Challenges in the cocoa sector
The sustainability of the global cocoa sector is confronted by a myriad of challenges that span economic, social, and environmental dimensions. One of the primary concerns revolves around the inadequate compensation received by cocoa farmers within the value chain, rendering their livelihoods unsustainable and incapable of supporting a living income for themselves and their families. The repercussions of poverty among cocoa farmers extend beyond economic realms, giving rise to interconnected sustainability challenges. Instances of child labor in cocoa farms and deforestation, attributed to the expansion of cocoa production, emerge as distressing consequences of the prevailing economic hardships.
Where we stand today
The DISCO 2023 annual report and the individual Action Plans show that DISCO signatories are taking steps toward a more sustainable chocolate sector, but progress needs to accelerate to reach all partnership’s goals.
– The DISCO partnership efforts seem to progress at the first stages of living income strategies but still need accelerated action and scaling.
– The DISCO partnership is on track to meet its ending deforestation targets in the upcoming years.
– DISCO signatories have the right plans and ambitions to meet their goals of taking effective measures to end child labour in their supply chains.
Click here to download the annual report
Link to the Action Plans
DISCO signatories
In partnership we can achieve more than the sum of our individual efforts.
* the sector organization VBZ has signed on their behalf and not on behalf of all their members.
DISCO Governance
Steering Committee
The implementation of the initiatives’ strategies and goals will be undertaken by all signatories. The Steering Committee consisting of senior representatives from different subsectors develops and oversees the strategic direction of the partnership. The Steering Committee consists of the following members:
Secretariat
IDH acts as the Secretariat of DISCO by convening and facilitating the different groups and activities within the partnership.
More information on the governance structure can be found here.
Publications
| Title | Type | Year | Regions | TAF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DISCO General assembly 2024 | Report | 2025 | Africa, Europe | - |
| DISCO Annual Report 2023 | Annual Report | 2024 | - | - |
| ISCO statement World Cocoa Conference 2024 | Commitment | 2024 | - | - |
| DISCO Procurement Practices Position Paper 2024 | Commitment | 2024 | - | - |
| Overview of 2024 indicators: Beyond Chocolate & DISCO | Presentation | 2024 | - | - |
| Report – DISCO Annual General Assembly 2023 | Report | 2023 | - | - |
No publications found.
