Cocoa chains in Côte d’Ivoire are resilient, sustainable and inclusive

The cocoa sector in Cote d’Ivoire is more resilient, sustainable and inclusive, contributing to a living income for producers and agribusiness entrepreneurs, including women and youth, while increasing the availability of sustainably produced food products on the market. In its 2022-2026 Côte d’Ivoire DGD programme, Rikolto is committed to ensuring that the cocoa sector in Côte d’Ivoire is more resilient, sustainable and inclusive, providing a living income for farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs, while ensuring the availability of sustainably produced food products on the market. To achieve our objective, the programme is built on three thematic areas which also form the core of Rikolto’s global cocoa agenda. These include: 1- Sustainable cocoa production The average productivity level of cocoa in Cote d’Ivoire is generally low (500-600Kg/ha) as compared to productivity in other countries with similar climatic conditions. Therefore, the programme takes an integrated approach to increasing producer income through crop diversification, rehabilitation, and intensification of cocoa farms. 2- Market inclusion Inclusive markets that offer transparent, fair and mutually beneficial relationships between different market actors are key to developing a resilient cocoa sector in Cote d’Ivoire. The programme therefore supports producers of cocoa and other crops within cocoa landscapes to access both international and local markets for both cocoa and other crops produced within cocoa producing landscapes in order to enhance collaboration between farmers and market players. The aim is to facilitate the development of inclusive business relationships for cocoa and other products derived from diversification between farmers, SMEs, input suppliers and buyers. The programme also sets up a support plan to empower women and young people through the creation of viable SMEs that will create decent employment opportunities for women and youth in cocoa producing communities in Cote d’Ivoire. 3- Enabling policy environment The programme will engage public institutions, private sector actors and development partners to develop or advocate for favourable policy reforms and increased investment in the cocoa sector in target regions.