ICI Protects 1.68 Million Children in West Africa from Child Labour through CLMRS

Key Takeaways

• At least 1.68 million children across cocoa-growing communities in West Africa have been protected and supported through Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS) implemented by ICI members.
• ICI's CLMRS programme has expanded its reach to 1.33 million cocoa-farming households across Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria as of September 2025.
• The CLMRS are child-centred systems designed to identify children engaged in or at risk of child labour, provide ongoing support, and monitor their progress over time.
• ICI has continued its collaboration with government institutions to strengthen social welfare systems, improve data coordination, and build institutional capacity.

The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) has made significant strides in protecting children from child labour in West Africa, according to its 2025 Annual Report. Despite market volatility and regulatory uncertainty, ICI members remained committed to safeguarding children, highlighting the importance of effective child labour prevention systems.

The report highlights the expansion of ICI's Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS) programme, which has reached 1.33 million cocoa-farming households across Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria. This achievement underscores the need for sustainable and scalable solutions to address child labour in the cocoa sector.

Background & Context

The cocoa sector faces unprecedented challenges, including evolving European Union due diligence requirements and forced labour regulations. In response, ICI has worked with partners to develop practical recommendations for addressing forced labour risks. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of partnership and innovation in driving systemic change.

The CLMRS programme is a critical component of ICI's strategy to protect children from child labour. By identifying children at risk and providing ongoing support, ICI aims to prevent and reduce child labour, mitigate its harmful effects, and help eliminate its long-term consequences.

Key Findings

As of September 2025, ICI's CLMRS programme had expanded its reach to 1.33 million cocoa-farming households. This represents a significant increase from 1.17 million households the previous year, demonstrating the programme's effectiveness in scaling up its impact.

The CLMRS are child-centred systems designed to meet the unique needs of children engaged in or at risk of child labour. By providing ongoing support and monitoring their progress, ICI aims to help children break the cycle of poverty and exploitation.

Broad Implications

The success of ICI's CLMRS programme has far-reaching implications for the cocoa sector. By addressing child labour and forced labour risks, ICI is helping to promote a more sustainable and equitable cocoa supply chain. This, in turn, has the potential to benefit cocoa-growing communities and improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.

The collaboration between ICI and government institutions is a critical factor in the programme's success. By strengthening social welfare systems, improving data coordination, and building institutional capacity, ICI is helping to create a more enabling environment for child labour prevention.

Looking Ahead

As ICI continues to work towards a future where every child is protected and able to thrive, the organisation remains committed to driving systemic change. Through continued learning, partnership, action, and innovation, ICI is expanding the reach and effectiveness of its work, bringing us closer to a future where child labour is a thing of the past.

With new international regulations reshaping cocoa supply chains, ICI is well-positioned to address the challenges ahead. By continuing to innovate and collaborate with partners, ICI is helping to promote a more sustainable and equitable cocoa sector that benefits cocoa-growing communities and promotes the well-being of children.