“Sharing Lessons Learned - Developing Ways Forward”
London, 1-2 April 2008
ICI Conference Recommendations
Introduction
The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) hosted child labour experts from across the globe at
an event at the London School of Economics. The conference, “Sharing Lessons Learned -
Developing Ways Forward”, focused on efforts to eliminate child labour in agriculture with a
particular reference to the cocoa sectors of Ghana and the Cote d’Ivoire. The participants
included senior Government representatives of Ghana and the Cote d’Ivoire, the cocoa
trade, the chocolate industry, members of international agencies, civil society from producer
and consumer countries, as well as internationally acknowledged experts on child labour.
The first day of discussion focused on lessons learned from the programmes underway and
the efforts in different commodity producing countries, while the second day challenged the
conference participants to set the agenda for future direction. After two days of intense
discussion a number of themes emerged which, while not necessarily reflecting a consensus
of all present, were the product of thorough debate, strongly support and, most importantly,
recognised as critical to future success. On the morning after the full conference
deliberations, a working group of participants, representing governments, industry, local and
international NGOs, reviewed the conference outputs. Drawing on these outputs, this group
identified the need for a compelling vision, along with key themes and concrete
recommendations, for consideration by all those with an interest in the elimination of child
labour and the sustainable future of the cocoa supply chain within Ghana and the Cote
d’Ivoire. Outlined below are the key findings.
A Vision for cocoa
The elimination of child labour and the future of sustainable cocoa growing in Ghana and the
Cote d’Ivoire must be based on thriving cocoa growing communities. This challenges us
to work towards conditions that will support healthy, appealing and economically viable
communities where children are safe and in school. Promoting the profitability of cocoa
farms, using improved tools and methods, is the best way to ensure a sustainable supply of
quality cocoa while at the same time encouraging investment in the farm, the family, the
community and the future of their children.
ICI Conference Recommendations, 1-2 April 2008
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The conference participants recognise and agree these conditions are not widely met in the
two countries at this time. To achieve this vision will require the leadership of these
producer governments and effective collaboration with the cocoa industry, international
agencies, civil society and other development partners over the long term to achieve this
vision. The approach must ensure that children inform and influence their own future and
that child labour is not displaced to other sectors.
Themes for action
Bearing in mind the many experiences and lessons learned to date, this conference suggests
that there are compelling reasons for all parties to commit to a vision of thriving cocoa
communities. The conference deliberations produced the following key themes that should
be given serious consideration for individual and/or collective action.
• The governments of cocoa producing countries are central to providing the overall
leadership and coordination of efforts for the development of cocoa regions.
This places upon them the responsibility for providing appropriate plans, mechanisms for
engagement and cooperation, appropriate data collection and transparent reporting,
while remaining open to effective collaboration with others.
• The cocoa industry including local buyers, transporters and processors, manufacturers of
cocoa based products, with the related trade and retail sector, bear a key part of the
shared responsibility for the future of the cocoa supply chain. The industry should
support the evolution of an efficient, transparent and sustainable cocoa supply
chain that significantly contributes to the needs for a decent living for farmers and their
families and actively supports efforts towards the elimination of child and forced labour.
• Effective progress towards this vision can only be made by drawing on the expertise of
the international development agencies and the unique role of civil society. In
partnership with governments these organizations are vital to ensure that improvements
in infrastructure and farm profitability are matched with social development. Civil society
can ensure a real voice for farmers, communities and especially women and children in
their own progress.
• Underlying all development efforts and in particular the efforts to eliminate child labour,
must be substantial investment in quality accessible education for all. Recognising
that many positive lessons have been learned, there are innovative and cost effective
solutions that need to be extended in support of the formal education system, to reach
those children who are out of school and illiterate adults. The vision of thriving cocoa
communities requires immediate action to improve education in the producing areas.
