What's Happening?
Ferrero, the Italian confectionery company, has announced a €20 million initiative aimed at addressing child labour in cocoa supply chains. Partnering with Save the Children and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the project will run until 2030 in the Haut Sassandra and Montagnes regions. This initiative builds on a pilot project launched in 2017 and targets the root causes of child labour, such as poverty, limited access to education, and weak child protection systems. Measures include improving access to schools and healthcare, supporting women-led enterprises, and promoting alternative income sources for farming families. Funding will come from both public and private sources, with Ferrero providing co-financing.
Why It's Important?
The initiative is significant as it addresses the persistent issue of child labour in the cocoa industry, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, which produce about 60% of the world’s cocoa. More than 1.5 million children are estimated to work in the sector across these countries. The U.S. Department of Labour has listed cocoa from these regions as being produced with child or forced labour since 2009. Major consumer markets, including the Netherlands, the U.S., and the UK, are exposed to supply chain risks tied to child labour. Ferrero's initiative represents a substantial effort to create a more sustainable and ethical cocoa supply chain.
What's Next?
The initiative will focus on long-term, cross-cutting actions involving multiple actors to deliver sustainable results. Ferrero and its partners aim to build a transparent, inclusive, and lasting supply chain. The project will likely influence other companies in the industry to adopt similar measures, potentially leading to broader changes in cocoa production practices. Monitoring and evaluation will be crucial to assess the impact of the initiative and ensure that the goals are met.
Beyond the Headlines
The initiative highlights the importance of collaboration among public institutions, civil society, and the private sector in addressing complex social issues like child labour. It underscores the need for transformative, long-term alliances to achieve meaningful change. The project also emphasizes the role of women-led enterprises and alternative income sources in empowering communities and reducing reliance on child labour.
