Cameroon is one of the world’s leading cocoa producers, with the sector playing a central role in the
national economy and rural livelihoods. Cocoa production is largely carried out by smallholder farmers
organised in cooperatives, yet the sector faces persistent challenges, including low productivity, limited
technical capacities, and widespread poverty among producer households. At the same time, the sector
must adapt to evolving international requirements, notably the European Union Regulation on
Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), which introduces strict obligations on traceability, legality, and the
prevention of deforestation.
The European Forest Institute (EFI) is launching a framework contract to provide targeted and in-depth
capacity building support to cocoa cooperatives. The objective is to strengthen their organisational,
technical, and economic capacities through tailored coaching and hands-on support. The assignment will
focus on improving governance and internal management, supporting the adoption of sustainable
agricultural practices, enhancing traceability systems, and facilitating compliance with EUDR requirements. It
will also support cooperatives in developing commercial strategies, improving access to markets and finance,
and reinforcing their role as key intermediaries in sustainable and deforestation-free cocoa supply chains.