Implementation Guide: Child-friendly spaces in cocoa-growing communities

ICI’s experience shows that child-friendly spaces are an effective approach to improving the protective environment for children in cocoa-growing communities. By offering a safe place to play, learn and meet other children, child-friendly spaces contribute to the social and emotional development of children and offer an alternative to child labour by providing cocoa farmers access to childcare.

This practical guide is for anyone interested in creating and setting up child-friendly spaces in cocoa-growing communities. It describes how to design and set up a child-friendly space to support child protection and help tackle child labour, including practical recommendations to address common challenges. This guide is based on a pilot project implemented by the International Cocoa Initiative in cocoa-growing communities in Côte d’Ivoire.