Côte d'Ivoire cocoa (products)

Côte d’Ivoire produces around 40% of the world’s cocoa, yet most of it leaves the country as raw beans. That means very little value is captured nationally. To change that, the Ivorian government has set an ambition to process 100% of its cocoa domestically by 2030. Reaching that goal requires cooperatives to make a major leap: shifting from collecting and selling beans to running processing operations, managing new supply chains, and entering new markets.

From January 2025 to June 2026, CBI ran a one-year project in this sector. It was part of the broader Orange Cocoa Pro initiative, a collaborative approach led by the Dutch Embassy in Abidjan (EKN) and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). The initiative partners with CADESA, an Ivorian cooperative pioneering small-scale local cocoa processing.

The CBI project aimed to scale up domestic processing through cooperatives and connect them and their products to Dutch and broader European markets. 6 cooperatives received intensive coaching across multiple areas: 

• Business plan development;
• Governance structure with Agriterra;
• Access to finance with Invest International, Société Générale and IDH;
• Export marketing with many importers, traders and chocolatiers;
• Machinery and construction with Probat; and
• Food safety with Barry Callebaut.

Also, a broader group of 17 cooperatives participated in webinars, a 3-day learning event in San Pedro, and the Chocoa trade fair in Amsterdam.

Project results

By the end of the project:

• Individual coaching and business plans: 
  - 6 cooperatives completed individual coaching and developed bankable business - plans. 
  - 3 focused on cocoa bean processing (CAMAYE, ECAM, and SCAES) 
  - the other 3 on organic fertiliser production from cocoa by-products (SCOOPRADI, ECAKOOG, and CABID).
• Fertiliser financing: 
  3 organic fertiliser business plans were finalised in March 2026 and submitted to the Progreso Foundation for funding consideration through the Rabobank Foundation.
• Capacity building: 
  A 14-part webinar series featured expert speakers on machinery, organic fertiliser, export marketing, and finance, attracting an average of 13 participants per session from 11 cooperatives.
• Community learning: 
  A 3-day Community of Practice conference in San Pedro brought together 29 representatives from 13 cooperatives for peer learning, knowledge exchange, and a mini trade fair of processed cocoa products. Participants rated the event 4.25 out of 5.
• International market exposure: 
  4 cooperatives attended the Chocoa trade fair in Amsterdam in February 2026, where they connected with Dutch and international importers, financiers, and chocolatiers, generating practical leads for sample exchanges and potential supply partnerships.
• Sector impact: 
  A total of 12 cooperatives were assessed as having meaningfully contributed to building a more sustainable local business environment in the sector.

A standout finding came from the Community of Practice conference in San Pédro, Côte d’Ivoire. According to the participating cooperatives, this was the first time they had gathered to specifically discuss national processing. Sharing their successes, operational challenges, and lessons learnr turned out to be one of the most valued parts of the project.

Throughout the initiative, Dutch connections played a central role. Agriterra provided vital expertise and training from the beginning. Also, machine suppliers, importers, financiers, and knowledge partners from the Netherlands contributred across the webinar series, the conference, and Chocoa. Organisations such as Invest International, Rabobank Foundation, Rabo Rural Fund, and importers such as Facta International and Daarnhouwer all engaged directly with the cooperatives.

What is next

The cooperatives that completed the programme now have solid business plans, market contacts, and direct buyer relationships. They also have a clear understanding of what it takes to make national processing viable and successfully supply sell semi-finished products to buyers.

The crucial next step is financing. Several cooperatives are currently in conversation with Rabobank Foundation, OikoCredit and Invest International regarding funding for their processing investments

Meanwhile, Agriterra continues to support partner cooperatives with governance and business plan development. ENABEL, the Belgian development agency, is backing several cooperatives that also participated in the CBI project. At the same time, CADESA, the frontrunner cooperative, is advancing its plans for a processing plant. The progress will be closely watched by the cooperatives ready to follow its lead.

If you are a Dutch or European importer, financier, machine supplier, or knowledge partner with an interest in the Ivorian cocoa sector, there are several opportunities to engage. The cooperatives are motivated, the business plans are ready, and the connections are established. We look forward to facilitating introductions.

Looking ahead, CBI is planning a new project to scale up national processing and increase value across the entire cocoa value chain. We welcome your ideas and potential collaboration.

Collaborate with CBI

For questions or more information about this project or the Ivorian cocoa sector, please contact Anne-Marie Roorda.

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About CBI

CBI promotes sustainable production and trade between low-and middle-income countries and the Netherlands and Europe. We partner with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their ecosystem to strengthen their social and environmental sustainability.

CBI is part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and commissioned by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.