Togo has become one of the first nations to sign the new International Cocoa Agreement (ICA 2026), joining Nicaragua and Côte d’Ivoire in reshaping global cocoa governance. The pact was signed at the United Nations Cocoa Conference hosted by UNCTAD in Geneva.
The ICA 2026 replaces the 2010 agreement and establishes an open-ended framework aimed at stabilising a sector long plagued by price volatility and structural imbalances. Unlike previous fixed-term renewals, the new accord sets enduring rules for cooperation between cocoa-producing and consuming countries.
Under the agreement, five key priorities have been identified. At the forefront is securing a living income for cocoa producers, a long-standing demand from West African nations that supply the majority of the world’s cocoa. The pact also promotes local processing to boost value addition, encourages new industrial uses for cocoa in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, and calls for fewer barriers to investment to expand trade in cocoa-derived products.
A new article on sustainability sets standards covering economic, environmental, and social practices. This is designed to align producing countries with evolving global regulatory norms, including European Union rules on deforestation that have tightened supply chain requirements.
Togo signed the agreement through its Coordination Committee for Coffee and Cocoa Sectors (CCFCC), signalling its intent to strengthen its voice in international cocoa markets. Officials said the move is expected to improve farmer incomes, attract investment into domestic processing facilities, and support economic diversification within the agricultural sector.
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“The ICA 2026 provides Togo with an opportunity to ensure that our cocoa farmers benefit from fair prices while advancing sustainable production practices,” a CCFCC spokesperson said. “By joining this agreement, we also aim to strengthen Togo’s position in global cocoa governance and promote investment in local processing industries.”
Cocoa is central to Togo’s economy, contributing significantly to export earnings and rural employment. The country, along with its West African neighbours, faces challenges including price instability, limited local value addition, and environmental pressures such as deforestation.
By adopting the ICA 2026, Togo aligns itself with international efforts to make cocoa production more resilient, equitable, and environmentally responsible. Analysts say the agreement could have a transformative effect on West African cocoa economies if implemented effectively, offering producers stable incomes while promoting long-term sustainability.
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The signing of the ICA 2026 marks a new chapter in global cocoa cooperation, reflecting growing international consensus on balancing economic growth with social and environmental responsibility in one of the world’s most important agricultural sectors.
Togo is a key cocoa producer in West Africa, a region that supplies over 60 percent of the world’s cocoa. Cocoa is central to Togo’s economy, contributing significantly to export earnings, rural employment, and national GDP. The sector has historically faced challenges including price volatility, low farmer incomes, limited local processing, and environmental concerns such as deforestation.
The International Cocoa Agreement (ICA), administered under the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), is a multilateral framework that governs cooperation between cocoa-producing and consuming nations. Since its original inception in 1973, the ICA has been periodically updated to address market imbalances, sustainability, and fair trade issues. The previous 2010 agreement established fixed-term renewals and sought to stabilize global cocoa prices while encouraging investment in the sector.
With the ICA 2026, the agreement moves to an open-ended framework to provide a more flexible and enduring structure for global cocoa governance. Key priorities include securing a living income for producers, promoting local processing and value addition, expanding industrial applications of cocoa in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, and supporting sustainable economic, environmental, and social practices. These measures are particularly relevant as the European Union tightens regulations on deforestation and supply chain transparency, creating new compliance requirements for exporting countries.
By signing the ICA 2026 through its Coordination Committee for Coffee and Cocoa Sectors (CCFCC), Togo aims to enhance its influence in international cocoa markets, improve farmer livelihoods, and attract investment into domestic processing facilities. The agreement is expected to strengthen Togo’s role in global cocoa governance, align production with international sustainability standards, and promote economic diversification within the agricultural sector.
