Mondelez International has commissioned Fairtrade to lead a Feasibility Study on the union-managed data systems in Ghana’s cocoa sector. This report summarises the findings from the study and outlines concrete actions for supply chain actors to support a fairer and more effective data ecosystem.

Ghanaian cocoa unions operate in a challenging environment that limits their ability to collate, manage and sell data into the supply chain. This lack of access contributes to the overarching power dynamic where smallholder farmers and unions are at an information disadvantage relative to other actors in the supply chain, which reinforces supply chain power dynamics. 

‘“We want to reach the point where we don't have to call anyone to share our own data with us”

Cocoa union representative

This study also maps the ever-growing list of objectives that cocoa supply chain data needs to serve. This included international legislative and reporting requirements, data protection requirements, making assurance claims, monitoring in-country contracts, understanding product origin and traceability and for internal reporting and improvement. These new requirements are creating additional administrative and financial burdens on unions and demand-side stakeholders were united in their desire for data harmonisation, increased data transparency and producer empowerment.

‘“We don’t want to disempower suppliers. We want to strengthen the cooperatives.”

International brand

Fairtrade and Mondelez International Partnership

The Cocoa Cooperatives Organisational Strengthening Programme (CCOSP) Phase II, a collaboration between Fairtrade Foundation, Fairtrade Africa and Mondelēz International, works with Ghanaian cocoa unions on accelerating their professionalisation. Pillar 2 of the programme aims to build the expertise and capacity of unions to manage their own data, help compliance with emerging legislation and eventually monetise their membership data. This feasibility study, commissioned by Mondelēz International and led by Fairtrade, took place in 2024 and incorporated findings from the nine unions participating in CCOSP.

The Feasibility Study was commissioned by Mondelēz International’s Cocoa Life Programme and led by Fairtrade. The Feasibility Study was authored by Farmerline (Marvin Nii Adom Armah, Lily Akorfa Keledorme and Worlali Senyo) and the Outcome Gap (Kate Robinson).