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The EU's Commitments to Sustainable Development: The Contribution of Certifications for Cocoa.

Witte, C. (2017) The EU's Commitments to Sustainable Development: The Contribution of Certifications for Cocoa.

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Abstract:Cocoa is produced in the global south but predominantly consumed in Europe. Developed by non-governmental actors, certification schemes have emerged as measures to combat poverty, preserve biodiversity and improve small producers’ livelihoods in the global south. In the light of the UN’s new SDGs, the EU is redesigning its approach to sustainable development. This research therefore aims at assessing the role of certifications for cocoa in current EU policies and the future potential for such schemes in policies as tools for sustainable development. This is done by analyzing the effects of certification schemes for cocoa, the conditions for small producers for participating in such a scheme and by identifying possible strategies to overcome potential barriers for participation. It is concluded that the EU can only rely on certification schemes as a tool for sustainable development to a limited extent in the case of cocoa, due to their inconsistent effectiveness in the areas of poverty alleviation, gender equality and education. However, effects on other SDGs are predominantly positive. Accessibility to certification schemes remains a challenge which needs further attention when certifications are implemented to foster sustainable development in the global south.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:70 social sciences in general, 88 social and public administration
Programme:Management Society and Technology BSc (56654)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/71831
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