| ICI Cocoa Initiative

Apprenticeship gives Richard hope for the future

As part of its Community Development Programme, the International Cocoa Initiative supported older children in cocoa-growing communities through apprenticeships. Teenagers like Richard Osei gained skills to help them in the future and reduce their risk of undertaking hazardous tasks on the cocoa farm. ICI caught up with Richard three years after his apprenticeship began to learn about his progress.

Five reasons nurturing youth skills is important for cocoa communities

The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) works to ensure cocoa communities can thrive and protect their children from the hazards of child labour. Through community development and Child Labour

ECOM group publishes its 2019 sustainability report

ECOM, an International Cocoa Initiative partner and Board Member, has recently published its 2019 Sustainability Report. The report charts the company’s progress towards a sustainable supply chain in

The role of cooperatives in the fight against child labour

Farming cooperatives play an essential role in the organisation of cocoa supply chains and in the implementation of Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems. They can also improve traceability

Raymond Assalé and the role of a CLMRS community facilitator

Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems are embedded in company supply chains and within cocoa-growing communities. These systems help to identify, monitor, remediate and prevent cases of child labour. To do that the role of Community Facilitators like Raymond Assalé is vital.

Hazardous child labour in Côte d'Ivoire's cocoa communities during Covid-19

Update 12 October 2020 - Many precautionary restrictions that had to be imposed during the partial Covid-19 lockdown were lifted in June. Child labour monitoring under ICI’s CLMRS continued thereafter

Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa publishes its 2019 annual report

The Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa, a partner of the International Cocoa Initiative, has launched its 2019 annual report highlighting progress towards a sustainable cocoa sector among its

The importance of awareness raising in cocoa-growing communities

Raising awareness of the dangers of child labour and the importance of education is an important part of the International Cocoa Initiative’s work. Working with our partners, ICI uses a variety of

Renewed hope for the Akrofoum D/A school

The Akrofoum D/A Basic school was established in 1947. The school was upgraded in 1987 to include a Junior High School (JHS). The school as at 2018

ILO and UNICEF brief on Covid-19 and child labour

The International Labour Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund have released a new brief, Covid-19 and child labour: A time of crisis, a time to act, outlining the risk of a rise in