Cocoa farming, welfare, human capital, and child labour in Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon

This study examines how cocoa cultivation influences the welfare and human-capital development of smallholders in Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, using nationally representative survey data. In Côte d’Ivoire, cocoa production is associated with higher welfare and investments in children’s education: boys and girls in cocoa-growing households show higher enrolment, though only girls experience higher rates of grade repetition compared to peers in non-cocoa households. In Cameroon, only boys show higher enrolment, girls see no enrolment gains, and are more likely to repeat grades. Child participation in cocoa work marginally reduces school enrolment for boys in Côte d’Ivoire, but not in Cameroon. The study recommends an “attendance-linked incentive scheme” linking farm subsidies to school-attendance commitments, with special focus on girls – to harness cocoa cultivation for sustainable human-capital development.