Research Project on Efforts to Eliminate Child Labor and Forced Labor in the Cocoa Sector
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The goal of this project is to research, identify, and develop indicators of progress being made in high-risk countries to eliminate child labor and forced labor in the cocoa sector; to research best practices utilized by the governments and the cocoa and chocolate industry, and to research the participation of worker organizations in addressing child labor and forced labor in the cocoa sector.
The Problem
Some 1.56 million children are engaged in child labor (including some in forced child labor) in the production of cocoa in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, despite efforts to address the problem by the international cocoa and chocolate industry, the Governments of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and the United States; and other key stakeholders.
Our Strategy
The project is responsible for:
- Researching, identifying, and developing indicators of progress being made in high-risk countries to eliminate child labor and forced labor in the cocoa sector, including progress towards mapping all cocoa farms.
- Researching government and industry best practices for management, reporting, and verification of cocoa and cocoa products to address the risk they are produced with child labor and forced labor.
- Researching the active and meaningful participation of worker organizations in efforts to eliminate child labor and forced labor in the cocoa sector of high-risk countries.
Results
The project has collected data, held focus group discussions, and conducted analysis of the research. It is currently preparing its final reports.
AIR has produced reports that include a list of recommended indicators of progress; an analysis of the efforts to address child and forced labor in the cocoa sector of the listed countries, including a retrospective assessment of efforts in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana since 2019; government and industry best practices, and meaningful participation of worker organizations.
- Grantee:
- American Institutes for Research
- Contact Information:
- (202) 693-4843 / Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (OCFT)
- Tags:
- Child Labor
- Agriculture
- Brazil
- Cocoa
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Ecuador
- Forced Labor
- Ghana
- Indonesia
- Research
- Supply Chains
- Workers Organizations
