Yaounde, Cameroon – The Cameroonian government has launched a project to combat child labor in the cocoa industry, a move aimed at promoting sustainable and responsible cocoa production.
The project, launched on March 31, 2026, is a collaboration between the Cameroonian government and the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) Foundation. It seeks to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for cocoa production and eliminate child labor and precarious work in the sector.
Speaking at the launch event, ICI Executive Director Matthias Lange emphasized that Cameroon is not immune to the phenomenon of child labor in cocoa fields. “The International Cocoa Initiative Foundation is committed to supporting the Cameroonian authorities and partners in achieving sustainable cocoa production,” he said.
The initiative involves all stakeholders, including civil society organizations and the cocoa and chocolate industry. It reflects the Cameroonian authorities’ desire to make the cocoa economy a development asset and strengthen the three pillars of sustainability: environment, economy, and social.
Cameroon and the European Union have initiated a dynamic dialogue to anticipate and exceed the growing demands of cocoa-consuming countries. The EU consumes between 60 and 70% of Africa’s cocoa production and has regulations on deforestation and human rights that Cameroon is aligning itself with.
Representative of the Prime Minister, Chief Dr. Blessed OKOLE, said the initiative demonstrates Cameroon’s commitment to responsible cocoa production. “We must apply our laws and ensure that companies involved in cocoa production take their responsibility to protect children’s rights and human rights,” he said.
The launch of this project marks a significant step towards eradicating child labor in Cameroon’s cocoa sector and promoting sustainable cocoa production.
Reactions:
Chief Dr. Blessed Okole, Representative of the Prime Minister: “We must apply our laws. Cameroon has regulations against child labor, but laws must be accompanied by actions, inspections, penalties, and responsibilities are essential. Companies involved in cocoa and chocolate production must take their responsibility. Ethical sourcing should not be optional, it should be the norm. Sustainability and transparency in supply chains are key. We all have a role to play. Governments, communities, companies, individuals must come together. Change happens when we take action.”
Matthias Lange, Executive Director of ICI: “The sustainability of the cocoa sector remains an imperative for all African cocoa-producing countries. They are required to respect several rules so that locally produced cocoa continues to be exported to the EU and purchased. Moreover, the Cameroonian State must observe these rules on child labor in the cocoa sector, at the risk of seeing its cocoa rejected, which would be a significant loss for both the EU member states and farmers.”
By Frida Tjang
