Partners: Beyond Beans
Period: 2025 –
Country of operation: Cocoa-growing regions, Ghana
Category: Community development, Cocoa Sector
Project Snapshot
In Ghana, the Nestlé Income Accelerator Programme (IAP) focuses on improving the livelihoods of cocoa-farming families through the formation and restructuring of VSLA groups. The programme also advances regenerative agriculture practices and promotes income diversification, working in tandem with four pillars: school enrolment, pruning, agroforestry, and income diversification.
Project Objectives
Main Goal: Empower cocoa-farming families through income diversification and financial literacy, while supporting sustainable agriculture practices.
Specific Objectives:
Form and restructure VSLA groups to support income diversification in cocoa-growing communities.
Promote gender equality and financial inclusion through GALS training.
Facilitate the implementation of IAP’s four pillars: school enrolment, pruning, agroforestry, and income diversification.
PDA’s Task
PDA was responsible for forming and restructuring VSLA groups to align with the IAP’s income diversification goals, as well as training field officers and sensitizing communities on the programme’s benefits.
How We Are Going About It
- Field Officer Training: We trained 7 PDA field officers to implement the IAP in Ghana, focusing on VSLA formation and restructuring.
- Community Sensitization: Field officers engaged project beneficiaries in cocoa-growing regions to promote the formation and restructuring of VSLA groups and support the pillars of the IAP.
The project has been extended into a second phase, with a strong focus on women’s economic empowerment. This phase introduces:
- Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship Training to build essential skills for household financial management.
- Income Generating Activities (IGA) and entrepreneurship support, enabling beneficiaries to diversify income sources beyond cocoa farming.
Through this extension, the project aims to equip women with the knowledge and tools needed to strengthen household resilience and unlock new opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.