International Conference
Get-Together: January 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Keynote speech by Prof. Dr. habil. Lena Partzsch: The Role of Women in the Transformation of Agricultural Value Chains in Africa
- Comfort Oparebea Adomako—a female cocoa farmer—shares insights into her daily life
Conference: January 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Registration fee: 95.00 EUR (including VAT)
Further program details will follow!
Women. Change. Cocoa.
Dear participants,
We are organizing the conference “Women. Change. Cocoa. Shaping the Future of Ghana’s Cocoa Sector” in collaboration with INKOTA, the SÜDWIND Institute, and SEND Ghana.
Women play a central role in cocoa farming in Ghana. At least one-third of the country’s cocoa plantations are run by women. In addition, many more work on their family members’ farms. Through their work, they make a significant contribution to cocoa production and, consequently, to their households’ income and well-being. Yet when decisions are made about the future of cocoa, their needs are still too rarely taken into account. Including women’s perspectives is therefore an economic opportunity. Addressing the barriers they face can strengthen farm productivity and resilience, improve household incomes, and contribute to a more stable and sustainable cocoa supply chain.
SÜDWIND, INKOTA, and SEND GHANA therefore asked women cocoa farmers during a workshop in Ghana: What is your daily life like? What are the biggest challenges? What needs to change so that you and your families can live better lives?
The women spoke of the enormous strain of juggling agricultural work, caregiving responsibilities within their families, and household chores. They discussed rising labor costs, as well as precarious and seasonal incomes. Another key problem is the difficulty in accessing inputs, land, and credit. Some expressed concerns about a lack of transparency in the sale of their cocoa and about the discrimination they face as women. With regard to child labor, the women highlighted the underlying economic causes: poverty and a lack of financial means to employ adult workers.
But the women did not merely identify problems. They also presented clear ideas about what needs to change!
At the conference, we will bring together the perspectives of women cocoa farmers with representatives from academia, civil society, and the private sector.
Together, we will ask: Are we really listening to women in cocoa farming? Do current projects by chocolate companies, NGOs, and government agencies take into account the needs and priorities of women? And what needs to change to enable women cocoa farmers to play an active role in shaping the future of the cocoa sector?
We look forward to your participation!
Venue: Cologne Chocolate Museum, Am Schokoladenmuseum 1a, 50678 Cologne
Language: English
Registration fee: 95 EUR (including VAT) / Discounts available upon request
Hotel reservations: Since the Handball World Championships are taking place in Cologne at the same time, we can only guarantee reservations through December 5, 2026:
Category A: art’otel Cologne, https://artotel.com/de/hotels/cologne/central-cologne/
- 185.00 EUR (single room) / 195.00 EUR (double room)
- Email booking: acores@artotelsgermany.com
- Reference: Ghana – Women in the Cocoa Sector
Category B: Innception Hotel, https://www.innception.de/de/index.html
- €60.00 (single room) / €70.00 (double room)
- Book by email: K.ehlert@innception.de
- Reference: Chocolate Museum
Please register: Buy your ticket now
INKOTA Network
For over 50 years, INKOTA has been working through campaigns and educational projects to promote global justice, fair trade, and the fight against hunger and poverty.
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SEND Ghana
Works to promote good governance, transparency, and the fight against poverty in Ghana through policy research, advocacy, and civil society engagement.
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SÜDWIND Institute
A just global economy is SÜDWIND’s goal. For more than 30 years, its dedicated staff have been working to promote labor rights and social standards in supply chains around the globe.
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