COCEFAAA Unveils Comprehensive Three-Year Plan to Revitalize Cocoa and Coffee Sectors in Africa
The Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA) has officially launched a strategic three-year development plan designed to significantly boost cocoa and coffee production across the continent. This initiative aims to inform stakeholders, including smallholder farmers, communities, and the general public, about COCEFAAA's efforts to transform the trajectory of these globally traded commodities, which have long suffered from underdevelopment and low financial returns.
Addressing Africa's Value Chain Gap in Coffee and Cocoa
Africa, as the historical birthplace of coffee, contributes approximately 12.5 percent of global coffee production. However, its financial returns remain disproportionately low, with total coffee export earnings averaging $7.5 billion between 2025 and the present. This represents only three percent of the $263.5 billion global coffee market, highlighting a major value chain gap. The continent primarily exports raw beans, while value addition occurs largely in Europe and North America.
Within Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia dominate coffee export earnings, contributing about 32 percent and 28 percent of total African revenue, respectively. Uganda has emerged as Africa's leading exporter by volume, generating around $2.4 billion, while Ethiopia earns between $1.8 billion and $2.1 billion due to premium pricing for its specialty Arabica coffee.
Formation and Goals of COCEFAAA
COCEFAAA was established following the transition of the Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA) on March 24, 2026, after a board resolution to merge cocoa and coffee sectors. This merger aims to build a stronger alliance voice connecting West, Central, and East Africa. The two cash crops have enjoyed a robust relationship for over a decade in agroforestry practices and share common socio-economic and environmental challenges.
In his speech, the Global President of COCEFAAA, Comrade Adeola Adegoke, emphasized that the underdevelopment of cocoa and coffee in areas such as pre- and post-harvest activities, low yields per hectare, absence of climate-resilient varieties, and low processing capacity has been a major concern. He noted that this has hindered sustainable value chains, contributed to job exports outside Africa, inadequate GDP generation, and low per capita earnings for smallholder farmers, often below one dollar per day.
Challenges in Cocoa Production and Market Disparities
Africa remains the undisputed global leader in cocoa production, contributing approximately 70 percent of total global output, estimated at about 3.46 million metric tonnes out of 4.84 million metric tonnes globally. Production is heavily concentrated in West Africa, led by Côte d'Ivoire (approximately 1.85 million tonnes), Ghana (about 750,000 tonnes), Nigeria (over 340,000 tonnes), and Cameroon (about 320,000 tonnes).
Despite this dominant position, Africa captures only a small fraction of the global cocoa and chocolate market value. While the global chocolate retail market is valued at over $120 billion yearly, African countries collectively earn approximately $10 billion from cocoa exports, representing less than 10 percent of the total global value chain. This disparity is largely due to limited value addition, as most African countries continue to export raw cocoa beans rather than processed products like cocoa butter, powder, and finished chocolate.
Strategic Responses and Continental Shifts
In response to these challenges, African countries are increasingly pursuing value addition strategies. For example, Côte d'Ivoire has become the world's leading cocoa grinder, processing nearly 800,000 tonnes locally, while Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to process 50 percent of its total cocoa production locally and implement traceability systems to meet global market standards. These efforts reflect a broader continental shift toward retaining more value within Africa.
COCEFAAA's Development Plan and Future Outlook
The COCEFAAA three-year development plan is designed to address systemic challenges by repositioning Africa not only as a producer but also as a value-driven participant in the global cocoa and coffee economy. The plan focuses on:
- Sustainable production and intensification of agroforestry practices.
- Strengthening cooperative systems for improved market access.
- Facilitating robust policies and optimizing yields per hectare.
- Increasing investment in local processing, infrastructure development, and community support systems.
The plan also aligns with continental goals to increase Africa's share of the global coffee market to 20 percent by 2030, while promoting intra-African trade and strengthening domestic consumption across emerging markets such as Egypt, South Africa, and Nigeria.
International market access for both commodities has remained a major concern due to regulations, compliance requirements, and market volatility. COCEFAAA's initiative aims to mitigate these issues by fostering collaboration and innovation across the value chain, ultimately enhancing the economic prospects for African farmers and stakeholders.
