The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) unites the forces of the cocoa and chocolate industry, civil society, farming communities and national governments in cocoa-producing countries to ensure a better future for children and to advance the elimination of child labour. ICI leads a collective journey towards cocoa sustainability, guided by the principles of shared responsibility, joint learning and aligned, coordinated action.
Within this collaborative framework, ICI supports governments in their child protection efforts and supports relevant policies and national action plans. ICI, as part of this mandate, supported the review of the National Plan of Action (NPA) on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. An output of this process was the second phase of the NPA known as National Plan of Action Phase Two (NPA 2).
The NPA 2 is a comprehensive document, summarizing the contributions of all stakeholders towards ending child labour. It aims to build on the achievements realized through the implementation of the NPA 1 and addresses the challenges towards sustainability.
We strongly believe in the need for such a framework and we will support its implementation, through our activities with communities and other stakeholders. The National Sustainability Dialogue, coordinated by ICI, will be part of this year’s World Day Against Child Labour commemoration, It will bring together communities, local, district and national authorities and media – all part of the solution.