Building on that progress, CFI: Partnering for Impact marks the next phase of this flagship platform - evolving from project delivery to systems-level impact. Through targeted advocacy, streamlined reporting and shared frameworks, CFI continues to demonstrate how credible collaboration can protect forests, reduce emissions and strengthen sustainable cocoa production.

Uniting for Forest-Safe Cocoa

CFI brings together the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, leading cocoa and chocolate companies, and development partners under a single commitment: to safeguard forests and promote climate-resilient, sustainable cocoa. The new CFI strategy focuses on two connected workstreams:

  • Advocacy for Forest Protection and Restoration — enabling the policy and institutional conditions that make large-scale impact possible
  • Reporting Standardisation — aligning data and measurement across global frameworks to improve credibility, reduce duplication and turn information into influence

Together, these workstreams ensure that CFI continues to drive collective action, accelerate measurable progress and reinforce the sector’s leadership in forest protection and restoration.

Proof of Progress on the Ground

CFI’s first phase has delivered tangible results across producing countries. These achievements have helped position CFI as the reference point for credible, data-driven forest protection across the cocoa sector.

Traceability

83% of directly sourced cocoa from participating companies in Ghana and 82% in Côte d’Ivoire was traceable to the plot level in 2023.

Deforestation Risk Assessment

CFI has strengthened the sector’s ability to identify and assess deforestation risk through more consistent methodologies, data and approaches.

Agroforestry & Reforestation

43 Million multipurpose trees distributed since 2018, including 10 million in 2023 alone. 

Shared Methodologies and Tools

Shared methodologies and tools enable the cocoa sector to consistently measure and address key sustainability issues across supply chains.

 

Field story

To be able to trace cocoa from farm to first point of purchase, all farmers need to be geo-located and their farm size measured. Jean-Marie explains what that means in his daily job in the Meagui region in Côte d’Ivoire.

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The Asunafo-Asutifi Hotspot Area in Ghana

In Ghana, the WCF leads a deforestation-free supply chain initiative in the Asunafo-Asutifi landscape, supported by Proforest and initially funded by the UK Government. This aligns with the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme, aiming to protect and restore forests and improve cocoa farmer`s livelihoods. After a 2021 baseline assessment by Proforest, a landscape management plan was developed through a multi-stakeholder approach.

With the Walmart Foundation's support in 2023, WCF and Proforest began implementing this plan in close collaboration with the Ghana Forestry Commission, COCOBOD, local communities and NGOs and are amplifying efforts with CFI companies.

Delivering Clarity, Credibility and Impact

  • Consistency: Shared definitions and frameworks reduce duplication and cost
  • Credibility: Transparent, verifiable data builds confidence with regulators and consumers
  • Efficiency: Harmonised systems reduce complexity for companies and governments alike
  • Impact: Better data enables more targeted action on deforestation, child labour and farmer livelihoods

The Yapo Abbé Forest and Bossematié Nature Reserve in Côte d’Ivoire

In Côte d’Ivoire, the landscapes of Yapo-Abbé and Bossématié have been selected. WCF and IDH are working in close collaboration with the Ministries of Forest, Agriculture and Environment and their implementing agencies to roll-out the landscape approach in line with national policies. Through these collaborative projects CFI wants to demonstrate the business case for collective action in forest conservation, land restoration and supporting forest communities.

2026 Strategy

CFI: Partnering for Impact 

The WCF strategy positions CFI as a solutions-driven, agile platform focused on delivering measurable impact and enabling effective collaboration across the cocoa sector.

 

Advocacy for Forest Protection & Restoration

CFI partners with national ministries to create enabling environments for climate-smart cocoa. Priorities include:

  • Strengthening national monitoring systems with accurate land-use mapping and predictive deforestation risk assessments
  • Supporting decarbonisation pathways that allow companies to meet Scope 3 targets and invest in verified reforestation projects

Building policy coherence between forest protection, livelihoods and national climate commitments.

 

Reporting Standardisation

CFI will simplify reporting and align indicators across frameworks such as ARS-1000, ISCOs and the Rainforest Alliance. This evolution will:

  • Reduce duplication and compliance costs for companies
  • Ensure data supports both policy advocacy and operational delivery

Reinforce WCF’s commitment to credible, transparent reporting as a foundation for sustainability leadership.

 

“CFI remains the sector’s leading collaborative platform for forest protection and climate-positive cocoa production. Partnering for Impact builds on our shared achievements and positions the industry to meet future challenges with confidence and accountability.”

Chris Vincent
President, World Cocoa Foundation

Scaling Action for Forest Protection

CFI will continue to demonstrate the power of coordinated action to deliver measurable outcomes. Under Partnering for Impact, the focus shifts to:

  • Scaling restoration and reforestation at landscape level
  • Ensuring data integrity and transparent reporting
  • Strengthening livelihoods as a foundation for forest protection
  • Supporting policy advocacy that connects national priorities with global frameworks

At the 2026 Partnership Meeting in Amsterdam, CFI will showcase its next-generation framework and progress dashboard — setting a new standard for credible, collective impact in sustainable cocoa.

The Cocoa, Forests & Peace Initiative Colombia

In 2018, Colombia became the first country from Latin America to join Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire signing on to the principles of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative. Through the Cocoa, Forests and Peace Initiative, the Government of Colombia, WCF members Compañía Nacional de Chocolates and Luker Chocolate and the National Cocoa Federation are committed to eliminating deforestation from the country’s cocoa supply chain.

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