The Cocoa Origins Program supports companies using relatively small volumes of cocoa to become involved in sustainability projects at the origins of their cocoa supply chain and contribute to the overall sustainability of cocoa products linked to the Dutch market. In February 2018 the Cocoa Origins Program was launched and runs until the end of 2021.

 

IDH initiated in 2009 a Letter of Intent signed by the Dutch government together with stakeholders in the Dutch cocoa and chocolate sector  to reach step by step 100% sustainable cocoa consumption on the Dutch market by 2025. Cocoa Origins is a new IDH program funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food quality, to help stakeholders reach the objectives of the Letter of Intent by supporting investments in sustainability projects at the origins of their cocoa supply. The Program aims to establish stable commercial relations between cocoa producers and cocoa users and improve sustainability at the farm and community level.

Find out more in our six pager or in the Final Report .

Vision of Cocoa Origins 

The Cocoa Origins Program’s (COP) is based on public-private partnerships that establish stable commercial relations between cocoa producers and cocoa users and improve sustainability at the farm and farmer community level. There are two main objectives of Cocoa Origins:

  1. To increase sustainable cocoa production by encouraging the private sector to develop new cocoa supply chains or re-arrange / expand existing ones.
  2. To improve availability of sustainable cocoa products on the Dutch consumer market.

The Program has defined overall Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and targets to achieve optimal impact on the objectives of the Letter of Intent. The results of the COP are also meant to advance IDH’s strategy to enable small cocoa users to contribute to wider, large sector efforts that are spearheaded by multinational traders and manufacturers.

In 2017 and 2018, Cocoa Origins was in its start-up phase. This was followed by an implementation phase (2018-2021) including a one-year extension to adjust to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions during its closing phase (2022). The Program supported eight projects that used relatively small volumes of cocoa. The goal was to build a business case for and contribute to the overall sustainability of cocoa products linked to the Dutch consumer market. They were financed through Cocoa Origins contributed improvements to one or more of the following objectives:

  1. Improve the market share of sustainable cocoa
  2. Improve the level of traceability of sustainable cocoa
  3. Improve the impact of the sustainability of the cocoa
  4. Improve the public awareness of sustainability

The governance of the program consists of the following bodies:

The Program Advisor Committee (PAC) consists of sector experts from private sector and government. The PAC is chaired by the IDH. The main role of the PAC is to provide strategic guidance to the Cocoa Origins Program with their experience in different aspects of the cocoa sector.

The Program Management team is composed by IDH and Equipoise. IDH has the overall responsibility for the implementation of this program and is jointly implementing this program with Equipoise.

IDH will take up the role of:

  • overseeing the program implementation
  • contracting party of the project applicants
  • Program monitoring

Equipoise will take up the role of:

  • Support companies in developing quality proposals
  • Project monitoring
  • Run the secretariat of the PAC

The Project Review committee consisted of 3 nominated members from the Program Management team, IDH staff and PAC. Their main responsibility is to evaluate the projects against the define criteria and share this with the Program Management.

Applicants became a contracted Implementing Partner (IP) upon approval of the proposal. IPs are responsible for the implementation of approved projects that are co-funded by the Program. IPs must be able to comply with the required procedures for monitoring, reporting, financial management and auditing as requested by the Fund (in line with the Guidelines and the RMF). As such, they are responsible for gathering the necessary evidence of private sector contributions from all partners involved in the project.

Jonas Mva Mva mvamva@idhtrade.org

Bas Buurman buurman@idhtrade.org

Jack Steijn jack@equipoise.co.nl

Caroline Lubbers caroline@equipoise.co.nl

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Publications

Title Type Year Regions TAF
Final Report Cocoa Origins Program Annual Report 2022 - -
6-Pager Cocoa Origins Brochure 2022 - -
Factsheet Cocoa Origins Brochure 2018 - -
Cocoa Origins Information Meeting 22-02-2018 Presentation 2018 - -
Cocoa Origins Application Form - 2018 - -
Cocoa Origins Prospectus Brochure 2018 - -

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