| ICI Cocoa Initiative

Ecom and the International Cocoa Initiative provide the children of Méagui with two schools to build a better future

On 4 March, the International Cocoa Initiative, Ecom and the ECACOM and CAPO farming cooperatives jointly inaugurated two schools in cocoa-producing communities in Côte d’Ivoire. One is located in Quartier Soleil, 77 km from Soubré and 33 km from Méagui, while the other is in Sérigbangan (84 km from Méagui).

Koffiyaokro - Supporting women entrepreneurship with Village Savings and Loans Schemes

It is shortly after 9 am in Koffiyaokro, a community located 30 km from Soubré in the Nawa region of Côte d’Ivoire. Mrs. Kouamé N’Guessan Félicité, President of the Women’s Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA), is busy going back and forth between her house and the village square.

The importance of women's empowerment in the fight against child labour

The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) has over 13 years of experience tackling child labour with our partners. During this time, we have learned a lot about what works to protect children and

Five ways women’s empowerment can help in the fight against child labour

At the International Cocoa Initiative, we support our partners to empower women in cocoa communities. That’s because women have a crucial role to play in the fight against child labour. In this article we explore some of the ways that supporting women in cocoa-growing communities can be beneficial to child protection.

French chocolate company Cémoi joins the International Cocoa Initiative

22 February 2021

Cémoi, the largest French chocolate and confectionery company, has joined the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) as a Contributing Partner, joining the organization and its partners in the fight against child labour and forced labour in the cocoa supply chain.

Mars publishes human rights in the cocoa supply chain report

10 February 2021

Mars, a partner and board member of the International Cocoa Initiative, has launched a new report that explores the company’s progress and lessons learned in the fight against child labour and forced

Cocoa company Indcresa becomes member of the International Cocoa Initiative

8 February 2021

The Spanish cocoa producer Indcresa has joined the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) as a Contributing Partner, to help support the work of the organization in promoting child protection and tackling child labour and forced labour in cocoa.

Five ways income generating activities can benefit cocoa communities

21 January 2021

Supporting the development of Income Generating Activities (IGAs), which provide different and additional ways to earn money, is one way to support cocoa communities. When used as part of a wider package of interventions they can help to boost farmer resilience, empower women, and increase child protection.

2021: The year to scale up the fight against child labour in cocoa

18 January 2021

2021 is the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour. At the International Cocoa Initiative, we have over 13 years of experience tackling the issue with our partners.

What works to tackle child labour?

18 January 2021

There are an estimated 1.56 million children in child labour in the cocoa sector in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, that’s 50% of children living in cocoa-growing households.