Officials of Rainforest Alliance have held a day’s workshop for implementing partners and beneficiaries of their $5million Africa Cocoa Fund (ACF).
It happened on Monday, 28th October, 2024 in Kumasi at the NODA Hotel.
Aside marking the official closure of the first phase (3 years duration) of the implementation of 9 sustainable programs with the ACF, the meeting also aimed at taking feedback from participants regarding impact made in the lives of certified cocoa farmers (beneficiaries) in Ghana and cocoa farms within the 3 years.
Premised on the feedback, officials of Rainforest Alliance will formulate strategies vis-a-vis the continuity of the initiative.
ABOUT Rainforest Alliance’s Africa Cocoa Fund
The Rainforest Alliance’s Africa Cocoa Fund (ACF) is a three-year US$5 million fund to support cocoa farmers and help preserve the local landscapes in West and Central Africa.
The fund supports sustainability projects of certified smallholder producer groups, cooperatives and farmers or vulnerable members.
All projects or programs are driven by farmers and intend to create a positive impact for the longer term.
Funding supports interventions that build the capacity of certified cocoa farmers.
The intervention areas include;
1. Geolocation and Mapping
2. Digitalization of IMS and traceability System
3. Addressing Child Labour
4. Agroforestry and Shading Trees Management
5. Skills Development
6. Income Diversification
7. Data-driven Innovative Solutions
8. Landscape Level Issues
Meeting
On the sidelines of the meeting, Maxwell Nyaaba, Finance Manager for Rainforest Alliance told newsmen that he was impressed hearing from beneficiaries and implementers on how the programs have helped them in putting systems in place.
“From the visits, we could see impact, real project implementation happening on the grounds. Touching base with the farmers we could feel that everything went on well”.
Sharing gains made under the Child Labour program, Patrick Balifi, Africa Cocoa Fund project Manager said over 5000 children have been reached in Africa.
He said more than 2,000 children have been given birth certificates.
He added that they have also equipped vulnerable cocoa farmers with alternative income generating skills to be able to support their children and family against child labour.
Patrick Balifi said officials of Rainforest Alliance are still working to reduce the risk of child labour in cocoa growing communities Ghana and Africa.
He however indicated that, a collaborative effort is needed in the fight against child labour.
“All should join the fight against it in a sustainable manner”, he admonished.
