Child labour is a persistent global problem which adversely affects children’s physical and mental well-being. The problem is especially prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa: recent estimates from the International Labour Organisation (ILO, 2024a) reveal an increase in child labourers from 70 million in 2016 to 87 million in 2024. Many of these children work on smallholder family farms, producing commodity crops for international markets such as cocoa, coffee and cashew.

This research aims to unpack the relationship between household income and child labour and identify and map evidence for high-potential approaches for simultaneously addressing poverty and child labour. The ultimate objective is to support brands, traders, and implementing organisations in the cocoa, coffee, and cashew sectors to strengthen their income and child labour strategies.