Last month, the 14th National Meeting of Women Cocoa and Chocolate Producers was held in Lima alongside this year’s Peruvian Cocoa and Chocolate Show, which brought together more than 25,000 suppliers, buyers and chocolate sector representatives to the Lima Convention Center. This significant gathering worked to empower women cacao producers, as a key part of advancing equity within the cacao and chocolate value chain.
The event also marked a major step forward for the National Network of Women Cocoa Producers—a pivotal initiative of the Peruvian Association of Cacao Producers, known by the Spanish acronym APPCACAO. APPCACAO is a key partner of NCBA CLUSA’s Cooperative Ecosystem and Social Inclusion (CESI) project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Cooperative Development Program (CDP).
Camila Pineiro, NCBA CLUSA’s Practice Area Director for Strengthening Cooperatives and Producer Organizations, offered opening remarks. She shared NCBA CLUSA’s commitment to equity and inclusion, and the positive results achieved in Peru using the Women’s Inclusion, Empowerment and Leadership in Cooperatives (WIELCOOP) training guide.
An Action Plan to Advance Women’s Participation and Leadership in the Cacao Value Chain
Designed to identify actionable steps to advance women’s participation and leadership in the cacao value chain, the event embodied a spirit of collaboration and unity. Women leaders, including Martha Chamaya Correa, president of Colpa de Loros Cooperative; and Mery Elizabeth Marrero Sánchez, manager of Allima Cacao Cooperative—both CDP/CESI partners—underscored the vital role of women in the cocoa industry, and how women can support each other in developing leadership skills.
For the first time, the Peruvian Association of Cacao Producers, known by the Spanish acronym APPCACAO—in collaboration with representatives from the private and public sector and international cooperative organizations like NCBA CLUSA—organized decentralized regional meetings of women cocoa producers in Piura, Amazonas, San Martín and the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM). This inclusive approach amplified a diverse range of voices and experiences and produced comprehensive next steps during the day-long meeting.
During the decentralized regional workshops and the National Meeting, participants presented successful cases and experiences focused on leadership, women’s participation in cocoa organizations and cooperatives, best practices for economic empowerment, and the development of improved capabilities. These sessions offered valuable insights into accessing both reimbursable and non-reimbursable financing opportunities.
At this event, participants were organized into working groups where they engaged in brainstorming sessions to analyze challenges, obstacles and solutions spanning political, economic and social axes. This collaborative effort laid the groundwork for a roadmap to develop women cocoa producers, encompassing: 1) capacity development and associativity with a gender perspective; 2) access to finance and markets for women-led cooperatives; 3) strengthening the National Network of Women Cocoa Producers; and 4) influencing policies to enhance women’s participation in cocoa value chain organizations and cooperatives, in line with Law 31335, which provides a regulatory framework to develop and promote agricultural co-ops in Peru.
Showcasing Successes
During a roundtable, successful experiences of women producers from across Peru were showcased. The topics discussed included leadership in women’s cocoa organizations, women leaders promoting the cocoa and chocolate value chain, digitization and traceability for market cccess, promotion of agroforestry systems, and reforestation. Additionally, the event provided valuable information on accessing resources, highlighting the role of Agrobanco and the Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito, a bank and credit union that provide credit to small agricultural producers in Peru.
A Unified Voice
Together, participants made the First Declaration of the National Network of Women Cocoa Producers of APPCACAO: “Towards Empowerment and Recognition.” This declaration calls on the Government of Peru, private sector, and the international community to reinforce equality for women cocoa producers through policies and programs that promote gender equality and sustainable development. It also emphasized the adoption of responsible and ethical practices to ensure fair prices and decent working conditions for women, as well as the importance of maintaining and expanding initiatives that recognize the global impact of Peruvian cocoa.
The National Meeting of Women Cocoa and Chocolate Producers set a precedent for future initiatives aimed at fostering gender equality and sustainable development within the cocoa industry. The event not only highlighted the achievements and contributions of women, but also laid a solid foundation for continued collaboration and progress. With a unified declaration and a clear action plan, the women cocoa producers of Peru are poised to lead the industry towards a more equitable and prosperous future.