News from ICI
- Savings and loans: The importance of linking VSLAs to the formal banking system in cocoa-growing areas21 September 2023“ I hesitated on the bank matter because I can't read or write and I've been cheated several times. (...) I finally accepted and received 350,000 Fcfa. With this money and my husband's financial contribution, I planted a yam field and a cassava field. Things are going well now .” These are the words of Valérie Sontoaho, married to a cocoa farmer, mother of 3 children and trader in Pinhou, a cocoa-growing community located 24 km from Téady, Côte d'Ivoire. Valérie Sontoaho is a member of the Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) Aboussouan. She explained how the 350,000 Fcfa loan sheRead more
- Improving literacy amongst children: Helping cocoa growing communities thrive5 September 2023Education has long been considered an essential remedy to combating child labour, but even if a school is nearby, children cannot study as they should without the necessary school supplies. In AnyemeRead more
- Child Protection at Gnipi 2 - From project financing to school support for a producer2 September 2023Early in the mornings, vegetable farmer Charles Koukougnon, can usually be found walking to his field located near Gnipi 2, a cocoa community around 13 km from Soubré. He walks happily, with his headRead more
- Apparagra: Barry Callebaut and The Hershey Company build a playground for primary school children7 August 2023Located 25km from Hiré in Divo, Côte d’Ivoire, at the Apparagra Public Primary School, pupils play in the schoolyard, using the new equipment installed by the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI)Read more
- Capacity building: The International Cocoa Initiative trains Côte d'Ivoire's National Human Rights Council on Forced Labour21 July 2023On 19 July, a capacity-building workshop on forced labour, was launched for human rights advisors and support staff at Côte d'Ivoire's National Human Rights Council (CNDH) in Bassam. The workshopRead more
- Spotlight on Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS) agents19 July 2023CLMRS Agents (also known as Community Facilitators or Field Officers) are the first point of contact that cocoa-producing households have with the Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation System andRead more
- Japan-headquartered trading company Itochu joins ICI10 July 2023The Japan-headquartered trading company Itochu, which is involved in both domestic and international trading of products such as textiles, metals, minerals and food products including cocoa, hasRead more