It is an innovative family-centred approach that is aiming to close the gap to a living income and reducing child labour risks. By looking at the family, we’re placing greater value on women as agents for positive change.
The program is built and designed to encourage changes in behaviour and reward positive practices – both within the home and on the farm. The program rewards cocoa-farming families for practices that benefit the environment and local community.
We delivered the first progress report on the income accelerator program pilot, which engaged with 1000 cocoa-farming families. As we scale up the program to reach more families, we will continue to share updates on our impact and challenges. You can access these updates in the progress reports via the link below. The measurement and evaluation of the program is completed independently by KIT Institute.
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Pilot program1000 Cocoa-farming families in Côte d’Ivoire take part in the Income Accelerator Program. -
Test at scaleThe pilot is expanded to include over 10 000 cocoa-farming families in Côte d’Ivoire for the test at scale phase. -
Scale-upBased on learnings from the pilot and the test at scale, we are building on the program within Côte d’Ivoire, while expanding into Ghana. -
ReachOur aim is to reach, where relevant, an estimated 160 000 families by 2030.
How does this support future generations?
Enrolling children in school. The program incentivizes families to support the cost of kids in education. Nestlé also finances improvements of school buildings and infrastructure.
How do we ensure it is sustainable?
Implementing good practices, such as pruning. This helps increase the yield, reduce crop disease and improves household income. We train, equip, and subsidise groups to do this pruning.
How do you futureproof the farms?
Agroforestry is practised. Planting forest and fruit trees provide shade for the Cocoa, helping resist the impact of climate change and supports biodiversity.
How does the Income Accelerator Program go beyond supporting cocoa farming?
We encourage creating additional sources of income with the families. This includes growing other crops, raising livestock and chickens, beekeeping, or processing other products such as cassava.
How are these incentives paid to the families?
Through safe and reliable mobile payments directly in the hands of Cocoa-farming families. They payments are distributed in a way which gives greater financial decision-making to women – both within the home and in the community.
Our Stories
Pruning And Sustainable Cocoa Production
Selectively pruning degraded and diseased branches can help improve overall yield and quality of cocoa pods from older trees. By promoting pruning, farmers can divesify incomes while limiting crop disease and loss, to great effect.
Helping Kids into School
Enrolling children from 6-16 years old into school is one of the central incentive pillars of the Income Accelerator Program. By helping women get their children to shool, we can ensure incentives payments are used to fund what matters the most.
Empowering Women To Drive Income Diversification
Enrolling children from 6-16 years old into school is one of the central incentive pillars of the Income Accelerator Program. By helping women get their children to school, we can ensure incentives payments are used to fund what matters the most.
Farmer Training Program
Engagement with farmers is a key pillar of the Nestlé Cocoa Plan. We work directly with them to address gaps in their knowledge on a wide range of subjects, helping to improve safety, health and livelihoods.
Our Stories
Pruning And Sustainable Cocoa Production
Selectively pruning degraded and diseased branches can help improve overall yield and quality of cocoa pods from older trees. By promoting pruning, farmers can divesify incomes while limiting crop disease and loss, to great effect.
Helping Close the Living Income Gap
By engaging in positive practices promoted by the Income Accelerator Program, cocoa-farming families can earn additional income to help close the gap in living income. As we move from the pilot to a test at scale phase, the benefits are more apparent than ever.
Disease Prevention Across a Cocoa Farm
In Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, cocoa is sourced through the Nestlé Cocoa Plan and certified by the Rainforest Alliance following the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard. In this process it is critical to support a strong certification approach regarding the control and minimization of pesticide