The United Nations International
Children's Emergency Fund
Child Labor Crisis in West Africa – Cocoa Bean
Plantations
Carla Hernandez
Chair
Carlaphipi@gmail.com
The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is committed to
advocating for children's rights and ensuring their protection, education, and well-being. One of
the most pressing child labor crises today is in the cocoa plantations of West Africa, where
thousands of children work under exploitative and dangerous conditions. Côte d’Ivoire and
Ghana, the world’s leading cocoa producers, account for approximately 60% of global cocoa
supply. Despite international efforts to combat child labor, poverty, lack of education, and weak
labor regulations continue to fuel this crisis.
Samuel Picado
Co-Chair
samuelpicadoa@gmail.com
The use of child labor in cocoa production is deeply rooted in economic and social challenges.
Many families in West Africa rely on cocoa farming as their primary source of income, yet they
receive minimal financial return due to fluctuating global cocoa prices and unfair trade practices.
As a result, parents often have no choice but to involve their children in farm work to increase
productivity and household earnings. Additionally, traffickers and exploitative labor networks
deceive or coerce children—some as young as five—into working on plantations under
hazardous conditions, often without pay.