In Bringakro, a village seven kilometers from Djékanou, cocoa farming is undergoing a transformation. Under the cocoa trees, agricultural training sessions combine the stories of women entrepreneurs with expert analyses. Here, cocoa transcends its status as a mere cash crop to become the driving force of an ecosystem that blends modern agricultural techniques, women's empowerment, children's education, and environmental stewardship.

On June 26, 2026, a delegation of Nestlé executives (from Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Senegal) and journalists from West and Central Africa visited the Dosso Vafoungbé plantation. A member of the SOCODD cooperative (Société coopérative du dialogue de Djékanou), this producer is at the heart of the Income Accelerator program.

The origins of the program: responding to crises in the sector

Nathan Bello, head of the Nestlé Cocoa Plan for West Africa, recalled that this initiative, which began in 2009, aimed to address major crises in the sector: declining cocoa quality, orchard diseases, aging trees, precariousness of planters and child labor.

"A company that lives off chocolate has to look at what's happening upstream. We have learned from our experiences and gradually developed initiatives that now allow us to improve producers' incomes while ensuring the sustainability of our supply," he summarized.

A strategy structured around 4 major pillars

The program now relies on four complementary levers to sustainably transform cocoa-growing communities.

1. Agricultural modernization and gender equality

The first pillar is based on technical training, plot management and compliance with social and environmental criteria.

1. Financial innovation: An incentive bonus is paid directly to households. To encourage financial inclusion, this aid is divided equally between the producer and his spouse.
2. The power of pruning: Essential for sunlight and aeration, pruning cocoa trees can double or even triple yields. Nestlé funds specialized teams to assist growers and aims for a 95% adoption rate of this technique among the 45,000 producers in the program.

2. Agroforestry and climate resilience

The second pillar focuses on preserving biodiversity. In addition to distributing tree seedlings, the project deploys technical teams in the field to help farmers adapt their land to climate change.

3. Diversification of income and empowerment of women

To break the exclusive dependence on cocoa, the program relies on Community Support Associations (VSSAs). In Bringakro, seven groups are already active, offering women credit, literacy classes, management training, and awareness-raising on the use of domestic gas.

1. Aka N'Guessan Adeline, a member of the first group: "I obtained a loan of 50,000 CFA francs to start a business and help my husband send the children to school. I repaid my loan with interest and today I can take better care of myself."
2. Andokoi Céline, a local entrepreneur: "Before, it was difficult to get a loan. Today, after several repayments, I have become self-sufficient. I no longer have to ask anyone for help."

4. Education and child protection

Access to education is the main safeguard against child labor. In Bringakro, Nestlé supports school infrastructure through the purchase of equipment, the strengthening of canteens, support for management committees (COGES) and the renovation of premises.

Amani Kouamé Georges, director of the Bringakro 1 public primary school, testifies to the effectiveness of this support, put in place with the support of the International Cocoa Initiative and the "My Reading Box" project:

"In both kindergarten and primary school, we received educational materials (...) we now have a library. Candidates for entry into sixth grade also receive meals and exam kits."

The academic results for the year illustrate this success:

1. School 1: 100% success rate upon entry into sixth grade.
2. School 2: 95% success rate.

These infrastructures are built in close collaboration with the Ministry of National Education, primarily targeting areas where the risks of child labor have historically been highest.

A model for the future of the region

Launched in January 2022, the Household Income Acceleration Program now supports 45,000 cocoa-producing families in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. By combining agronomy, gender equality, diversification, and education, the Nestlé Cocoa Plan is based on the premise that the future and sustainability of chocolate depend first and foremost on the well-being and dignity of cocoa-producing families.