fairtrade report

FAIRTRADE RELEASES COCOA REPORT

Fairtrade released a report under the West Africa Cocoa Programme, which started in 2016. Its goal is to build strong and viable Fairtrade small-scale producer organizations that are responsive to their members’ and business partners’ needs.

WACP programme

The West Africa Cocoa Programme provides training, coaching, and advisory support to the more than 230 Fairtrade certified cocoa cooperatives in West Africa and their farmer members. This report describes findings based on Fairtrade audit data, cooperative management, and farmer member surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019.

The report includes data from a sub-set of around 30 Ivorian cooperatives that received an intensive and individualized package of services based on their specific needs.

These needs include additional training on governance, financial management, good agricultural practices, occupational health and safety, gender rights, income or crop diversification, and more.

Fairtrade States their Key Findings:

  • Fairtrade cocoa cooperatives in Côte d’Ivoire that participated in the intensive sub-set sold both a higher volume of Fairtrade cocoa and had a higher percentage of sales on Fairtrade terms than other Fairtrade cocoa cooperatives. Fairtrade terms include the financial benefits of the Fairtrade Minimum Price when it is above market price, and the non-negotiable Fairtrade Premium on top of selling price.
  • Cooperative managers reported a high level of knowledge in five key dimensions including good governance and management, and ensuring members adhere to Fairtrade Standards (with the aggregate score increasing from 88% in 2018 to 93% in 2019).
  • 74% of cooperative farmer members reported that their cooperative had a good to excellent understanding of their priorities.
  • Almost 9 out of 10 cooperatives report taking at least one action following trainings they received through the programme, such as rolling out a training for their own members, developing a strategic plan, or strengthening their management systems.

Edward Akapire, Head of the West Africa region for Fairtrade Africa, stated that they are pleased to share this report as part of their continued commitment to transparency in both the efforts undertaking with this programme and the results farmers and cooperatives have reported so far.

Fairtrade used findings to improve the programme by asking participants each year to share individualised reports, review results, and chart the training focus for the coming year.

Chocolate brands have also been part of the programme. They receive reports on their supply chains and have the opportunity to explore the data together with the cooperatives supplying their cocoa.

You can follow this link to get a copy of the report

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