In Cameroon, the fight against child labor in cocoa farming is reaching a decisive turning point with the arrival of the International Cocoa Initiative. Faced with the scale of the problem and growing demands from international markets, this initiative aims to reconcile social imperatives with economic competitiveness by laying the foundations for a cocoa sector that is responsible, traceable, and sustainable.
A new phase is opening in the governance of Cameroon’s cocoa sector with the arrival of the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI). The organization is deploying a multisectoral approach aimed at supporting the government, producers, and civil society in combating child labor while structuring a more sustainable cocoa sector. By focusing on strengthening local capacities, improving traceability, and establishing community monitoring systems, ICI aims to firmly position Cameroon within international standards for responsible production.
As a producer, this is not an issue that directly affects us, but raising awareness is not forbidden, and it is important to continue educating other producers, because the situation is becoming complicated. The issue of cocoa prices has changed many things; as a result, producers may be tempted to increase production, which means more work. They then find themselves trapped by a cocoa price that has been divided by five, and may be tempted to rely on children to help boost production while earning.
Alphonse Djam Djam, Vice president, UNAPROCAM
According to the National Institute of Statistics, nearly 266,594 children are engaged in hazardous work in Cameroon, 71% of whom are in the primary sector, particularly agriculture and cocoa farming (2022–2024). In response, the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) is adopting a multisectoral approach, in partnership with public authorities, cooperatives, and civil society, to strengthen local capacities, improve traceability, and deploy community monitoring systems. The objective is clear: to promote cocoa that meets social and environmental standards, now essential for access to international markets.
We are an organization that brings together civil society and the cocoa and chocolate industry to improve the living conditions in cocoa growing communities, in cocoa growing families. So the idea is to protect children, work with the parents, work with the communities, work with the government and with the industry in order to provide support to kids for their education, for their development, for their health.
Matthias Lange, Executif Director, ICI
Beyond institutional commitments, the expected impact is also economic. By promoting sustainable and certified production, Cameroon could strengthen the competitiveness of its cocoa on international markets, while meeting growing consumer demands for ethics and social responsibility. Moreover, Cameroon reached a record production of 309,518 tons for the 2024–2025 season, representing a 13% increase.
