General Meetings
As a registered association, the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa holds a General Meeting once a year. The members elect the Executive Board at the Annual General Meeting. Further tasks include adopting a budget and deciding on resolutions submitted by the Executive Board.
The General Meetings consist of a public part with presentations on the respective main topic, a panel discussion and workshops. GISCO invites scientists and experienced practitioners to widely discuss the respective topic.
Annual General Meeting 2023
The 11th General Meeting of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa took place on 03 May 2023 in Bonn. Click on "learn more" to access the press release on the event.
Further information on GISCO’s Annual General Meetings:
Annual General Meeting 2023
Annual General Meeting 2023
Topic: Approaches to deforestation and climate change in the cocoa sector
More than 80 members and guests of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa (GISCO) came together in Bonn on 03 May 2023 on the occasion of their eleventh general meeting on the topic of approaches to deforestation and climate change in the cocoa sector. A pre-event was held on Tuesday, 02 May 2023.
The annual theme of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa is Climate Change and Deforestation/Renaturation. The evening event and general meeting picked up on this theme.
You can download the agenda of the Event here: German | English
The press release on the eleventh general meeting of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa can be found here.
Presentations
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-
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Dr. Thomas Baldauf, Lisa Kirfel-Rühle, Ryan McNeill, Gerome Tokpa, Wendy Arenas, Vincent Awotwe-Pratt
Short Inputs
Download
Speeches
-
Post-reporting
-
Annual General Meeting 2022
Topic: Human Rights Due Diligence in the Cocoa Sector: Working Together to Ensure Better Living Conditions for Cocoa Farmers
The 2022 General Meeting took place on Wednesday 4 May and was held in a hybrid format. A pre-event on transparency in the cocoa sector was held on Tuesday 3 May. More than 90 members and guests participated virtually and on site.
The annual theme of GISCO for 2022 is Enabling Environments. The evening event and general meeting took up this theme.
Here you can download the agenda of the event: German | English
The press release on the tenth general meeting of the Forum Nachhaltiger Kakao can be found here.
Speeches
-
-
Presentations
-
Pauline Zéi, Simone Roth, Dr. Bettina von Reden and Christian Hohlfeld
Short input presentations and results from the working groups
Download
-
-
Annual General Meeting 2021
9th General Meeting of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa on "Strategies to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers in the cocoa sector"
Topic: Strategies to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers in the cocoa sector
The 2021 General Meeting took place on Wednesday, May 5, and, as in the previous year due to the pandemic, was held as a one-day event and in virtual format. Subject to developments with regard to the Covid-19 pandemic, only some board members as well as active speakers were physically present at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Berlin, while virtual participation was made possible for all other members.
The spotlight of the year for 2021 is “Living Income”. Thus, the General Meeting also took up this issue and dealt with “Strategies to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers in the cocoa sector”.
You can download the agenda of the General Assembly here: German | English
Here you can find a press release on GISCO's ninth General Meeting.
Click here to read the documentation of the event.
Annual General Meeting 2020
Topic: Protection of human rights along international supply chains using cocoa as an example
The eighth annual general meeting of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa took place on September 8, 2020. Due to Corona-related regulations, the event took place one-day and virtually - this year exceptionally only for members.
Further documents and information on the general meeting can be found in the member section (login required).
Post-reporting
-
Speakers' presentations
Annual General Meeting 2019
Topic: Living income and better living conditions for cocoa farmer families
The 7th Annual General Meeting took place on May 07-08, 2019 in Berlin at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Please find the agenda of the public meeting here.
Information on the internal general meeting see members section (access after login).
