Mars invests $3m to empower women cocoa farmers
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Mars, Inc. has partnered with Save the Children to launch the Women R.I.S.E. (Resilient & Inclusive Systems for Empowerment) Program. The three-year initiative aims to strengthen the resilience of cocoa-growing communities while advancing child protection and women's economic empowerment across Indonesia. Supported through a $3m (€2.6m) grant from the Mars Impact Fund, the Program will expand Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and strengthen community resilience initiatives in cocoa-growing regions. The effort aims to address key challenges facing rural communities, including fluctuating agricultural productivity, limited access to financial services and the need for stronger local capacity to plan for and manage development. The work, says the multinational, supports the Mars Impact Fund mission to "accelerate meaningful, lasting impact in the communities where Mars operates". Over the next three years, the project will directly engage more than 17,000 cocoa farmers across Indonesia, with a goal of 60% female participation. It will also support leadership development, collective decision-making, income diversification, climate-smart agricultural practices and stronger village governance, helping communities build long-term resilience while protecting children and improving livelihoods. "True community resilience is built from the ground up," says program...
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