News from ICI
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Chocolate Company Whittaker’s Joins ICI22 April 2026The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) has welcomed a new member, Whittaker’s, a family-owned bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer based in Porirua, New Zealand, becoming the organization’s first member from the Oceania region. According to the company, this membership is aligned with its commitment to responsible sourcing and protecting the wellbeing of the communities in which it sources its raw materials from West Africa, with the goal of eliminating child labour from its supply chain. Whittaker’s has indicated that this step is part of its ongoing approach to responsible sourcing andRead more
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Combating child labor in the cocoa industry: ICI officially launches its activities in Cameroon14 April 2026The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) Foundation officially launched its activities during a ceremony held on March 31 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Chaired by the representative of the Prime MinisterRead more
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Human Rights: A workshop to learn from the Forced Labour Innovation pilot project13 March 2026"The creation of Human Rights Committees and the contract proposed by ICI are helping us to achieve peace and social cohesion in our various constituencies," said Mr Gueu Ven Jean Noël, Sub-Prefect ofRead more
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Quality education: Nestlé and partners construct and refurbish schools in Cote d’Ivoire3 February 2026ICI and Nestlé are continuing to protect and empower children by improving access to quality education in cocoa-growing communities in Côte d’Ivoire. In two communities in the Bouaflé department inRead more
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An experimental study explores the effects of providing school kits to children in cocoa communities19 January 2026Providing school kits to primary school children in cocoa-growing communities in Ghana can improve educational outcomes and ease financial pressure on households, according to a new experimental studyRead more
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Families Make the Difference: Reducing child labour through parenting support8 December 2025A parenting skills programme called Families Make the Difference has improved parenting practices and significantly reduced child labour in cocoa-growing communities in Côte d’Ivoire, according to a recent evaluation.Read more
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Empowering Cocoa Communities: Promoting Fairness Through Written Contracts2 December 2025In Ghana’s cocoa farming sector, the absence of formal contracts and limited awareness of labour rights have historically increased the risk of forced labour and fostered exploitative workingRead more