Post-reporting
-
-
-
Speakers' presentations
-
Michel Arrion
ICCO: (New) strategic direction of the ICCO and its contribution to a sustainable cocoa sector
Download
-
-
-
Annual General Meeting 2018
Topic: Sustainability in the Cocoa Sector
-
-
-
-
Speakers'presentations
-
William Saab
NewForesight: Monitoring-Framework für die globale Kakao-Agenda und Bezug auf die Berlin Declaration (World Cocoa Conference 2018)
Download
-
-
Dr. Marco Hartmann
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH: Engagement der deutschen Regierung - Grünes Innovationszentrum Côte d'Ivoire
Download
Annual General Meeting 2017
Topic: Human rights and children’s rights
-
-
-
-
Speakers’ presentations
-
Dr. Christiane Hellar
Hamburger Stiftung für Wirtschaftsethik: Cocoa – an ethical risk analysis (only in German)
Download
-
Gaël Lescornec
The World Cocoa Foundation: The global industry’s commitment to sustainability in the cocoa sector
Download
-
Nick Weatherill
International Cocoa Initiative (ICI): Strategies for Tackling Child Labour in the West African Cocoa Sector
Download
-
-
Richa Mittal
Fair Labor Association (FLA): Strategies for the improvement of the living conditions for cocoa farmers – Human Rights and Children’s Rights
Download
-
-
Annual General Meeting 2016
Topic: Strategies to improve the living conditions and income of cocoa farmers
-
-
-
-
Speakers’ presentations
-
Michael Windfuhr
German Institute for Human Rights: Business and Human Rights (only in German)
Download
-
Stefanie Lehmann
Federation of German Food and Drink Industries (BVE): Global goals for sustainability and human rights and the national implementation - What is the position of the food and drink industry? (only in German)
Download
-
-
Kouassi Soumaila Bredoumy
Ministère de l'Agriculture et du Développement Rural (MINADER) Côte d’Ivoire
Download
-
Coralie David
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): Responsible agricultural supply chains to improve farmers' income
Download
-
Dr. Torben Erbrath
Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI): CEN/ISO Process (only in German)
Download
-
Annual General Meeting 2015
Topic: Cocoa and sustainability: Consumer expectations and desires
-
Annual General Meeting 2014
Topic: Towards a sustainable cocoa sector – what could be the contribution of GISCO?
Annual General Meeting 2013
Topic: Founding of the association and initial milestones of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa
-
Annual General Meeting 2023
Topic: Approaches to deforestation and climate change in the cocoa sector
More than 80 members and guests of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa (GISCO) came together in Bonn on 03 May 2023 on the occasion of their eleventh general meeting on the topic of approaches to deforestation and climate change in the cocoa sector. A pre-event was held on Tuesday, 02 May 2023.
The annual theme of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa is Climate Change and Deforestation/Renaturation. The evening event and general meeting picked up on this theme.
You can download the agenda of the Event here: German | English
The press release on the eleventh general meeting of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa can be found here.
Presentations
-
Dr. Thomas Baldauf, Lisa Kirfel-Rühle, Ryan McNeill, Gerome Tokpa, Wendy Arenas, Vincent Awotwe-Pratt
Short Inputs
Download
Speeches
Post-reporting
Topic: Human Rights Due Diligence in the Cocoa Sector: Working Together to Ensure Better Living Conditions for Cocoa Farmers
The 2022 General Meeting took place on Wednesday 4 May and was held in a hybrid format. A pre-event on transparency in the cocoa sector was held on Tuesday 3 May. More than 90 members and guests participated virtually and on site.
The annual theme of GISCO for 2022 is Enabling Environments. The evening event and general meeting took up this theme.
Here you can download the agenda of the event: German | English
The press release on the tenth general meeting of the Forum Nachhaltiger Kakao can be found here.
Speeches
Presentations
-
Pauline Zéi, Simone Roth, Dr. Bettina von Reden and Christian Hohlfeld
Short input presentations and results from the working groups
Download
Annual General Meeting 2021
9th General Meeting of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa on "Strategies to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers in the cocoa sector"
Topic: Strategies to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers in the cocoa sector
The 2021 General Meeting took place on Wednesday, May 5, and, as in the previous year due to the pandemic, was held as a one-day event and in virtual format. Subject to developments with regard to the Covid-19 pandemic, only some board members as well as active speakers were physically present at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Berlin, while virtual participation was made possible for all other members.
The spotlight of the year for 2021 is “Living Income”. Thus, the General Meeting also took up this issue and dealt with “Strategies to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers in the cocoa sector”.
You can download the agenda of the General Assembly here: German | English
Here you can find a press release on GISCO's ninth General Meeting.
Click here to read the documentation of the event.
Annual General Meeting 2020
Topic: Protection of human rights along international supply chains using cocoa as an example
The eighth annual general meeting of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa took place on September 8, 2020. Due to Corona-related regulations, the event took place one-day and virtually - this year exceptionally only for members.
Further documents and information on the general meeting can be found in the member section (login required).
Post-reporting
-
Speakers' presentations
Annual General Meeting 2019
Topic: Living income and better living conditions for cocoa farmer families
The 7th Annual General Meeting took place on May 07-08, 2019 in Berlin at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Please find the agenda of the public meeting here.
Information on the internal general meeting see members section (access after login).
