Women cocoa roadmap

Women and chocolate: an action roadmap

In the Spring of 2013, as part of Oxfam’s Behind the Brands campaign, more than 100,000 people urged Mars, Mondelez and Nestle to ‘look, listen and act’ for women cocoa farmers and their families. By April all three companies had made the important commitments we demanded as a first step toward tackling gender inequality.  We’re looking forward to working with Mondelez, Mars and Nestle to ensure they stick to their promises to women.  This road map shows  how these commitments should become reality.  As the ‘Big 3’ chocolate companies move from promises to action we’ll update this page show progress and of course, as necessary, suggest further action to keep things on track. Here is our latest assessment of the Big 3.

1 MAY 2013: Make public commitments The companies have publicly committed to Oxfam requests to Look, Listen and Act for women cocoa farmers and their families.
15 MAY 2013: Sign up to UN Women Empowerment Principles The UN Women Empowerment Principles are a set of principles for businesses that help guide their work to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. By signing up to support these principles, the companies are agreeing to high-level corporate leadership for gender equality in their supply chains.
1 OCTOBER 2013: Start Impact Assessment The companies will have started a impact assessment on the condition of women in their cocoa supply chains.
1 APRIL 2014: Publication of data based on Impact Assessment The companies have agreed to carry out and publish assessments to identify and report on the condition of women in their cocoa supply chains.
1 MAY 2014: Publish Action Plan The companies have committed to develop and publish plans of action to address gender inequities in their cocoa supply chains.

ONGOING: Engage with others

The companies have also committed to engage with and advocate toward other key actors in the cocoa industry - including governments, industry bodies, and suppliers - to address the many systemic challenges of gender equity. Follow the links below to see what each company has been doing publicly so far to meet this:

Mars Chocolate and Oxfam America Agree on Intentional Approach to Empower Women in Cocoa Growing Communities

Mars Chocolate Releases Gender Assessment Regarding Women Cocoa Farmers in Cote d'Ivoire

Mars Chocolate's Plan to Empower Women in Cocoa Communities

Nestlé’s work with women farmers in its supply chain through partners, stakeholders and the cocoa industry

Nestlé Action Plan on Women in the Cocoa Supply Chain

Nestlé supports the World Cocoa Foundation in continuing to integrate gender equity in partner meetings and into projects

Nestlé Gender Action Plan and FLA Gender Impact Assessment on Cote d'Ivoire

Mondelez International's Cocoa Life Extends its Leadership Advancing Women's Rights in Cocoa Farming

Mondelez launches Cocoa Life Sustainability Programme in Cote d'Ivoire

Mondelez Gender Action Plan and Gender Impact Assessments on Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire