News from ICI
- Cocoa farmers in Ghana experience poverty and economic vulnerability1 December 2017Cocoa farming is the backbone of Ghana’s economy. 800,000 small scale cocoa farmers make up 60% of the country’s agricultural base. However, despite their importance to Ghana’s development, many cocoa farming families live in poverty. Cocoa farmers earn a per capita daily income of approximately USD $0.40-$0.45 on cocoa. This amounts to an annual net income of USD $983.12-$2627.81 and accounts for two thirds of cocoa farmers’ household income. Several factors affect cocoa farmers’ capacity to earn high incomes. The majority of Ghana’s cocoa farmers are self-employed and operate small-scaleRead more
- Investing in education for older children reduces child labour17 November 2017Older children, aged 15 to 17, in cocoa growing communities are most at risk of hazardous child labour. They are more likely than children of other age groups to engage in work that threatens theirRead more
- ICI stakeholder meeting in Abidjan: Education and vocational training at the heart of the debates6 November 2017The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) held its 6th Stakeholder Meeting in Abidjan on Monday, 6 November, dedicated to exploring opportunities for education and vocational training for adolescentsRead more
- New school year 2017-2018: ECLIC project provides cocoa communities with 2403 school kits, 5000 books, 600 literacy kits and 50 training kits26 October 2017The Eliminating Child Labor in Cocoa Communities project (ECLIC) offered 2403 school kits, 5000 books for school libraries, 600 literacy kits for adults, and 50 training kits for literacy classRead more
- “Aïssa” – a comic book with an important message28 September 2017Ivorian writer, screenwriter and director Marguerite Abouet, author of the famous comic series “Aya de Yopougon”, has just developed a very special comic book entitled “Aïssa, l’arbre à chocolat”Read more
- New global estimates on child labour from the ILO19 September 2017ICI's Board Advisor, ILO, has launched today the new global estimates of child labour for the 2012—2016 period. According to the report Global Estimates of Child Labour: Results and trends, 2012-2016 , there are currently 151.6 million children in child labour. This represents a drop of 94 million since 2000 and a drop of 16 million since the ILO's latest 2012 estimates.Read more
- UTZ joins the International Cocoa Initiative24 August 2017UTZ, with its large and expanding programme for the production of sustainable cocoa, has become the first organisation to join the International Cocoa Initiative in its newly formed membershipRead more