Côte d’Ivoire program

Our program in Côte d’Ivoire improves education quality and access in cocoa-growing regions by training teachers, building school infrastructure, using evidence to inform policies, and supporting a pioneering public-private funding facility aiming to benefit over 4 million children by 2027.

Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest cocoa producer, faces significant educational challenges. Over one million children are involved in cocoa-related labor, perpetuating cycles of poverty and exploitation (NORC, 2020). Most children enrolled fail to meet minimum competencies in reading and math by the end of primary school. Our program in Cote d’Ivoire addresses educational challenges by improving access and quality in cocoa-growing regions. Together with our partners, we support the Government of Côte d’Ivoire’s 10-year Education Sector Plan aligning with national priorities. 

Our focus areas include: 

• Improving education quality: Training teachers in effective pedagogical practices and engaging parents in children’s learning. 
• Expanding access: Building school infrastructure in underserved regions. 
• Evidence-based policies: Using research and evidence to inform and optimize education policies and practice

 Education Evidence and Data Lab (EdLab) 

This initiative supports the establishment of a dedicated team by the Ministry of Education tasked with generating and applying rigorous data and evidence to inform education policies and programs.

Co-Funding Mechanism (cFMx) 

The Child Learning and Education Facility (CLEF) is pooled funding facility. It is spearheaded by the Government of Côte d’Ivoire in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education and Literacy, philanthropic partners such as the Jacobs Foundation and UBS Optimus Foundation, and 16 global cocoa and chocolate companies. With over CHF 78M pledged, including CHF 31M from foundations, CHF 22.5M from cocoa and chocolate industry partners, and CHF 25M from the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, CLEF aims to benefit over 4 million children by 2027. The financial commitments to CLEF made by the foundations and the cocoa and chocolate companies have leveraged an additional $13 million for the education sector in Côte d’Ivoire from the Global Partnership for Education through its Multiplier Fund. New partners are invited to join the coalition. 

In response to the challenges of the education sector in Côte d’Ivoire, CLEF is designed to improve access and quality of education in cocoa-growing regions of Côte d’Ivoire, with six intervention areas:  

• Quality: improve the teaching-learning process
• Access: school infrastructure building and reintegration of out-of-school children through bridging classes
• Community mobilization and parent involvement
• Studies, monitoring and evaluation
• Early childhood development
• School feeding

Our Global Impact 

CLEF is a pioneering model for public-private partnerships, demonstrating how collaboration between governments, industries, and philanthropic organizations can tackle intertwined systemic issues like lack of access to quality education and child labor. Its success in Côte d’Ivoire can inspire similar cross-sector collaboration worldwide.