#Save the Children #Ferrero #Cocoa #Côte d'Ivoire #Haut Sassandra

Innovative Initiative to Protect Children in Cocoa-Growing Communities in Côte d'Ivoire

In a significant stride towards child welfare, a pioneering multi-stakeholder partnership has emerged, uniting Save the Children, Ferrero, and the Italian Cooperation. This initiative aims to improve the living conditions and overall well-being of children and adolescents residing in cocoa-farming areas of Côte d'Ivoire. The project will primarily focus on the Haut Sassandra region and the Montagnes district, and it is set to run until 2030.

Building on Established Foundations

The current initiative builds upon the groundwork laid by a pilot program that Save the Children initiated back in 2017 with the support of Ferrero. As part of this ongoing commitment, Ferrero will continue to co-finance the project, which follows a public-private partnership model. With funding facilitated through a competitive selection process by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the project has been allocated nearly 20 million euros to support its objectives.

A Holistic Approach

The primary goal of this initiative is to reinforce child protection measures and uphold children's rights in cocoa-producing communities. The program will implement comprehensive actions targeting the root causes of child labor, which are often associated with socio-economic vulnerabilities.

A holistic framework will be utilized, engaging various stakeholders, including government entities, civil society, and private organizations, to foster resilience and enhance economic stability within these communities. The project aims to ensure access to education, healthcare, and improved nutritional resources while also promoting women-led enterprises and strengthening birth registration systems.

Innovative Collaboration for Lasting Change

What distinguishes this initiative is its systemic, integrated approach. By connecting communities, families, suppliers, and local governments, the program emphasizes economic sustainability through leveraging both institutional and private funding to create enduring structural changes. Collaboration within the cocoa supply chain, alongside corporate partners and local organizations, allows for meaningful knowledge exchange that can elevate public policies and best practices well beyond the initial investments.

Child protection measures will be integrated into supply chain operations, ensuring that at-risk children benefit most from these initiatives. This approach aims to promote long-term sustainability and scalability through clearly defined performance indicators and evaluation systems that focus on achieving tangible results.

Voices of Change

Daniela Fatarella, CEO of Save the Children Italy, emphasizes the crucial role of collaboration among public institutions, civil society, and the private sector. “True change arises from transformative, long-term alliances. This partnership is an investment aimed at creating sustainable outcomes by harnessing the strengths of various stakeholders. It demonstrates that socio-economic development in Côte d'Ivoire is achievable through synergistic efforts from corporations like Ferrero, funding bodies like the Italian Cooperation, and organizations like Save the Children,” she stated.

Isabel Hochgesand, Global Chief Procurement Officer at Ferrero, reinforced the company’s commitment to sustainable practices, stating, “Human rights are at the core of our sourcing practices. This partnership represents a crucial step towards a sustainable cocoa ecosystem that can produce real benefits for both the communities involved and our supply chain activities.”

This initiative showcases the possibility of creating a more inclusive, transparent, and effective cocoa supply chain, with bore-reaching implications for child protection and community empowerment in Cote d'Ivoire.

For further details about this transformative program, visit the Ferrero website.