Harvesting knowledge on cocoa in Central America

Main challenges

Understand the challenges and opportunities of the cocoa sector through the voice of their protagonists.

• At international level there is an increased demand for sustainability (most big companies will only purchase certified cocoa in the future), but a lot of producing families can't live from cocoa production, prices are volatile.

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• Cocoa production represents a potential for improving the livelihoods of small-scale producers, with different challenges: the areas destined for cocoa are much smaller, the product is not prioritised in the producer’s farm, small-scale producers have limited business and organisational capacities compared to the growing investments of big companies.
• Cocoa producers (small-scale producers and private companies) are already suffering the impact of climate change and climate variability. At the same time, clear or precise strategies to face those challenges are lacking. It is therefore urgent that actors (producers, companies, services, public sector, financers, researchers, among others) join forces to identify and generate knowledge that allows facing the climate crisis nationally and regionally.
  

What did we achieve so far?

Results of the first phase

• In each of the 4 countries involved, a complete baseline study of the cocoa sector was completed, and also one at a regional level. Now we have updated information available related to different aspects in the cocoa sector.
• Two communities of practice (one on profitable agroforestry systems and one on inclusive business models) are set up. Actors from both public and private sector from 7 countries of Central America participate.
• We engaged in partnerships with 3 export companies based in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua in order to document and learn from their inclusive business models and innovations.
• Through the national platforms, we managed to develop and promote policies, legislations, strategies and national plans for the cocoa sector.

• We co-developed an online tool to design smart climate cocoa agroforestry systems, with specific information on climate trends, appropriate agroforestry practices, and cost-benefit analyses. This portal will facilitate collective learning about Climate Smart Cacao. Partners are CIAT, WCF and Rikolto plus other players of both private and public sector across the region.
• We promoted the implementation of 47 agroforestry systems in 4 countries with 4 partners (3 export companies and 1 local organisation).
• We supported the creation of the Central American and Dominican Republic Cocoa Integration Committee (SICACAO) where 7 countries of the region are represented (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panamá and Dominican Republic).

Results of the second phase

• The construction and approval of the Regional Cocoa Strategy was achieved in alliance with the Secretariat of the Agricultural Council (SECAC); the aim is that it becomes part of the Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP).
• Events were organised together with partners in the region,: 3 national cocoa fairs, 1 regional (SICA) fair, 1 Central American Cocoa Fair, and we also presented these regional experiences at the Cocoa Fair in Peru.
• The sustainability strategy for SICACAO and an implementation plan for its development were elaborated.
• Three cocoa diploma courses were held for young people (70% men and 30% women). A total of 120 young people have been trained on cocoa production and postharvest processes. This was made possible through a partnership with the Colibri Foundation in Belgium.
• A communication strategy was implemented to disseminate information, knowledge and the experiences of the countries in the Centra American region and the Dominican Republic, through digital communication in international and national media. In 2021 alone, SICACAO's social media publications reached 1,515,644 people interested in cocoa, chocolate and sustainable agriculture in more than 15 countries in the region.
• Five Apps on the management of agroforestry systems were developed and implemented.
• Two studies of business models between an export buying company and a producer organisation were carried out. As a result, two improvement plans have been defined to make these business relationships more inclusive and competitive.