CARE International in Ghana, in partnership with Cargill, has officially launched the fourth phase of the PROSPER project. This new phase targets 16,850 people, with 60% being women, across 128 cocoa communities over the next three years.
The launch events took place in Sefwi Akontombra, Bibiani, and Sefwi Wiawso. The project aims to enhance community resilience by promoting gender equality, strengthening child protection, and advancing diversified livelihood opportunities. It focuses on five main areas: financial inclusion, livelihood diversification, education, and child protection, alongside addressing gender social norms.
This initiative represents a continued commitment to Ghana's cocoa sector, building on nearly a decade of successful implementation. Earlier phases, including PROSPER III, reached over 364,000 people across 265 communities in four regions. These efforts delivered improvements in women’s economic empowerment, food security, market access, and community development. The project’s expansion into 20 new communities in the Western North region, specifically in Sefwi Akontombra, Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Districts, and Sefwi Wiawso Municipal, signals its growing reach.
Zakaria Yakubu, Head of Programs at CARE International in Ghana, emphasized the significance of the ongoing partnership with Cargill. He highlighted their shared commitment to supporting cocoa-farming households. Joshua Quansah, the Sustainability Coordinator at Cargill Ghana, also reaffirmed the company's long-standing dedication to community development and child protection in Ghana's cocoa sector. These statements underscore the collaborative approach powering the project's goals.
This phase, spanning from 2025 to 2028, will likely bring economic benefits to the targeted regions. Enhanced financial inclusion and diversified livelihoods can significantly boost household incomes and resilience against economic shocks. Improved education and child protection measures will foster a more stable environment for human capital development in these agricultural communities. Decision-makers and local economies will closely monitor the project's progress in empowering women and improving market access. The integrated approach to community development, including support for community action plans, is crucial for sustainable impact.
Cargill, a major player in Ghana's cocoa industry for over 40 years, continues to invest in local communities. The company opened a cocoa processing facility in Tema in 2008 and established a licensed buying company (LBC) in 2016. These investments demonstrate its commitment to sustainable practices and traceability within the cocoa supply chain. CARE International in Ghana, operating since 1994, focuses on social justice and poverty alleviation, particularly for women and youth. Their combined efforts in the PROSPER project represent a significant private-sector and non-governmental organization partnership in Ghana's agricultural landscape.