The cocoa sector continues to grapple with several sustainability and human rights challenges, most notably low incomes for producing households and the use of child labour. The latter topics were the central themes brought into focus during KIT Institute’s partner session and participation in the Chocoa Conference in February.

The contributions of KIT Institute were part of an eventful week that brought together all stakeholders in the cocoa supply chain, from smallholder farmers (during a special Farmer’s Day) to big corporations in the form of traders, brands, and retailers. CSOs and NGOs ensured a critical reflection on ongoing and proposed sustainability interventions, while knowledge institutions provided critical tools and insights to support the sector as a whole. Other major topics at Amsterdam Cocoa Week were the upcoming EU Due Diligence regulations, deforestation, forced labour, and climate change.

Reflecting on an interesting week in which we were able to host and participate in key events, here are five take-aways from the discussions:

1. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to combat child labour and poverty

Child labour is a complex issue that is interlinked with many elements to unpack and address to be effective, including social norms, access to finance, access to affordable labour, and improving access to health care and education. Further complicating solutions is the fact that not every child labour case is the same and a single approach would not be effective in solving the issue as a whole.

2. A holistic approach is important; leaving no one behind

Locally driven, holistic solutions are essential, ensuring that policies are designed with and for the affected communities. As Stephen Ashia, farmer and general manager of the ABOCFA cooperative in Ghana put it: “you cannot address one issue and neglect the other. The solution needs to address both child labour and poverty and be adequate to the people involved. You should involve the people who it is about in how to develop the solution.”

3. Addressing social norms should be part of the process

Combatting child labour requires addressing entrenched social norms. “Addressing child labour is about changing social norms, and changing social norms is usually difficult, time consuming, and expensive.” as highlighted by Independent Gender Expert Melanie Landthaler. Extension officers can be catalysts of change, though these shifts are often difficult to measure. The process is not quick, with some approaches, like CTC (Community Training and Change), taking up to 4-6 months, demanding substantial financial and time investments.

4. There is a deep need for gender-specific programming

Gender-specific programming is crucial to ensure that men, women, boys, and girls receive tailored interventions for meaningful and lasting impact, as noted by Els Lindeboom, Senior Programme Manager at Beyond Beans Foundation. Simply assuming that increasing women’s income will automatically lead to more gender equality is a simplistic view, and it is crucial that programmes account for the differentiated needs and roles of all individuals within a community.

5. Data and aligned methodologies can strengthen accountability and sector-wide change

“To make meaningful progress in closing the living income gap, we need better insight into the livelihoods and challenges of all cocoa producers including invisible groups such as women, labourers and those that are part of the indirect supply chain” argues Selma van der Haar, Advisor at KIT Institute. Aligned data collection methodologies, such as the Cocoa Household Income Study (CHIS), can help measure progress and ensure that policies and interventions are informed by real-life conditions. As part of this, KIT institute has published the KIT Living Income Questionnaire, which enables users (private companies to non-profit organisations) to collect key data through a comprehensive household survey, covering variables such as cocoa production volumes, revenue and production costs as well as non-cocoa income.