Objectives

O Brazilian Cocoa Agroforestry Project its main objective boosting sustainable cocoa production through agroforestry systems that reconcile environmental conservation, income generation and local development.

Among its specific objectives are:

• To promote the implementation of 12,500 hectares of Agroforestry Systems (SAFs)., integrating cocoa with native species of Atlantic Forest and from Amazon;

• Contribute to the sequestration of an estimated 5 million tons of CO₂ equivalent.;

• To benefit approximately 950,000 people., including direct and indirect beneficiaries;

• Supporting institutional strengthening and the dialogue between local communities, authorities and public bodies;

• Improving quality of life and social inclusion. of family farmers, with a focus on women and young people;

• To promote the restoration of degraded areas, forest preservation, and reforestation.;

• To support the development of socio-environmental and economic indicators. that allow for continuous monitoring of actions and results.

Results

The performance of Arcadis inside Brazilian Cocoa Agroforestry Project resulted in the development of four strategic products, which complement and enhance the program's actions:

1. Creation of the Complaints Remediation Mechanism

   • Adapting the IICA complaints system to the cocoa production chains of Bahia and Pará;

   • Implementation of a direct and transparent communication channel between beneficiaries and project managers;

   • Identification and referral of external demands on governance of the project, strengthening community trust and participation.

2. Definition of Socio-environmental and Economic Indicators

   • Development of a monitoring system based on five axes: Training and Social Inclusion, Sustainable Economic Development, Governance and Cooperation, Production and Quality, and Environmental Sustainability;

   • Use of 12 indicators to measure results and ensure the effectiveness of actions;

   • Alignment with Inova Cocoa Plan 2030 and with the guidelines of Green Background.

3. Development of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan

   • Creating strategies for to strengthen and connect public and private institutions.;

   • Use of participatory instances, like the Chamber of Mayors, you Subcommittees of Municipal Secretaries and the Steering Committee, to promote intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation between different levels of government.

4. Development of the Environmental and Social Safeguarding Action Plan

   • Based on territorial studies and socioeconomic analyses of the priority regions in southern Bahia and in Trans-Amazonian Highway (Pará);

   • Identification of environmental, social and productive fragilities and proposition of sustainable solutions adapted to local realities;

   • Support for climate resilience and to transition to sustainable agricultural production models.

These actions contribute directly to the restoration of degraded areas, a preservation of forest ecosystems and the reforestation in the regions of Atlantic Forest and Amazon, promoting an integrated approach to sustainable production and environmental conservation.