USAID, World Cocoa Foundation initiate partnership to support women in Ivorian cocoa industry
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (PANA) - The US Agency for International Aid (USAID) and the World Cocoa Foundation, under a new public-private partnership, are to provide 2 million US dollars to support Ivorian women in the cocoa industry.
A US high level delegation led by the special advisor of US President Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, disclosed this to PANA while on a visit to a cocoa farm in southern Côte d’Ivoire.
The partnership will boost investment in the private sector in support of women working in the cocoa industry.
During the second phase of the project, USAID will strengthen its partnership with the cocoa industry in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroun to improve the productivity and durability of the cocoa production, as well as to support the economic empowerment of farmers.
Globally, the two million smallholder cocoa farmers in that region account for about 70 percent of the world production. Companies involved in the partnership include Barry Callebaut, Blommer Chocolate, Cargill, Guittard Chocolate Company, The Hershey Company, Mars Wrigley Corporation, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, Olam, TCHO and Tree Global.
During her visit, Ivanka Trump and the USAID administrator, Mark Green, met with the cocoa producing women and entrepreneurs.
The women explained to the delegation the production process of cocoa and the economic challenges they faced.
The delegation discussed ways and means through which the world development and prosperity initiative (W-GDP), launched in February by US President Donald Trump could create an environment appropriate for the establishment of similar women associations to overcome their difficulties.
One of the fundamental W-GDP components is to catalyze the support from private sector partners, in collaboration with the US, for 50 million women in the world by the year 2025.
-0- PANA BAL/BEH/MSA/RA 17Apr2019
