encouraging sustainable, responsible cocoa growing

Entry: Bill Guyton

Here are some questions I would like to share with you from a recent email:

QUESTION FROM READER: I think it is wonderful that the World Cocoa Foundation has been set up and finally the truth about cocoa production has been revealed. What is Nestle's, Mars' and Hershey's role in your organisation? Is it simply monetary? I've read in the article "Improved Incomes, Labour Practices and Access(...)" that these corporations have funded some interesting initiatives. However, it also seems that these initiatives are corporate-centered rather than community-centered. What role do community members play in the decision making process?

WORLD COCOCA FOUNDATION RESPONSE: We are pleased to report that the World Cocoa Foundation now has 58 chocolate company and trade organization members from Europe, Asia, and North and South America.
WCF is represented by large branded companies, processors, traders, and smaller chocolatiers and others who are dedicated to improving the conditions of small scale cocoa farmers and the environments where they live. A complete listing of our members can be found at:
http://www.worldcocoafoundation.org/about/member-companies.asp. Our members provide financial contributions as well as technical expertise and guidance with our partners in West Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

In addition to funding our "core" farmer field school programs, several member companies are funding additional initiatives on education. These efforts are being coordinated with the World Cocoa Foundation. Examples
include:

*The Hershey Company supports the International Foundation for Education and Self-Help (IFESH) in Ghana and Ivory Coast to train 2,000 teachers on improved quality of education for 46, 000 primary and secondary school students.
http://www.worldcocoafoundation.org/difference/africa-ifesa.asp

*Mars, Incorporated and the Norwegian Chocolate Producers Association are co-funding the CLASSE (Child Labor Alternatives through Sustainable Systems in Education) program in Ivory Coast to improve basic and agricultural education, with an emphasis on youth mentoring and increased school attendance.
http://winrock.org/fact/facts.asp?CC=5515&bu=9055

*The Blommer Chocolate Company sponsors a program to construct 500 solar dryers for farmers in Ecuador to dry their cocoa crop. These dryers will ensure that farmers are able to complete an essential step in the harvesting process and will receive strong prices for their crop.
http://www.worldcocoafoundation.org/difference/americas-sustainable.asp.

In each of these cases, the projects are "community based" involving local farmers and community leaders in decision-making, planning and
implementation. Feedback from farmers is posted on: http://www.ecandy.com/newsletter.aspx?NewsLetterID=203