Impact of UTZ Certification on Cocoa Producers in Ghana 2011-2014

UTZ Certified and Solidaridad have been partners in a cocoa programme in Ghana since 2010 with the collaboration of producer groups, licenced buying companies, traders and non-governmental organisations. They aim to improve smallholder cocoa productivity, incomes, working conditions and the environment. The programme started with training, then added inputs. The groups were certified for the first time between 2010 and 2012.

This study evaluates the impact of the UTZ-Solidaridad cocoa programme, by comparing the situation of a sample of farmers from six projects in 2014 with their situation in 2011, and by comparing the development over time for certified and uncertified farmers. We also analysed the programme’s inclusiveness and shed light on the effect of UTZ certification on hired labourers’ working conditions.