Background
In November 2017, the Government of Ghana and major cocoa and chocolate companies signed the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) Joint Framework for Action. The Framework defines core commitments, verifiable actions, and timebound targets. The Government of Ghana was represented by the former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Hon John Peter Amewu.
Mission
At the heart of the Framework is the commitment to no longer convert forest land for cocoa production, thus breaking the link between cocoa production and deforestation.
Vision
The Cocoa & Forests Initiative is an active commitment of top cocoa-producing countries with leading chocolate and cocoa companies to end deforestation and restore forest areas, through no further conversion of any forest land for cocoa production.
Goal/ Objectives
At the heart of the Framework is the commitment to no longer convert forest land for cocoa production. The Framework focuses on:
- Conservation of national parks and forested land, as well as restoration of forests that have been degraded by cocoa farm encroachment.
- Sustainable intensification and diversification of income in order to increase farmers’ yields and livelihood, to grow “more cocoa on less land” and thereby reduce pressure on forests.
- Engagement and empowerment of cocoa-growing communities. In particular mitigation of the social impacts and risks of land-use changes on affected cocoa farmers and their communities.
Core functions
CFI is convened as a public-private-civil society partnership with more than 55 organizations are involved in its governance and in the implementation of the CFI commitments and activities. It is chaired by the Ghana Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, with support from IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative and the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF).
The core function of the initiative is to ensure adherence to the 8 commitments CFI signatories signed up to:
- Prohibit and prevent activities that cause or contribute to any further deforestation or forest degradation in the cocoa sector.
- Respect the rights of cocoa farmers, including identifying and mitigating social risks, and sequencing the implementation of actions to minimize potential adverse social and economic impacts.
- Promote the effective restoration and long-term conservation of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Wildlife Resource Reserves, Forest Reserves, and unprotected off-reserve forest lands.
- Strengthen supply chain mapping, with the end goal of full traceability at the farm-level;
- Implement verifiable actions and timebound targets on the basis of sound data, robust and credible methodologies, stakeholder consultation, and realistic timeframes;
- Implement agreed actions in the context of a broader landscape-level approach, with strong links with similar initiatives in other commodities, and full alignment with the national REDD+ strategy, new Ghana Cocoa Sector Development Strategy II, and other relevant national strategies and plans;
- Embrace shared responsibility to implement the Framework actions, including continued engagement in a multi-stakeholder process for dialogue on key issues, development of effective implementation plans, and joint learning and knowledge sharing; and
- Provide effective monitoring and reporting on progress on commitments and actions to ensure transparency and accountability.
Read More from CFI website……. CFIghana.mlnr.gov.gh