Cameroon is the fourth-largest cocoa producer in Africa, following Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, and competing with Nigeria for production volume. The central region of Cameroon, particularly the Mbam-et-Kim area, is among the highest cocoa-producing regions in the country and a critical site for addressing forced labor.
Free the Slaves (FTS) is actively working in the Mbam-et-Kim region, partnering with local communities to identify, address, and prevent forced labor through Community Vigilance Committees (CVCs). CVCs empower residents in Mbangassina, Nguila, Salakounou, and Ntui to monitor and respond effectively to risks of forced labor.
Harnessing Technology for Prevention
For the first time, mobile phones have been introduced in these cocoa-producing communities to enhance the prevention and reporting of forced labor. Fifty CVC members, including local farmers and workers, are discovering how technology can significantly strengthen their monitoring efforts.
CVC member from Ntui attending the training on the use of cellphone in addressing forced labor risks
“This is magical—I never thought this could be so critical to our work as CVC members,” said the Village Chief of Salakounou and a CVC member. “No doubt, this will greatly enhance our ability to monitor forced labor in cocoa communities.”
CVCs play a crucial role in monitoring and reporting forced labor risks, documenting instances, and facilitating interventions. Previously, transferring documentation from remote farms to a central repository posed significant challenges. Now, with mobile phones, the transfer process will be faster, more secure, and reliable.
CVC members from Mbangassina attending the training on the use of cellphone….
This technology ensures more comprehensive documentation of forced labor cases across wider geographical areas, reaching more farms, communities, and workers. The timing of this technological innovation is especially critical as the cocoa harvest season approaches, a period marked by increased labor demands and higher vulnerability to forced labor.
Building Capacity and Enhancing Safety
FTS recently conducted capacity-building training for 50 CVC members from Salakounou, Ntui, Mbangassina, and Nguila. During the training held in Ntui, participants received new mobile phones pre-loaded with airtime, data bundles, and SIM cards, enabling immediate deployment in the field.
The training included essential sessions on monitoring and reporting forced labor using mobile phones, community awareness techniques, campaign planning, and remedial actions. A critical part of the training focused on safety and security measures to protect sensitive data from hacking, loss, and other technological challenges.
CVC members from Nguila attending FTS training on the use of cellphone to address forced labor
