International Conference
Get-Together: 26th January 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 woman cocoa farmer shares insights into her daily life
Conference: 27th January from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Registration fee: 95,00 EUR (incl. VAT)
Further programme details will follow!
Women. Change. Cocoa.
Dear participants,
we are organising the Conference Women. Change. Cocoa. Shaping the Future of Ghana’s Cocoa Sector together with INKOTA, SÜDWIND Institute and SEND Ghana.
Women play a central role in cocoa farming in Ghana. At least a 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, care responsibilities within their families and household chores. They discussed rising labour 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 labour, the women highlighted the underlying economic causes: poverty and a lack of financial means to employ adult workers.
But the women did not just identify problems. They also set out 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 bodies 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 (incl. VAT) / Concessions available on request
Hotel reservation: As the Handball World Championships are taking place in Cologne at the same time, we can only guarantee bookings up to 5th December 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 – Frauen im Kakaosektor
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: Schokoladenmuseum
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.
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