Cocoa Impact Report – 2019

In 2018-2019, there were 323 Fairtrade Cocoa Producer Organizations. That shows a a total growth of 23% representing 322,363 farmers, 16% of which are women.

Collectively, we contributed $1,965,082 in Premium to cocoa producers from Fairtrade sales in the US market. The Fairtrade Premium is a flexible funding that farmers and workers can use to meet their specific needs and those of their unique communities. Accordingly, cocoa farmers and workers chose to use 25% of the Fairtrade Premium in human resources and administration.

21% of the Fairtrade Premium was used for cash payments and other forms of direct financial or social support for members within the organization to supplement member needs. 56% of the Premium was used to support the provision for agricultural tools, inputs, and training farmers in agricultural and business practices, reducing farmer expenditure and enhancing their capabilities.

Fairtrade directly addresses the Sustainable Development Goals

Another way of considering our collective impact is by looking the the Premium use through the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Cocoa farmers most often (66% of the time) chose to fund programs that address Goal 2 (Zero hunger), which covers initiatives that support small-scale farmers, agricultural productivity, and sustainable food systems. Premium investment by farmer cooperatives into improving agricultural practices, purchasing equipment or inputs such as fertilizer, building facilities such as a warehouse, or strengthening their own organizations fall under this SDG. Learn more about Fairtrade’s recent work on the SDGs.

Research shows women create new possibilities for themselves and their families they have are empowered economically and have access to and control over resources. The Fairtrade Standards mandate equal treatment of women and prohibit gender-based violence and harassment.  Producer Organizations also receive support and training from the Fairtrade West Africa Cocoa Program to ensure access to Fairtrade activities; particularly ones that increase women’s participation in decision-making, leadership roles, and capacity-building training.

The Fairtrade West Africa Cocoa Program is central to our approach to ensure training offered are accessible and relevant for farmers and cooperative staff guaranteeing benefits for members and commercial partners. In 2019, the program’s activities reached more than 34,000 farmers 25% of which were women.

The Fairtrade [program] has been of enormous benefit to me. Through their training programs, I have been empowered and can properly manage my farm to take care of myself, and my family.

Abena Boame, Treasurer of Anwiam Society and Environmental Committee President of the Anwiam Cocoa Farmers Union

Women’s School of Leadership

Women have an integral yet often unseen role in agricultural production. Women in Côte d’Ivoire traditionally have had limited functions in decision-making in their homes and communities. That’s why the Women’s School of Leadership was launched in 2017, utilizing a two-phase approach in partnership with Cooperative Group, Compass UK and Ireland. The program started with 22 participants from seven Fairtrade certified small producer organizations.

Since 2018, members of the first cohort of graduates have continued to develop their businesses and their self-confidence. In addition to the actual participants, the program reached more than 1,160 people – about 80% of them women – through training and discussions that participants led in 21 communities. Participants received training and coaching visits by program staff on a variety of topics, including expanding gender equality efforts, improving agricultural practices, climate change adaptation, financial management, and more. In a male-dominated space, all the women assumed leadership roles in the management of their cooperatives and communities.

This graduation is not the end. On the contrary, it is for us the beginning of another phase of the training, a practical phase.

Anne-Marie Yao, the regional cocoa manager of Fairtrade Africa’s West Africa Network