International Cocoa Initiative

History

International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) is an independent nonprofit foundation aiming to address the worst forms of child labor and forced adult abor on cocoa farms.

Established in 2002, ICI is the leading organization promoting child protection in cocoa-growing communities. It works closely with producer governments to offer a real and sustainable solution to the worst forms of child labor and forced labor in the cocoa supply chain. Supported by individual chocolate and cocoa companies, ICI is led by a board composed equally of industry and civil society (NGO) representatives. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is an advisor to the board. ICI’s program is community centered, ensuring an approach based on actual local conditions and creating a way for each community to guide its own future. Operating in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana since 2007, ICI has worked in more than 890 cocoa-growing communities, where it has supported more than 3,000 community development actions to benefit more than one million people, more than half of whom were children. As a result of ICI's assistance, more than 50,000 of these children now have improved access to quality education.

Mission

ICI aims to safeguard children's rights and contribute to the elimination of child labor through innovation, development, application and promotion of good practices and the building of partnerships.