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Voice of Cocoa

Cocoa and Chocolate Industry Donates $40,000 To Fight COVID-19 in Cameroon

Donation adds to other industry efforts to help cocoa farmers

Global cocoa and chocolate companies are donating $40,000 US to UNICEF to help cocoa farmers and their families in Cameroon fight the coronavirus by supporting the national emergency plan of the government.

Coming on top of numerous individual company contributions and help to farmers, the donation to UNICEF is part of an $825,000 global industry fundraising effort.

It will buy Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) supplies for around 6,500 people and equip 12 public places, frequented by about 25,000 people, with handwashing stations in the Lekié division in the Center Region of Cameroon.

World Cocoa Foundation donation is instrumental in the achievement of UNICEF Cameroon WASH program aiming at reducing the risk of water-related diseases and improving vulnerable groups living conditions through access to adequate WASH services and promotion of good hygiene practices, especially the Covid-19 prevention measure related to handwashing with soap,” said Jacques Boyer, UNICEF Cameroon Representative.

“All of us in the cocoa supply chain are connected, from the cocoa farmer in Cameroon to the chocolate maker. This fund-raising effort shows the cocoa and chocolate industry is united in our goal to help farmers and their families in Cameroon fight the virus and save lives in cocoa-growing communities, ” said Richard Scobey, President of the World Cocoa Foundation.

Governments in West Africa, Asia, and Latin America are taking the critical steps to protect their citizens, but their health and social safety net systems need more support.

Cocoa-growing communities are particularly at risk since they cannot easily access clean water, health care, and social safety nets.

The global fund-raising effort by companies comes on top of other efforts to fight the virus by the industry.

Many of the large cocoa and chocolate companies are making major financial contributions to international relief and humanitarian organizations.

These commitments already total hundreds of millions of dollars and are supporting the emergency response around the world.

More than 30 companies and organizations from around the world contributed to this industry-wide response, including the Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI), August Storck KG, Barry Callebaut, Blommer Chocolate Company, Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate, Carletti, Cémoi, Clasen Quality Chocolate, CWT Europe BV, ECOM, Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd., Fine Chocolate Industry Association, German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa (GISCO), GCB Cocoa, Guittard Chocolate, ICE Futures US Inc, JB Cocoa, and Lindt & Sprüngli.

Others are Luker Chocolate, Mars Wrigley, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, Olam Cocoa, Pit Süßwaren / Becks Cocoa, Ritter Sport, Seattle Chocolate, the Swiss Foundation of the Cocoa and Chocolate Industry, SUCDEN Cocoa, The Hershey Company, Touton SA, Whittaker’s, and World Cocoa Foundation (WCF).

The industry response was spearheaded by the Association of Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries of Europe (CAOBISCO), BDSI, the European Cocoa Association (ECA), the Federation of Cocoa Commerce (FCC) and WCF.

 

Source WCF
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