chores, the situation can government, corporate and NGO stakeholders in LOT OF THE CHILD LABOR RISK.
become exploitative, and this is the child labor that both countries. This has led me to the conviction
we strive to eliminate. – Nick Weatherill, Executive Director,
that a child-centered approach focused on the International Cocoa Initiative
holistic well-being of children is the only sustainable
way to address child labor.
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CHILD LABOR
STORY BY
AARTI KAPOOR

ADDRESSING THE BROADER ISSUES school exams. Without a birth certificate, children can
face ongoing challenges in also acquiring other services
COCOA LIFE’S HOLISTIC APPROACH
Responding to child labor in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and benefits for registered citizens, rendering them more
vulnerable to child labor. It can be a long and arduous TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE
must be about more than raising awareness of
communities and taking a compliance-driven approach. administrative process to acquire such certificates IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING ITS
It’s crucial to also address the broader, endemic involving legal services and local government. As part EFFORTS HAVE CREDIBILITY AND
problem and work to enable every child to grow up in an of Cocoa Life in Côte d’Ivoire, CARE International
INTEGRITY. OTHERS SEEKING
environment safe from all forms of harm, and with access supports local, school-age children through the process
by helping to promote and ensure school attendance. As TO ADDRESS CHILD LABOR AND
to education, healthcare, clean water and sanitation.
a result of this pilot project, 275 children received birth SLAVERY HAVE MUCH TO LEARN
This is why Cocoa Life’s innovative framework of taking certificates. Just this one formal document can make FROM THE COCOA LIFE CHILD LABOR
shared accountability in developing communities brings such a big impact on each and every child.
GUIDANCE DOCUMENT, WHICH WE
much needed hope, attention and resources to the
issue. Cocoa Life tackles the problems in partnership It is clear that child labor does not exist in a vacuum. It WORKED TOGETHER TO DEVELOP
with organizations such as CARE International, occurs through the interaction of complex conditions AND PUBLISH.
World Vision (Ghana), Voluntary Service Overseas and factors over time. It has been socialized in the
International (VSO) and Solidaridad. Together, we culture of cocoa-growing communities for many – Aidan McQuade,
generations. This is why a community development Cocoa Life Advisor and Director,
implement broad-ranging community development Anti-Slavery International
programs, recognizing that every child needs a safe and response, with child well-being at its heart, is the
conducive environment to grow and thrive. sustainable way forward. This approach targets the
root causes of child labor, such as poverty and child
Take, for example, the structural obstacles to accessing vulnerability. It also helps to build on and strengthen
education in Côte d’Ivoire. One of the contributing existing support systems and infrastructure, such
factors is a lack of birth certificates, which inhibits access as social protection, health and education, so that
to education as unregistered children can be turned communities are capable and empowered to adequately
down upon enrollment or prevented from registering for care for their children.
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EXPANDING REACH WITH BARRY CALLEBAUT IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Nicko Debenham, VP Global Cocoa Sustainability and MD Biolands Group at Barry Callebaut, explains how the company is expanding
their work with Cocoa Life. Barry Callebaut, a global cocoa company and major supplier to Mondelēz International, has focused on sustainable
agriculture and farm productivity in West Africa for many years now.

Barry Callebaut is partnering with Solidaridad, In the partnership, Barry Callebaut is plans, and implement actions to strengthen
the international development NGO, to build responsible for farm productivity, which livelihoods, empower women and promote
the reach of Cocoa Life in Côte d’Ivoire. means we will implement the productivity women’s rights. This unique partnership will
Both of our organizations have worked in the package of services that we provide to farmers. allow us to combine commercial and social
same communities and regions in the country. This includes training, access to fertilizer, responses to the needs of farmers and their
Together, we are working towards Mondelēz’s pest and disease management, and planting communities in a comprehensive way.
goal of having Cocoa Life in Côte d’Ivoire reach materials. Our partner, Solidaridad, will work
26,000 cocoa farmers by 2016. in communities to design tailored action
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PARTNERING WITH CONSEIL DU CAFÉ-CACAO IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Mrs. Toure-Litse, General Director of the Conseil du Café-Cacao, describes the partnership with Cocoa Life. The Conseil du Café-Cacao
is Cocoa Life’s leading government partner in Côte d’Ivoire. In 2013, Mondelēz International and the Conseil du Café-Cacao signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help farmers increase sustainable cocoa production and create thriving communities through Cocoa
Life. The MOU signifies the formalization of Cocoa Life’s engagement in Côte d’Ivoire and represents the foundation of the partnership.

