Improving the living standards of cocoa-producing communities ....and their households

To support sustainable production of cocoa in key origin countries, Mondeléz International Cocoa Life, then known as Cadbury Cocoa Partnership, was established in 2008 with a vision of ensuring that  cocoa communities  thrive by securing their economic, social and environmental sustainability.

As one of the world’s largest chocolate companies, Mondeléz International continues to show a remarkable commitment to vibrant cocoa supply chains. In Ghana, its Cocoa Life programme is implemented in 446 primary communities in five of the six cocoa growing regions of Ghana and covers nearly 50,000 farmers and their households. According to Yaa Peprah Amekudzi, Ghana Country Lead, Mondeléz International Cocoa Life is investing $100 million in Ghana up to year 2022. 

Two principles with which Mondeléz International operates are utilising a holistic and farmer-centred approach that includes community development, environmental sustainability and extension services to cocoa farmers; and ensuring an alignment with its cocoa supply chain.  It is these non-negotiable principles that guide the implementation of several interventions with positive outcomes for women empowerment, the well-being of the child, farming, community, livelihoods, youth and the environment.

Environmental sustainability in practice 

In partnership with Ghana Cocoa Board, IUCN and UNDP, Mondelz International Cocoa Life undertook a study of the cocoa landscapes in Ghana in 2009-2010 to assess the vulnerability of cocoa resulting from deforestation and natural resource depletion. Informed by the study, the Environmental Sustainability and Policy for Cocoa Production in Ghana project (ESP Project) was established.  This is wholly funded by Mondeléz International Cocoa Life with technical support from the Ghana Cocoa Board and UNDP.  It seeks to ensure sustainable natural resource use on the farm, conservation of forests, maintenance of ecosystems, as well as the strengthening of government policies and institutions to support environmental sustainability. It is, therefore, working with community structures to incorporate community-based approaches to natural resources management.

Atsu Titiati, is the Project Coordinator for ESP and he believes that more efforts are needed to enable cocoa farmers to move away from unsustainable practices such as continued expansion into forested areas and the use of unapproved agro-chemicals.  

Community development initiatives

Based on the community development plans that have been developed by partner communities, almost a thousand water wells have been dug. The first batch of physical infrastructure to enhance the delivery of health and education have also been constructed by Mondeléz International Cocoa Life. These include a Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound at Esaaso in West Akyem; the Goaso Midwifery Training School Resource Centre in Asunafo North; as well as school blocks for Fawohoyeden Junior High School in Asunafo North, Atwebesa Basic School and Domaama Nyamebekyere Basic School in Wassa East. Four accommodation units for teaching staff have been constructed at Asikasu in Juaben, Sekyere Adiembra in Wassa East and Sekyere Abrodzeworam also in Wassa East, as well as an Information Communication Technology (ICT) Centre at Kofi Pare in Suhum; and a school block for Bosuso Kindergarten in Fanteakwa. 

A 4-Unit Teachers’ Bungalow at Adiembra

Cocoa Life also collaborates with the district offices of the Ghana Health Service to provide communities with health education on safe sexual reproductive health, malaria, cholera and Ebola; family planning, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and unsafe abortions. Additionally, in collaboration with the district health management teams,  bednets have been distributed by Cocoa Life to 25,000 households to pregnant women and children under five years of age. 

Considering the pivotal role women play in cocoa production, Mondeléz International Cocoa Life deliberately applies resources towards women’s empowerment by implementing various interventions to increase women’s participation in decision making; improve their economic capacity, ensure equal opportunities and equitable distribution of benefits.  Within the programme, tailor-made training workshops are being organised for specific community structures such as women extension volunteers, community action committees, community gender and child protection committees and farmer-based organisations to educate and train them on gender issues.  

The strategic response of Mondeléz International Cocoa Life to the need to eliminate the exploitation of children as labourers on cocoa farms remains focused on the child, the farmer and the community.  Key to the elimination of child labour is to make education available and accessible in a manner that children and their guardians will be happy to utilise.  To this end, Mondelēz International has provided over 16,000 bicycles to children who walk more than three kilometres to school each morning. Eighteen  schools in communities without electricity have been fitted with solar panels to enhance teaching and learning. Likewise, 10,000 households in communities without electricity have received solar lanterns from Cocoa Life to enable children study in the evening. 

 Bright Appiah, the Executive Director of Child Rights International, estimates that as children’s rights are promoted and protected within Cocoa Life, the communities’ attitude towards children are being influenced for positive outcomes related to effective farm management; increased household food security and good labour practices in the home and on the farm.  

Improved Livelihoods of Cocoa Farmers

“The facilitation and establishment of Village Savings and Loan Schemes in the communities in which we operate is informed by the fact that ordinary income streams of cocoa farmers are seasonal.  Farming communities can truly thrive if farmers and other community members are financially empowered.  The savings and loans schemes are the little steps towards a savings culture,” says Matilda Broni, Programmes Manager for Community Development at Mondeléz International Cocoa Life, as she deliberates on the various interventions being implemented by Cocoa Life that have positively impacted the livelihoods of cocoa farmers. 

Implementing partners 

The Country Lead agrees that its partnership with the cocoa-producing communities, Abantu for Development, CARE International, Child Rights International, Department of Cooperatives, district assemblies, Ghana Cocoa Board, Institute of Democratic Governance, NBSSI, NFED, Right To Play, UNDP, VSO and World Vision Ghana is a model that is working well and would benefit all partners.

Conclusion

“The impact on the lives of cocoa farmers and others in the communities partnering Mondeléz International Cocoa Life is varied and all positive”, says the manager responsible for monitoring and evaluation, Paul Amevor.  He adds that monitoring and reaping lessons into programme retooling based on sound business, as well as development imperatives, do account for the improvement in the living standards of Mondeléz International Cocoa Life partner communities.