Detail

The project advances sustainable cocoa production in Manabí by introducing dynamic agroforestry practices, establishing three community and 60 individual nurseries, and distributing 45,000 plantlets, leading to the creation of 90 agroforestry plots. These measures aim to improve cocoa quality, soil health, climate resilience, and biodiversity. It builds farmers’ capacity through entrepreneurship training and the use of the Fynka app for financial literacy and decision-making.

By ensuring traceability, reducing reliance on intermediaries, and promoting climate-friendly farming, the project seeks to strengthen resilience and secure a living income. The project aligns with the Cocoa Platform's Roadmap 2030 on living income, innovation, deforestation-free and climate-friendly supply chains, transparency and traceability, and gender equality.

The project is implemented in three phases. First, it strengthens commercialisation by assessing the capacity of 450 farmers, selecting premium cocoa, and establishing EUDR-compliant logistics and traceability for export to Switzerland via Ecuacao.

Second, it builds farmers’ capacities through “train-the-trainer” programmes in dynamic agroforestry and financial literacy, followed by direct training. This includes hands-on use of the Fynka app, supported by soil analyses, 63 nurseries producing 45,000 plantlets, and the establishment of 90 agroforestry plots.

Third, continuous monitoring and evaluation are carried out through coaching, surveys, and Living Income analysis to track practice adoption, measure impact, and inform improvements.

The project’s innovation lies in its use of digital technology to transform the cocoa value chain. Through the Fynka app, farmers can record income and expenses, track cash flows, and make informed financial decisions—tools that are rarely available in rural contexts. The app also generates anonymised data to measure Living Income gaps and evaluate the impact of agroforestry practices, providing real-time insights for both farmers and partners.

By linking dynamic agroforestry, entrepreneurial training, and traceability systems with sustainable cocoa production, this multi-stakeholder initiative—combining technological innovation, university research, traceability, and public policy design—introduces a unique and scalable model that goes beyond traditional capacity-building projects.

The project actively promotes women’s economic empowerment by ensuring that at least 35% of the 450 participating cocoa farmers are women, selected through a gender-sensitive approach. Women receive equal access to training in agroforestry, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy, enabling them to better manage household resources and increase their incomes.

The Fynka app also allows shared family accounts, fostering joint decision-making and financial transparency within households. In addition, men receive training on gender empowerment to help them recognise and value women’s economic contributions, creating an enabling environment for women to thrive as entrepreneurs and leaders in the cocoa sector. Local governments are also supported to design gender-responsive policies and allocate resources to programmes aimed at reducing gender inequality.

Scalability is ensured by embedding the project within the Cocoa Field Schools of the Provincial Government of Manabí, providing an institutional framework for training and extension services. Agronomists receive training of trainers (ToT) instruction, enabling knowledge transfer to additional farmer groups beyond the 450 participants.

The use of the Fynka app facilitates data collection and Living Income measurement, generating insights that can inform policy. Collaboration with local and international partners creates opportunities to replicate the model in other regions and crops. Access to secure markets encourages producers to enhance their production. As Manabí is the world’s leading producer of fine aroma Nacional cocoa, increased production and quality in certified farms will help producers establish stable partnerships with Swiss buyers.