2. Understanding gender inequity in our supply chain
Between 2021 and 2023, Tony’s Open Chain:
• Undertook a comprehensive literature review and a series of stakeholder interviews to identify priority focus areas for its work on gender equality and women’s empowerment. This included a review of existing research on gender dynamics in the cocoa sector, as well as relevant strategic frameworks developed by NGOs and industry actors. 5 • Conducted a community needs assessment that incorporated gender -specific questions. Responses highlighted that women face disproportionate challenges within their communities, including a heavy and physically demanding workload, higher risks of injury, and limited representation in community leadership and decision -mak ing structures. • Building on these insights, Tony’s Open Chain carried out an internal analysis of its 5 Sourcing Principles to examine their intersection with gender and to identify gaps related to gender equality and equity within each principle. The objective was to develop a gender framework that aligns with the overall Tony’s Open Chain strategy and Sourcing Principles, an d that can be effectively operationalised and streamlined across all programmes.
In addition to the above, we monitor and stay up to date with publications and innovations focused on gender in the cocoa and agricultural sectors, ensuring our approach remains relevant and appropriate.
Key findings
Women play a critical role in cocoa farming but
often earn less income
. 6.
• Women cocoa farmers typically earn less than male farmers
• Cocoa farming is a family business, with all (adult) members of the household usually involved in cocoa . In Côte d’Ivoire, women carry out 68% of the labour involved in cocoa farming but are estimated to earn just 21% of the income generated. 7 • Women in agriculture often experience time poverty, due to the double burden of working on the farm as well as performing most of the unpaid domestic and care work at home (such as childcare, cooking, collecting water and fuel) leading to women consistently working longer hou rs compared to men 8 . When considering household, farming and other non - farm tasks together, women’s working hours exceed those of men by nearly
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