The agreement set forth a plan for Cocoa communities. The partnership has also helped certified planting material for Cocoa Life
Life to work more closely with the central to support the implementation of Cocoa Life’s farmers. Cocoa Life has been embedded
government, local authorities, NGOs and community development interventions. in line with our national strategy; Madame
suppliers. Cocoa Life has been able to establish The Conseil du Café-Cacao's contributions Rosemarie Tanoe, who is a member of the
a clear channel of communication with local are critical to this work as we lead the Cocoa Conseil du Café-Cacao, chairs quarterly
communities, officials, and other stakeholders Life national steering committee, which reviews.
in the supply chain, allowing the program to facilitates partnership with research and
better assess and address the needs of farming extension institutions, and provides improved
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The Challenge Why Cocoa Life’s
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Ghana Côte d’Ivoire Indonesia Additional

INDONESIA
COCOA LIFE FOSTERS STRONGER
COMMUNITIES VIA ACTION PLANS THAT
ENGAGE AND EMPOWER COMMUNITY

8,100 79
Cocoa Life
MEMBERS TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES. HERE
IS A LOOK AT HOW THE PROGRAM
communities*
Farmers currently Cocoa Life active in ACHIEVES RESULTS.
participating in country since

2013
Cocoa Life*
INDONESIAN

4
COFFEE & COCOA
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
(ICCRI)
Cocoa Life Cocoa Life's research
origin team partner
members

● Cocoa Life regions

*
End of 2015
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A STORY ON COMMUNITY
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COMMUNITY EMPOWERING COCOA FARMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN INDONESIA

In Indonesia, Cocoa Life farming families on the islands of Sulawesi and Sumatra are
creating community action plans to chart their own course for community success. The
action plans are developed by all members of the community – women, men and children
– to identify collective needs and propose efforts to address them. The plans address
diverse challenges, from healthcare access to vocational skills, and are implemented with
the support of the Cocoa Life program and its partners. The overall program design was
based on a needs assessment carried out by CARE International.
The development and enactment of these community action plans are guided by Save
the Children, which is an international NGO. In 2015, Save the Children and Mondelēz
International expanded their partnership to include a three-year Cocoa Life program
in Indonesia, where Save the Children is working in Sulawesi alongside Swisscontact.
ADUMA SITUMORANG, Senior Program Manager of Cocoa Life Program, Save the
Children Indonesia, shares her perspective on the partnership.
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COMMUNITY
STORY BY
ADUMA SITUMORANG

FOR COMMUNITIES, BY COMMUNITIES: That same community pride is at the foundation

of every plan, which is tailored for each group and
ACTION PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COCOA
community. Some plans focus on improving health
or increasing nutrition education while others LIFE, WE ARE CONDUCTING A
Together, we’re working to ensure sustainable income center on vocational skills to make cocoa farming TRAINING, REPLANTATION, AND
for cocoa farmers, increase community-based a viable livelihood. YIELD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
development and positively impact the children in these
communities. One way we can work toward this is to In addition to the community action plans, Save IN INDONESIA WITH FIELD
engage and empower the whole community through the Children and Cocoa Life are working together IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT FROM
the creation of community action plans. to promote gender equality through leadership and THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
business training for women and to provide agriculture
These plans not only aim to improve the community AGENCY SWISSCONTACT. BY
education for youth. And, we are already seeing
overall, but also to foster important life, vocational success in promoting sustainable cocoa farming and TRAINING FARMERS TO ADOPT
and farming skills for the very individuals who create improving the well-being of farmers and their families. SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, WE ARE
them. Young people begin to groom the analytical Two years ago, a number of Indonesian farmers faced IMPROVING THEIR YIELDS AND
skills needed to define problems and create tangible declining cocoa crop yields. Existing cocoa trees were
solutions. Women, who may not be involved in other INCOMES, ENHANCING THE LIVING
aging and there wasn’t sufficient infrastructure to
decision-making, are empowered to become active in support replanting. The program’s training, supplies STANDARDS OF LOCAL FARMING
village society, contribute to village development and and nursery resources helped farmers significantly COMMUNITIES AND ENSURING A
support cocoa farming. Throughout the process, we see boost crop yields. LONG-TERM FUTURE FOR COCOA
the pride men and women, young and old, feel from
using their voices to effect change in their community. PRODUCTION.”
– Camille Paran, Sustainability Program
Manager, Cargill
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The Challenge Why Cocoa Life’s
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COMMUNITY
STORY BY
ADUMA SITUMORANG

