Unity is strength, as demonstrated by the Cocoa Committee of Central America and the Dominican Republic (SICACAO), a platform made up of eight countries, which has benefited more than 60,000 cocoa farmers and their families.
"SICACAO is a powerful force, because we are regional and we represent all countries."
María José Canales | COMCACAO, Nicaragua.
Only 1.44% of cocoa production in the Americas comes from the countries that make up the Central American Integration System (SICA). This percentage is exacerbated by differences in productivity, quality, costs, prices and supply chains, as well as the difficulties of fulfilling the sustainability-driven regulations that are implemented by global markets, such as the European Union’s Zero Deforestation Initiative.
However, most SICA governments have prioritised cocoa in their agricultural policies that are aimed at strengthening their comparative advantages and improving the competitiveness of the value chain. Private sector action and international cooperation, adapted to national dynamics, are also complementing these efforts.
Coordination bodies bringing together public and private actors in the cocoa value chain at national level has also facilitated the integration of the sector and the development of a common vision in the region. As a result, the cocoa sector in the SICA countries has seen growth in recent years: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic grew from producing 74,406 tonnes of cocoa beans in 2013 to 98,700 tonnes in 2017.
The cocoa sector has also regained importance due to the environmental, cultural, economic and social benefits it brings to producer families and other actors in the processing and marketing value chain.
These developments prompted the creation of SICACAO in 2017: a public-private multi-stakeholder platform, facilitated by the Knowledge Management of the Central American Cocoa Value Chain-GESCON (PROCACAO) project, implemented by Rikolto and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Over 60,000 cocoa farmers have benefited from:
With Rikolto's facilitation, PROCACAO provided SICACAO with tools and evidence to strengthen the competitiveness of the cocoa sector, the formulation and approval of the Regional Cocoa Strategy, the assessment of gender integration in the cocoa value chain and sustainability for the platform.
Among the achievements, Ninoska Hurtado, coordinator of PROCACAO, highlighted the consolidation of the SICACAO Community of Practice as a technical arm and its positioning based on a planned communication strategy.
"The creation of the SICACAO platform is one of the great measurable achievements. Being part of the regional agenda of ministers in the CAC is good because it facilitates in one way or another the improvement of policies and public investments in the countries".
Harness the collective power of stakeholders to create positive change in food systems, just like SICACAO. Rikolto's toolkit provides the concepts, tools and attitudes needed to build strong partnerships that drive sustainable and inclusive action in food systems.
In addition to its achievements, the SICACAO consolidation process has offered lessons and good practices for future processes. Among the most important lessons are: continuous advocacy at regional and national levels, which strengthens stakeholder leadership and allows plans and strategies to adapt to changing contexts; shared governance, which is essential to meet the challenges associated with the formation; development and self-sustainability of the platform; and the promotion of flexible membership rules that promote equity and stability.
The advocacy process that led to the recognition of SICACAO was achieved through its integration into the Working Group on Competitiveness, Trade and Agribusiness (GT-CCA) of the Central American Agricultural Council (CAC). This process was carried out in a structured and coordinated manner, with a roadmap implemented by the SICACAO Governance Working Group and support from the PROCACAO project, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Executive Secretariat of the CAC. This initiative involved lobbying the governments of each country and a communication campaign to position the issue with key stakeholders.
This committee is also playing an active role in addressing key issues such as the participation of small producers and the visibility of the role of women and youth in promoting an inclusive and sustainable value chain.