ICI Foundation advocates for child protection in cocoa sector at JNCC 2026
The International Cocoa Initiative ICI Foundation is participating in the 10th edition of the National Cocoa and Chocolate Days JNCC from September 1 to 3, 2026, at the Abidjan Exhibition Park. The foundation is emphasizing the importance of protecting children and strengthening collaboration among stakeholders in the cocoa industry to ensure its future. The event, themed "Youth and Cocoa, Culture of the Future," highlights that the sector's sustainability depends on both child protection and unified efforts from various actors. A dedicated day at the ICI Foundation's stand focuses on "the importance of public-private partnership" to showcase complementary interventions for a more sustainable industry. Awokou Donatien, Director of Partnerships and Advocacy at the ICI Foundation, stated that the issue of succession is inseparable from child protection, noting that "behind every cocoa bean is a woman, a producer, a family, and children." He stressed that preventing and eliminating child labor requires coordinated and sustained interventions from public authorities, the private sector, civil society organizations, and communities. These synergies facilitate sharing expertise, resources, and intervention capacities to support communities, strengthen child protection mechanisms, and promote schooling. While progress has been made in combating child labor in C么te d'Ivoire over two decades, including increased awareness among producers and reduced incidence in production areas, Awok