I think the greatest benefit of the program is the Empowered, thriving cocoa communities are
opportunity to educate and change the mindset essential, and parents in these communities must
AS THE COCOA LIFE PROGRAM
of youth and women who were initially hesitant to have a sustainable income so they can provide for
participate. Having seen the program’s value, they are their children and give them the opportunity to reach GROWS AND EXPANDS TO NEW
now willing to be actively involved. Youth engaged in their full potential. All of us at Save the Children COMMUNITIES, BASELINE STUDIES
this project have told us that it makes them proud to are committed to giving children a healthy start, PROVIDE IMPORTANT INFORMATION
become cocoa farmers. They can see more tangible the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.
TO MONITOR AND EVALUATE THE
opportunities for growth and realize they can positively Working with Cocoa Life, we are achieving this in
impact the economic sustainable development of their Indonesia communities. PROGRAM’S EFFECTIVENESS.
communities. In addition, they now have open access to ONE AREA WE ARE FOCUSED ON
take part in the cocoa community decision-making. IN INDONESIA IS IMPROVING
AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. OUR
EFFORTS IN THE REGION HAVE
LED TO HEALTHIER CROPS AND
INCREASED INCOMES.”
– Nikhil Chandan,
Associate General Manager, Olam
International Limited
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BASELINE ASSESSMENT
When a new region or group of communities third-party group will carry out an outcome (USD), with $346 average for males and
is adopted within the Cocoa Life program, a assessment, evaluating progress made in the $282 average for females
baseline study is conducted to determine the Cocoa Life communities.
current status of the population. This step is an • Average annual cocoa yield per farmer
important part of the Cocoa Life In 2015, an initial baseline survey was was 685 kg per hectare (after allowing for
measurement and evaluation conducted prior to the start of the program disease), with 708 kg/Ha for males and 415
process as it provides in the districts of Lampung and Soppeng in kg/Ha for females
a base for which the Sulawesi, Indonesia. It surveyed 781 farmers
from 50 communities and found some • Fifty-eight percent of farmers attended
program’s effectiveness
noteworthy statistics: minimum number of training sessions
can be monitored against
in improved agronomic and farm
the program’s ten key
• Average annual income earned by the management practices on cocoa
performance indicators.
farmers through the sale of cocoa was $313
Every year, an independent

COCOA SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP “AS PART OF COCOA LIFE’S TEN-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
INDONESIAN COFFEE AND COCOA RESEARCH INSTITUTE (ICCRI), A
Mondelēz International is a Supervisory Board Member of the Cocoa PLAN TO MAP AND INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY FOR COCOA FARMERS
Sustainability Partnership (CSP). This involves governance of CSP, HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. PLANS INCLUDE FARMER TRAINING IN BETTER
providing strategic support to the CSP executive office and helping
to make strategic decisions related to the program. AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, BETTER ACCESS TO COCOA PLANTING
MATERIALS AND ORGANIZING COMMUNITY MEETINGS WHERE
Mondelēz International is also actively involved and working together FARMING FAMILIES CAN DISCUSS THEIR NEEDS.”
with other CSP members on a task force to facilitate access to
agro-inputs, such as fertilizer, establishing key performance indicators – Ir. Misnawi, PhD, Director, ICCRI
and engaging the government to support the cocoa sustainability
program strategy in Indonesia.
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Cocoa Life also has a presence in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, INDIA and BRAZIL. Here is a look at how the
program is working in each country to promote farming training, increase women’s participation in cocoa farming and
build the next generation of cocoa farmers.