Post-reporting
-
-
-
Speakers' presentations
-
Michel Arrion
ICCO: (New) strategic direction of the ICCO and its contribution to a sustainable cocoa sector
Download
-
-
-
Annual General Meeting 2018
Topic: Sustainability in the Cocoa Sector
-
-
-
-
Speakers'presentations
-
William Saab
NewForesight: Monitoring-Framework für die globale Kakao-Agenda und Bezug auf die Berlin Declaration (World Cocoa Conference 2018)
Download
-
-
Dr. Marco Hartmann
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH: Engagement der deutschen Regierung - Grünes Innovationszentrum Côte d'Ivoire
Download
Annual General Meeting 2017
Topic: Human rights and children’s rights
-
-
-
-
Speakers’ presentations
-
Dr. Christiane Hellar
Hamburger Stiftung für Wirtschaftsethik: Cocoa – an ethical risk analysis (only in German)
Download
-
Gaël Lescornec
The World Cocoa Foundation: The global industry’s commitment to sustainability in the cocoa sector
Download
-
Nick Weatherill
International Cocoa Initiative (ICI): Strategies for Tackling Child Labour in the West African Cocoa Sector
Download
-
-
Richa Mittal
Fair Labor Association (FLA): Strategies for the improvement of the living conditions for cocoa farmers – Human Rights and Children’s Rights
Download
-
-
Annual General Meeting 2016
Topic: Strategies to improve the living conditions and income of cocoa farmers
-
-
-
-
Speakers’ presentations
-
Michael Windfuhr
German Institute for Human Rights: Business and Human Rights (only in German)
Download
-
Stefanie Lehmann
Federation of German Food and Drink Industries (BVE): Global goals for sustainability and human rights and the national implementation - What is the position of the food and drink industry? (only in German)
Download
-
-
Kouassi Soumaila Bredoumy
Ministère de l'Agriculture et du Développement Rural (MINADER) Côte d’Ivoire
Download
-
Coralie David
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): Responsible agricultural supply chains to improve farmers' income
Download
-
Dr. Torben Erbrath
Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI): CEN/ISO Process (only in German)
Download
-
Annual General Meeting 2015
Topic: Cocoa and sustainability: Consumer expectations and desires
-
Annual General Meeting 2014
Topic: Towards a sustainable cocoa sector – what could be the contribution of GISCO?
Annual General Meeting 2013
Topic: Founding of the association and initial milestones of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa
-
9th General Meeting of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa on "Strategies to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers in the cocoa sector"
Topic: Strategies to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers in the cocoa sector
The 2021 General Meeting took place on Wednesday, May 5, and, as in the previous year due to the pandemic, was held as a one-day event and in virtual format. Subject to developments with regard to the Covid-19 pandemic, only some board members as well as active speakers were physically present at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Berlin, while virtual participation was made possible for all other members.
The spotlight of the year for 2021 is “Living Income”. Thus, the General Meeting also took up this issue and dealt with “Strategies to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers in the cocoa sector”.
You can download the agenda of the General Assembly here: German | English
Here you can find a press release on GISCO's ninth General Meeting.
Click here to read the documentation of the event.
Topic: Protection of human rights along international supply chains using cocoa as an example
The eighth annual general meeting of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa took place on September 8, 2020. Due to Corona-related regulations, the event took place one-day and virtually - this year exceptionally only for members.
Further documents and information on the general meeting can be found in the member section (login required).
Post-reporting
Speakers' presentations
Annual General Meeting 2019
Topic: Living income and better living conditions for cocoa farmer families
The 7th Annual General Meeting took place on May 07-08, 2019 in Berlin at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Please find the agenda of the public meeting here.
Information on the internal general meeting see members section (access after login).
Post-reporting
-
-
-
Speakers' presentations
-
Michel Arrion
ICCO: (New) strategic direction of the ICCO and its contribution to a sustainable cocoa sector
Download
-
-
-
Annual General Meeting 2018
Topic: Sustainability in the Cocoa Sector
-
-
-
-
Speakers'presentations
-
William Saab
NewForesight: Monitoring-Framework für die globale Kakao-Agenda und Bezug auf die Berlin Declaration (World Cocoa Conference 2018)
Download
-
-
Dr. Marco Hartmann
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH: Engagement der deutschen Regierung - Grünes Innovationszentrum Côte d'Ivoire
Download
Annual General Meeting 2017
Topic: Human rights and children’s rights
-
-
-
-
Speakers’ presentations
-
Dr. Christiane Hellar
Hamburger Stiftung für Wirtschaftsethik: Cocoa – an ethical risk analysis (only in German)
Download
-
Gaël Lescornec
The World Cocoa Foundation: The global industry’s commitment to sustainability in the cocoa sector
Download
-
Nick Weatherill
International Cocoa Initiative (ICI): Strategies for Tackling Child Labour in the West African Cocoa Sector
Download
-
-
Richa Mittal
Fair Labor Association (FLA): Strategies for the improvement of the living conditions for cocoa farmers – Human Rights and Children’s Rights
Download
-
-
Annual General Meeting 2016
Topic: Strategies to improve the living conditions and income of cocoa farmers
-
-
-
-
Speakers’ presentations
-
Michael Windfuhr
German Institute for Human Rights: Business and Human Rights (only in German)
Download
-
Stefanie Lehmann
Federation of German Food and Drink Industries (BVE): Global goals for sustainability and human rights and the national implementation - What is the position of the food and drink industry? (only in German)
Download
-
-
Kouassi Soumaila Bredoumy
Ministère de l'Agriculture et du Développement Rural (MINADER) Côte d’Ivoire
Download
-
Coralie David
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): Responsible agricultural supply chains to improve farmers' income
Download
-
Dr. Torben Erbrath
Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI): CEN/ISO Process (only in German)
Download
-
Annual General Meeting 2015
Topic: Cocoa and sustainability: Consumer expectations and desires
-
Annual General Meeting 2014
Topic: Towards a sustainable cocoa sector – what could be the contribution of GISCO?
