Partnership aims to empower women in cocoa-growing communities of Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire, Africa – CARE, in collaboration with The Starbucks Foundation and Cargill, is launching an initiative meant to help transform cocoa growing communities in Côte d’Ivoire by developing Village Saving and Loans Associations.

Village Saving and Loans Associations increase the impact and sustainability of project activities, as members become self-reliant, and help establish other VSLAs for people in their communities, the three partners said in a news release.

The partnership aims to establish 120 VSLAs linked to 10 farmer organizations in Cargill’s supply chain, using the VSLA platform for integration of broader gender, nutrition, and water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions. Cargill will help establish and support 100 VSLAs, and The Starbucks Foundation will support the creation of an additional 20 VSLAs, enabling women to advance, diversify, and expand their income generating activities.

This initiative aims to directly impact the lives of 2,500 participants (2,000 women) and indirectly reach 15,000 community members by September 2023.

This initiative supports CARE’s signature She Feeds the World framework.