Concrete steps forward
To build on the energetic engagement at the conference and the themes recommended
above, concrete action is needed. This conference did not aim to be prescriptive but
encourages all, including those not represented, to consider these outputs, learn from the
lessons shared and put into action those recommendations that fall within their field of
responsibility and influence. The conference encouraged the proposal of actionable items
which can stimulate both engagement and common commitment.
The actions below are in no way exhaustive but are drawn from those conference outputs
where there was significant agreement and energy to move forward in the short to medium
term. Those actions which are considered urgent are indicated.
ICI Conference Recommendations, 1-2 April 2008
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Producer government leadership & coordination:
• Urgent: Disseminate widely National Action Plans and ensure a regular national
coordination mechanism that allows all partners to contribute to these plans, share
information and build on lessons learned.
• Urgent: Engage fully with civil society as unique partners of government to support the
national action plans especially at community level.
• Urgent: Extend the regular cocoa sector studies envisioned under the “child labour
certification” system currently being implemented, to drive effective policy, remediation
and corrective action.
• Urgent: Complete and disseminate the national lists of hazardous activities in
compliance with ILO convention 182. Dissemination must be in forms that are easy to
access by all.
• Integrate the broader development needs in the cocoa sector, including specifically those
of children, into national development plans and secure relevant concrete support from
international agencies and development partners.
• Establish a fully operating system of response and safe rehabilitation for identified cases
of trafficking and exploitation.
Evolution of the supply chain:
• Urgent: Undertake a comprehensive review of the current knowledge that can support
the development of a sustainable cocoa sector and ensure that this is widely
disseminated.
• Urgent: Increase the investment in relevant extension-services to ensure that
smallholder cocoa farming is properly supported, including access to market information.
• Urgent: Promote the organisation of cocoa farmers for collective action to enable them
to work together for their common self interest and ensure a fair price.
• Develop and apply improved technology, methods and tools to raise productivity,
improve quality and create proven replicable models for the future of profitable cocoa
farming.
• Improve the efficiency and transparency of the cocoa supply chain ensuring that the
farmers are fully represented in such changes.
The role of international agencies and civil society:
• Urgent: Local civil society shall ensure that they effectively coordinate with national
governments in their efforts to reach out to communities, promote equitable
development with an emphasis on women and children.
• Urgent: Actively incorporate key international agencies, including but not limited to
ICCO, UNICEF, ILO, IOM, UNDP, World Bank into the national coordination structures.
Their support of the efforts of Governments should be sought to promote broad
development in the cocoa sector.
• Urgent: Improve the identification and safe rehabilitation of trafficked and exploited
children, with international agencies and civil society playing an active role under the
leadership of government.
• Increase significantly the outreach of programmes that foster and build-on the capacity
of local civil society. These programmes must seek to create community level capacity to
lead their own development and ensure that the child is at the centre of their
development efforts.
ICI Conference Recommendations, 1-2 April 2008
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• Incorporate lessons learned into existing programmes for effective action to create
awareness of and combat child and forced labour. New programmes translate into
concrete support of national action plans.
Investment in quality accessible education for all:
• Urgent: Incorporate the lessons learned in the provision of accessible quality education
for all into the national action plans for development efforts in the cocoa regions.
Lessons learned must specifically include the efforts needed to ensure all girls attend
school.
• Urgent: Develop appropriate education support programmes to ensure basic education
can be provided in cocoa growing areas including those which are remote.
• Expand significantly programmes that can effectively reach children who have dropped
out of school, who have never attended school or who would better benefit from “life
skills” based education. All such programmes should as much as possible aim to
reintegrate children into and support the formal education system.
• Launch innovative projects to provide appropriate and meaningful approaches to
vocational education. Projects must aim to provide older children with real choices for a
livelihood in their community or the means to eventually seek work beyond their
community without making them vulnerable to exploitation.
ICI will produce a full conference report which will contain specific recommendations in all these
thematic areas and further add to the areas of action for consideration.
