GrowHer: Kakao – Empowering Women in Indonesian Cacao Farming

Indonesia is one of the world’s largest cocoa producers. The crops are primarily cultivated on the island of Sulawesi by small-scale farmers, who manage fields of less than two hectares. Women play a significant role in agriculture, with approximately 450,000 women employed in the Indonesian cocoa sector alone. Like almost everywhere in the world, they must fulfill a double or triple role: they farm the fields, manage their household and children, and often the family finances as well. Yet, they are far from having the same rights and opportunities as their male counterparts. Leadership roles and decision-making powers are still predominantly reserved for men.

This is a problem – not only for the women and their families but also for the future of cocoa farming in Sulawesi. With the decline in global market prices for cocoa, it is becoming increasingly difficult for producers to earn sufficient incomes. Like many cash crops, cocoa is often cultivated at the expense of the environment and biodiversity: large forest areas are cleared for more cocoa plants, too much fertilizer is applied to the fields – the unsustainable farming methods erodes the soils and harms the crops. Climate change with its erratic extreme weather conditions also affects the outputs.

However, there is clear evidence that the acceptance of new farming methods increases when women take a leading role in climate-friendly approaches. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that agricultural yields could increase by 20 to 30 percent if women had equal access to production resources.

More Decision-Making Powers for Women

The project “GrowHer:Kakao” aims to improve the rights and access to resources for 4,000 women-led cocoa businesses in Sulawesi. The goal is for women to take on leadership roles in the cocoa business, thereby having their voices heard in important business decisions. This idea resulted in a one-million Euro grant for “GrowHer:Kakao” from the BMZ initiative “Feminist & Fair,” managed by the global programme ” Sustainability and Value Added in Agricultural Supply Chains” (AgriChains) of GIZ.

“GrowHer:Kakao” was initiated by Grow Asia, a multi-stakeholder platform founded in 2015 by the World Economic Forum and the ASEAN Secretariat to promote more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems in Southeast Asia. The project consortium includes Mars, Save the Children, and PISAgro.

A first step towards equality is to ensure the financial independence of women. To this end, the project has already taught more than 1,600 women financial skills and introduced them to the concept of Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA). One of these women is Bu Maya, a 37-year-old village operator who participated in GrowHer:Kakao project’s training courses on financial literacy and VSLA. The trainings were a huge boost to her confidence, and she even began to dare to speak using a microphone. “I feel more confident and courageous”, she says – courageous enough to take on roles such as initiating financial literacy role plays during women meetings.

The Interim CEO of consortium partner Save the Children Indonesia, Ukar Kurwiany, remarked: “Women often face limited access to leadership roles and economic development opportunities. By providing them with a level playing field, we can unleash their full potential and bring about exponential benefits for both them and their households. This, in turn, will contribute to better health, education, and security for their children.”

As of today, 45 women-led Village Savings and Loans Associations have been established in 40 villages in South Sulawesi. Members of the savings groups can apply for loans, for example, to buy production inputs or for their children’s education. The VSLA groups are expected to drive economic development in the villages and have positive effects on other communities in their area.