SAVE THE CHILDREN AND FERRERO EXPAND COCOA PARTNERSHIP IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE ITALIAN COOPERATION
The expansion of the partnership and the funding from the Italian Cooperation will enable the support of another 150 cocoa farming communities, strengthening their resilience and protecting the rights of children.
Save the Children and Ferrero announced the renewal and scale-up of their partnership to support the wellbeing and development of children, adolescents, and women in cocoa-growing communities in Côte d'Ivoire, by addressing child labour risk factors. This expanded programme, co-funded by the Italian Cooperation, marks a step change in Save the Children and Ferrero’s shared commitment to building a cocoa supply chain that creates value for all, through a holistic community development approach.
Working closely with key stakeholders, the programme will expand its reach from 85 to 235 communities during the next five years (2026-2030), by adding 150 cocoa-producing communities in Côte d'Ivoire’s Haut-Sassandra region and Montagnes district (Tonkpi and Cavally regions), that are part of Ferrero’s cocoa supply chain. The initiative aims to strengthen communities, improve access to education, healthcare, birth registration, and nutrition, support women empowerment and ultimately create safer, more sustainable environments for children, through building knowledge and capacity to address the root causes of child labour, which are closely tied to socio-economic vulnerability.
In line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda, with the aim to promote sustainable development, address poverty and protect human rights, the Italian Cooperation and Ferrero join a longstanding action that has been developing and evolving since 2017, making significant strides in protecting children, youth and vulnerable households.
The partnership between Save the Children and Ferrero began in 2010 and evolved into a more transformative approach in 2017. Since 2020, Ferrero has supported Save the Children in leading a five-year project across 65 cocoa-growing communities in the Haut-Sassandra region, building on prior work in 20 communities in the Nawa region. These initiatives have already aimed to safeguard and enhance the lives of over 18,000 children, adolescents and young adults who are vulnerable to various forms of child labour and hazardous work.
“We have always believed in the importance of collaboration between public institutions, both nationally and internationally, civil society, and the private sector, which values the experience and expertise of each of these actors. Real change does not come from isolated actions, but from transformative and lasting alliances. That is why, as Save the Children, we believe this partnership gives true meaning to the word investment: investing in the long term with cross-cutting actions, involving multiple actors for lasting results,” said Daniela Fatarella, CEO of Save the Children.
“This project demonstrates how sustainable socioeconomic development in a country like Côte d'Ivoire is possible, thanks to the supply chain expertise of a company like Ferrero, the strategy of Italian cooperation, which with adequate funding and Italy’s commitment can create enabling conditions for development, and an organization like Save the Children, which has always been present in the field with competence and professionalism. Multiple actors, who together can achieve a result greater than the sum of its parts, becoming real agents of change.”
Daniela Fatarella
“At Ferrero, respecting and promoting human rights is fundamental. This core value is embedded in our sourcing practices, ensuring we take true care of the individuals and communities that are part of our supply chain" said Isabel Hochgesand, Global Chief Procurement Officer at Ferrero.
“This new phase of partnership with Save the Children and AICS marks a significant step toward a more sustainable cocoa ecosystem. By working together across the entire cocoa supply chain, we aim to build a transparent, inclusive, and lasting value chain—one that delivers real impact for communities and our business alike.”
Isabel Hochgesand
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