Our experience shows that child-friendly spaces are an effective approach to improving the protective environment for children in cocoa-growing communities. By offering a safe place to play, learn and meet other children, child-friendly spaces contribute to the social and emotional development of children and offer an alternative to child labour by providing cocoa farmers access to childcare.

This brief summarises practical action to implement child-friendly spaces designed to protect children and reduce child labour. It draws on a pilot project implemented in cocoa-growing communities in Côte d’Ivoire.