Dominican Republic Brazil

India

CHOOSE FROM THE ABOVE

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The Challenge Why Cocoa Life’s
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Ghana Côte d’Ivoire Indonesia Additional

CULTIVATING ENHANCED COCOA MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

TO IMPROVE INCOMES IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

In the Dominican Republic, a leading producer and exporter of organic cocoa, the Cocoa
Life teams strive to elevate cocoa growing skills and demonstrate that cocoa farming can be
a profitable business for the next generation of cocoa farmers. Fundación REDDOM is one
of the implementing partners for the sustainable cocoa in the Dominican Republic Program.
PILAR RAMIREZ of Fundación REDDOM comments:
While the Dominican Republic’s climate can be a challenge Women and young adults receive instruction in business
for cocoa farmers to navigate, our training efforts are management and marketing and other income-
tailored to address this need. By implementing climate- generating activities in the communities, like nurseries
responsive farm management techniques and pre-harvest and small animal husbandry. Together, they will continue
husbandry practices, we can help to increase the yield of to train farmers on climate-smart agriculture, including
cocoa farms in these communities. More than 105 cocoa specific risk reduction measures to be applied in their
farmers (31 women and 74 men) have participated in cocoa farms. All these efforts combined are working
training on farm productivity and maintenance practices, toward the goal of providing a sustainable legacy for
as well as climate-resilient crops protection. future cocoa-growing communities.
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Ghana Côte d’Ivoire Indonesia Additional

STEADY INCOME FROM COCOA INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT

SPARKS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IN INDIA

The Cocoa Life program in India supplies seedlings to farmers and provides technical
guidance, encouraging economic development, which in turn builds prosperity in this
region. The program not only benefits the farm owners, but also the farm workers. The
Cocoa Life program in India worked with 23,000 cocoa farmers in 2015 and adds 5,000
new cocoa farmers every year through an exclusive cocoa extension program with a
specialized cocoa technical team on the ground. Cocoa Life also supports research at
two Indian agriculture universities towards improving planting materials, good agriculture
practices and environmental impact assessment of cocoa.
Cocoa Life in India focuses on the development of the community in which it operates. The
program works to strengthen school infrastructure and engages the farm workers’ children
in Sports for Development activities, motivating them to pursue studies. Cocoa Life
also provides livelihood support to marginalized tribal communities by introducing cocoa
cultivation and regularly offering training programs for women farmers and farm workers.
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The Challenge Why Cocoa Life’s
Introduction of Cocoa Cocoa Life? Future Outlook
Cocoa Life
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Ghana Côte d’Ivoire Indonesia Additional

STORY BY
M. KUMARI

M. KUMARI, cocoa worker in the West Godavari

district of Andhra Pradesh, provides her thoughts:
I have been working for many years on the cocoa crop, particularly in the
nursery. Before I started working in the cocoa nursery, I was unable to get
regular employment. Life used to be very difficult. But today, the cocoa
nursery provides me with continuous employment.

I am very proud to be a part of the seedlings production program. I feel

a sense of achievement whenever I think about how the plants we raise
have been planted across many farms in the state. This program has also
created excellent employment opportunities for other women workers. In
fact, I like to consider this a “woman-friendly crop,” as most cocoa farming
operations can be performed by women.

As cocoa provides regular employment in the nurseries and farms for

women workers, this crop has ensured a steady flow of income, which has
benefitted our families immensely. I have high hopes and dreams for my
children’s futures because of this crop and the support of Cocoa Life.
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Cocoa Life
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Ghana Côte d’Ivoire Indonesia Additional

