Launch of the Study Report – A cross-company grievance mechanism in the cocoa sector in Côte d’Ivoire

The study was conducted by the RISOME-Audace Institut Afrique consortium and jointly commissioned by the Due Diligence Fund (DDF) of the BMZ, GISCO members from industry, standard setting organizations, civil society and further cooperation partners. As a GISCO supporting member, ICI was also part of the steering committee accompanying the study.

On January 1st, 2023, the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations came into force. Aiming to improve human rights compliance (including the prohibition of child and forced labor) and environmental standards in global supply chains, it requires German companies with more than 1,000 employees to meet certain „due diligence“ obligations in their supply chains, to prevent or minimize human rights and environmental risks. Specifically, section 8 of the German Act obliges companies to set up a grievance mechanism for anyone likely to be affected by violations.

This feasibility study hence aimed to evaluate the potential for implementing a grievance mechanism meeting the requirements of due diligence legislation as well as the commitment of GISCO members to ensuring human rights and environmental due diligence in their cocoa supply chains in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (GISCO Goal 8).

Using a participatory, iterative approach including field studies in Côte d’Ivoire and interviews with stakeholders, the study spans a comprehensive assessment of human and environmental risks in Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa sector, the development of a cross-company grievance mechanism proposal, and its validation with stakeholders in the cocoa value chain.

 The launch webinar will :

• focus on the study results as well as the concept for a pilot of the mechanism and
• offer a space to interested ISCO and ICI members to discuss the pilot with the authors of the study as well as industry members from the project team committed to prepare a funding proposal in early 2025

Register here!