Various initiatives have emerged to combat deforestation associated with the cocoa supply chain led by a range of stakeholders with various approaches.
While voluntary measures led by private sector actors play a significant role in addressing deforestation in cocoa supply chains, they must be accelerated and complemented by mandatory policy frameworks in both producer and consumer countries. Tools and resources from civil society organizations can support this transition. Private sector actors should align their traceability and monitoring efforts with national programs, while governments should enhance the implementation of public policies and initiatives. There are opportunities for the private sector to engage in producer-country initiatives such as the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative. Theories of Change focused on deforestation should also account for interconnected issues like poverty, child labor, and forced labor challenges within the cocoa sector.
Learn more in this briefing note by World Resources Institute.
