Partners: Beyond Beans
Period: 2025 –
Country of Operation: Côte D’Ivoire
Category: Community Development, Cocoa Sector
Project Snapshot
The Nestlé Income Accelerator Programme (IAP) is an initiative aimed at improving the livelihoods of cocoa-farming families in Côte D’Ivoire while advancing regenerative agriculture practices. In collaboration with Beyond Beans, PDA has been instrumental in forming 87 Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) groups. Seven field officers actively facilitate project activities, including financial literacy and gender empowerment training, leveraging the Gender Action Learning Systems (GALS) methodology to ensure inclusivity and impact.
Project Objectives
Main Goal: Improve the livelihoods of cocoa-farming families through income diversification and financial literacy.
Specific Objectives:
Form and support VSLA groups.
Provide GALS training to enhance gender equality and financial inclusion.
Facilitate share-out events and loan disbursement for VSLA members.
Ensure long-term sustainability through community-based monitoring.
PDA’s Task
PDA, in partnership with Beyond Beans, was tasked with the formation of VSLA groups in Côte D’Ivoire, training GALS champions, and ensuring the smooth functioning of savings and loan activities in cocoa-growing communities.
Update
The program has been extended to October 2025 to allow:
- All VSLA groups to complete their full 52-week cycle.
- The successful completion of Gender Action Learning System (GALS) training.
By May, some groups had already conducted their first share-out and commenced a second cycle. To date, 87 VSLA groups have been established across three sections:
- BECIDA
- SAFRA
- SCOOPAAB
This extension ensures continuity and deeper impact as communities strengthen financial inclusion and household resilience.