International Cocoa Organization

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The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) is a global organization, composed of both cocoa producing and cocoa consuming countries with a membership. Located in London, ICCO was established in 1973 to put into effect the first International Cocoa Agreement which was negotiated in Geneva at a United Nations International Cocoa Conference. ^[1] There have since been seven Agreements. The Seventh International Cocoa Agreement was negotiated in Geneva in 2010 and came into force provisionally on 1 October 2012. ^[2]

The ICCO serves as a platform for stakeholders in the global cocoa industry to discuss topics relevant to international cocoa trade. It is a leading source of cocoa statistics globally, with data spanning nearly 70 years. Additionally, the ICCO offers expertise in cocoa market analysis and forecasting, project development and implementation, as well as capacity-building programs for its member countries.^[3]

ICCO Member countries represent roughly 86% of world cocoa production and more than 72% of world cocoa consumption. All Members are represented in the International Cocoa Council, the highest governing body of the ICCO.^[4]

The Consultative Board consists of fourteen international experts in the cocoa sector, all from the private sector (seven from cocoa producing Member countries and seven from cocoa consuming Member countries). However, the Board, whose mandate is as extensive as that of the International Cocoa Council and comprises all aspects of the world cocoa economy, only functions in an advisory capacity, as all final decisions are taken by the International Cocoa Council. The Consultative Board was established in recognition of the importance of the private sector in the world cocoa economy and of the increasingly important role that trade and industry have been playing in ICCO.

The ICCO also sets forth definitions within the cocoa industry to establish a common ground. Some notable terms include: Sustainable Cocoa Economy, Ethical Cocoa, Fine Flavour Cacao, and Cocoa year.^[5]

Publication

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO^[8]) is a global organization currently located in Abidjan, Cote d'lvoire.^[9] ICCO was established in 1973 to put into effect the first International Cocoa Agreement which was negotiated in Geneva Switzerland at a United Nations International Cocoa Conference. ^[10] Formerly, ICCO was headquartered in England London^[11] but on September 25, 2015, the International Cocoa Council (ICC) ^[12] unanimously approved the relocation of ICCO to Abidjan in order to be closer to major Cocoa producing regions. There have since been seven Agreements. The Seventh International Cocoa Agreement was negotiated in Geneva in 2010 and came into force provisionally on 1 October 2012. ^[13] ICCO Membership^[14] is composed of both Cocoa producing and Cocoa Consuming Countries.

Historical Background of ICCO

The reason why originally ICCO was headquartered in London England lies in the fact that in the 19th century the Quaker^[15] businessmen entered the Cocoa business and used their skills to improve the living conditions for factory workers as well as making both chocolate and Cocoa inexpensive and available to the locals. Since 1973 ICCO headquarter had remained in London until its recent relocation to Cote d'lvoire Abidjan together with its Secretariat.   

ICCO Structure

The ICCO Secretariat: The Secretariat is the executive body of ICCO responsible for implantation of the Organization's five year strategic plan based in the organization's headquarters in Abidjan Cote d'lvoire. The Secretariat is responsible to the International cocoa council while the Admiration and Finance Committee, economic committee as well as the Private Sector (consultative) Board are all under the Secretariat. ICCO Structure

In 2001, ICCO created the Consultative Board on the World Cocoa Economy aka The Board which consists of representatives of cocoa stakeholders from private sector and civil society in exporting and importing countries, including national public-private platforms. The Board is an advisory body to the International Cocoa Council, whose mandate is to provide advice to the Council on key challenges affecting the world cocoa economy. ^[16]

Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics QBCS provides reliable and up-to-date data analysis of Cocoa economy since 1960 on both Cocoa producing and Cocoa consuming countries. The ICCO serves as a platform for stakeholders in the global cocoa industry to discuss topics relevant to international cocoa trade. According to QBCS 2016-2017 Cocoa seasonal forecast the African continent is by far currently the predominant producer of Cocoa with 74% production followed by the America's 17% and Asia Pacific with 9%. Cote d'lvoire is the world's leading cocoa producing country followed by Ghana which produces the most quality Cocoa seeds. The main factor that have led to tremendous increment in Cocoa production in Ghana are are the support measures of the government-owned cocoa marketing board COCOBOD.^[17]

ICCO Challenges

Human slavery and child labor are some of the current challenges that ICCO is battling to solve in west Africa specifically Ivory Coast and Ghana. Young boys and girls as young as 12 to 16 years old are lured from their homes then sold to cacao plantation owners in Ivory Coast where they worked as field hands, domestic workers and even prostitutes. In 2001, 40% of Chocolate consumed in the developed world was produced by child slavery and up to 1 million children in both Ghana and Ivory Coast as young as 10 years old are estimated to have been working on harvesting farms of cacao beans who had never attended school. ICCO in partnership with the west African governments and other NGOS are working closely to end this child labor and slavery ^[18]