SPVO – Piloting & monitoring of interventions focusing on closing the living income gap in Cocoa in Côte d’Ivoire

In West Africa, where approximately two million smallholder farms are responsible for producing 70 percent of the world’s cocoa supply, cocoa farming is essential to community livelihoods. In Côte d'Ivoire, the world's leading cocoa-producing nation, one quarter of the population – approximately 6 million people – depend on the famous cocoa bean and its resulting value chain for a living. However, the sector suffers from various social and environmental risks such as child labor, deforestation and poverty, with the latter one identifying as the main root cause.

This project therefore aims to implement a smart mix of various interventions to enhance farmers' income and ultimately reduce or even close the persisting living income gap. Additionally, beneficiaries are expected to become more resilient towards the impacts of climate change and simultaneously increase their cocoa yields.

A specific focus is given to the inclusion and household finance contribution of women by targeting specific income-earning activities towards women groups located in the beneficiary communities.

Overall, project beneficiaries comprise approximately 2,200 smallholder cocoa households organised in three cooperatives and located in the Haut-Sassandra Region in Côte d'Ivoire.