FDBusiness.com

Mondelēz International has announced the successful completion of the first phase of its new partnerships with Swisscontact, Cargill and Wahana Visi Indonesia to expand its Cocoa Life program in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. With the help of Swisscontact, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO), the program aims to develop sustainable livelihoods for cocoa-farming communities.  The program specifically promotes women’s empowerment and youth participation, creating a next generation of cocoa farmers who see potential in the cocoa sector.

In the first phase, Cocoa Life communities developed Community Action Plans (CAPs) and formed Community Development Committees with representatives from all relevant groups in the community, such as youth and women. The committees will implement the CAPs, which feed into village plans, helping communities receive regional government funding and support. Cocoa Life also provides training to increase communities’ awareness of social issues.  The program assists communities in taking local action for positive change and developing their own action plans.

Mondelēz International is part of the consortium led by Swisscontact, which together with the Millennium Challenge Account-Indonesia, announced in April 2015 the Green Prosperity — Sustainable Cocoa Production Program (GP-SCPP), which aims to reduce poverty and greenhouse gas emissions in the Indonesian cocoa sector.

“Cocoa Life is taking root in Indonesia because it’s focused on farmers,” says Andi Sitti Asmayanti, Director of Cocoa Life for Southeast Asia. “Through Cocoa Life, we’re empowering farmers to create action plans with their communities and shape the future of cocoa. It’s important that community members come together to build plans that are based on their long-term needs. This creates ownership and empowerment. Together with our partners and the Indonesian government, we’re helping cocoa-farming families create the kind of communities they want to live in, and inspiring the next generation.”

Swisscontact is working with partners Wahana Visi Indonesia and Cargill on a three-year program to reach 6,000 cocoa farmers and at least 16,000 community members in Southeast Sulawesi. The collaboration with Cargill as supply chain partner focuses on improving good agricultural and environmental practices as part of the farming and environment focus areas in the Cocoa Life program. Swisscontact, through Wahana Visi Indonesia, focuses on implementing interventions as part of livelihoods, community and youth.

“This partnership brings proven experience in community mobilization to SCPP’s experience in supply chain development and strengthens the ability of cocoa farmers to shape their future,” says Manfred Borer, Country Director, Swisscontact Indonesia. “By promoting open participation in community meetings, community members that are often overlooked will be given a platform to promote their ideas for community development.”