The Africa Cocoa Fund: Call for Applications and Q&A

The geographical scope of the ACF consists of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria. Considering the scale of our certification programs in each country, we intend to spend at least 50% of the funds in Côte d’Ivoire.

The projects under the ACF will be implemented by recognized local (or locally based international) implementing partners, such as organizations specialized in providing technical assistance and capacity building to smallholder farmers. These partners then provide the agreed services to the certified farmer groups. Where needed, the ACF will match the needs of beneficiary farmer groups with such an implementing partner. Individual service providers can also be contracted when this is the most effective and efficient option. Farmer groups themselves can, under specific conditions, apply for in-kind grants such as the provision of technology or equipment. For more information about these specific conditions, please contact us directly. Each request will be reviewed case by case during the application process.

As per standard business practices, the Rainforest Alliance will recover costs incurred to manage the fund. However, the fund will not be charged for the time of dozens of Rainforest Alliance experts, regionally and globally, who will provide advice and guidance.

COVID-19 will have an effect on the ACF implementation as long as there are travel and other restrictions that hamper free movement that would hinder activities in the field.

This can be considered as part of activities related to the basic principles of the fund.

The ACF will run for a maximum of three years: from June 2020 to May 2023.

In 2021, we anticipate spending $ 1, 350, 000 of the total fund.