INCREASING KNOWLEDGE OF
FARMING BEST PRACTICES IN EASTERN BRAZIL

In the lush Bahia region of north-eastern Brazil, where farmers face a myriad of challenges
related to crop management, Cocoa Life is providing guidance regarding the latest techniques
to improve yields and quality of the cocoa produced. ANA PAULA SOUZA, head of the
Gandu Cooperative, describes efforts to assist farmers and strengthen the supply chain
in Brazil.
One of the key challenges facing cocoa farmers in the improve bean quality. The driers eliminate the traditional
Gandu region of Bahia in eastern Brazil is not being aware system of using firewood to dry cocoa, thereby
of the latest farming best practices. preserving the forest and eliminating the smoke flavor
in the beans. Many other farmers are implementing the
We work with the Cocoa Life program in this lush, solar driers, and Cocoa Life technicians are helping them
tropical region to help train farmers in management make the best use of the equipment.
practices to optimize shade and soil fertilization. We also
facilitate best practices discussions among 75 cocoa Most of all, Cocoa Life unites cocoa farmers and workers
producers assisted by the program and many others to motivate, inspire and support each other firsthand.
in our area. This has included providing solar driers to
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The Challenge Why Cocoa Life
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Future Outlook

MEASURING PROGRESS AND ADAPTING

Since it was launched in November 2012, Cocoa Life has TO ACHIEVE THE GREATEST IMPACT
moved from theory into practice. The program has expanded
As outlined in the Why Cocoa Life section, third-party verification
into new cocoa-producing origin countries in Côte d’Ivoire of program impact against the 10 Global KPIs and of the Cocoa
and Indonesia and aligned to the Cocoa Life strategy in the Life supply chain is fundamental to the program. As the Cocoa
Life team receives verification findings, they are reviewed with
existing origins of Ghana, the Dominican Republic, India the program’s external advisors. This review of the Ghana impact
and Brazil. This expansion enables Cocoa Life to adapt its evaluation confirmed the advisors' view that Cocoa Life focuses on
the right principles and KPIs for verifying impact.
approach based on on-the-ground learnings and conditions
The advisors also invited the Cocoa Life team to continually gain
from different communities. deeper insight into how the program works on the ground. In
addition to measuring impact against the KPIs, it is important to
assess whether interventions are leading to the right outcomes.
For example, does the Community Action Plan process enable
all sections of the community to participate in its development,
and will CAPs be implemented by communities and supported by
district authorities once completed? Likewise, will farmer training
be effective and focus on the right practices to sustain improved
productivity in the long term? To answer these questions fully, the
Cocoa Life team will build a qualitative assessment of the program
alongside the quantitative KPIs.
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The Challenge Why Cocoa Life
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Future Outlook

ENHANCED ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY TO ADDRESS DEFORESTATION

Cocoa Life is strengthening its environment strategy and taking tangible actions In addition, Cocoa Life is supporting national forest programs in Ghana, where
to make a real difference. Mondelēz International estimates that deforestation its environmental strategy is implemented with UNDP. The team is also
in the supply chain represents the largest part of its carbon footprint and that working with UNDP in Indonesia to develop new approaches to help reduce
some of the biggest opportunities to address it are in cocoa. deforestation related to cocoa production.

At the COP21 climate summit in Paris, in December 2015, Mondelēz These actions build on Cocoa Life’s work to help farmers become more resilient
International announced its commitment to lead private sector action in Côte to the impact of climate change as well as contribute towards Mondelēz
d’Ivoire’s national United Nations-sponsored REDD+ program by integrating International’s sustainability goals for 2020. The goals include an ambitious
action to combat deforestation into Cocoa Life. Focusing on two initial areas in end-to-end approach to reduce the carbon footprint through actions to reduce
eastern and central Côte d’Ivoire, Cocoa Life will support forest mapping and deforestation in the agricultural supply chain, as well as to cut carbon dioxide
monitoring, as well as train farmers to adopt new practices to increase their emissions from manufacturing by an absolute 15 percent, in line with science-
productivity and incomes without expanding into the forest. based targets.
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The Challenge Why Cocoa Life
Introduction of Cocoa Cocoa Life? Origins
Cocoa Life’s
Future Outlook

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Cocoa Life represents a strong commitment to sourcing cocoa in a way that can potentially have a greater impact on farming communities.
This program is unique because Cocoa Life is investing directly in its own supply chain, giving clear visibility into the outcomes and impact.
Mondelēz International aims to ultimately source all of its cocoa supply sustainably, mainly via Cocoa Life.

and
In 2015, Cocoa Life

21%
in over
reached

76,700 795
communities...
of Mondelēz International’s
cocoa was sustainably
cocoa farmers…
sourced.
64