Annual General Meeting 2013
Topic: Founding of the association and initial milestones of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa
-
Topic: Living income and better living conditions for cocoa farmer families
The 7th Annual General Meeting took place on May 07-08, 2019 in Berlin at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Please find the agenda of the public meeting here.
Information on the internal general meeting see members section (access after login).
Post-reporting
Speakers' presentations
-
Michel Arrion
ICCO: (New) strategic direction of the ICCO and its contribution to a sustainable cocoa sector
Download
Topic: Sustainability in the Cocoa Sector
Speakers'presentations
-
William Saab
NewForesight: Monitoring-Framework für die globale Kakao-Agenda und Bezug auf die Berlin Declaration (World Cocoa Conference 2018)
Download -
Dr. Marco Hartmann
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH: Engagement der deutschen Regierung - Grünes Innovationszentrum Côte d'Ivoire
Download
Annual General Meeting 2017
Topic: Human rights and children’s rights
-
-
-
-
Speakers’ presentations
-
Dr. Christiane Hellar
Hamburger Stiftung für Wirtschaftsethik: Cocoa – an ethical risk analysis (only in German)
Download
-
Gaël Lescornec
The World Cocoa Foundation: The global industry’s commitment to sustainability in the cocoa sector
Download
-
Nick Weatherill
International Cocoa Initiative (ICI): Strategies for Tackling Child Labour in the West African Cocoa Sector
Download
-
-
Richa Mittal
Fair Labor Association (FLA): Strategies for the improvement of the living conditions for cocoa farmers – Human Rights and Children’s Rights
Download
-
-
Annual General Meeting 2016
Topic: Strategies to improve the living conditions and income of cocoa farmers
-
-
-
-
Speakers’ presentations
-
Michael Windfuhr
German Institute for Human Rights: Business and Human Rights (only in German)
Download
-
Stefanie Lehmann
Federation of German Food and Drink Industries (BVE): Global goals for sustainability and human rights and the national implementation - What is the position of the food and drink industry? (only in German)
Download
-
-
Kouassi Soumaila Bredoumy
Ministère de l'Agriculture et du Développement Rural (MINADER) Côte d’Ivoire
Download
-
Coralie David
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): Responsible agricultural supply chains to improve farmers' income
Download
-
Dr. Torben Erbrath
Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI): CEN/ISO Process (only in German)
Download
-
Annual General Meeting 2015
Topic: Cocoa and sustainability: Consumer expectations and desires
-
Annual General Meeting 2014
Topic: Towards a sustainable cocoa sector – what could be the contribution of GISCO?
Annual General Meeting 2013
Topic: Founding of the association and initial milestones of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa
-
Topic: Human rights and children’s rights
Speakers’ presentations
-
Dr. Christiane Hellar
Hamburger Stiftung für Wirtschaftsethik: Cocoa – an ethical risk analysis (only in German)
Download -
Gaël Lescornec
The World Cocoa Foundation: The global industry’s commitment to sustainability in the cocoa sector
Download -
Nick Weatherill
International Cocoa Initiative (ICI): Strategies for Tackling Child Labour in the West African Cocoa Sector
Download -
Richa Mittal
Fair Labor Association (FLA): Strategies for the improvement of the living conditions for cocoa farmers – Human Rights and Children’s Rights
Download
Topic: Strategies to improve the living conditions and income of cocoa farmers
Speakers’ presentations
-
Michael Windfuhr
German Institute for Human Rights: Business and Human Rights (only in German)
Download -
Stefanie Lehmann
Federation of German Food and Drink Industries (BVE): Global goals for sustainability and human rights and the national implementation - What is the position of the food and drink industry? (only in German)
Download -
Kouassi Soumaila Bredoumy
Ministère de l'Agriculture et du Développement Rural (MINADER) Côte d’Ivoire
Download -
Coralie David
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): Responsible agricultural supply chains to improve farmers' income
Download -
Dr. Torben Erbrath
Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI): CEN/ISO Process (only in German)
Download
