Summary
This report examines the impact of large scale voluntary social and environmental standards on worker and producer livelihoods, focusing on the Fairtrade certification of Kuapa Kokoo (KK) cocoa producers’ organisation in Ghana. A questionnaire survey was used in conjunction with qualitative methods to draw comparisons between certified KK farmers and non-certified farmers, as well as looking at changes overtime between recalled, baseline and endline data. No significant difference in household income between certified and non-certified farmers is observed, however economic benefits could improve as the proportion of sales on Fairtrade terms increase. It is clear that further investment and wider collaborative action are required to both help farmers escape poverty and achieve more sustainable production; Fairtrade could play a key role in supporting smallholder producers to achieve more equitable trading terms.