Local Partners

Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines (CocoaPhil):
CocoaPhil will implement the majority of activities, including nursery establishment and support, farmer trainings and the establishment of fermentation and drying centers. CocoaPhil is a non-stock, nonprofit group of individuals and institutions committed to the development of the local cocoa industry. CocoaPhil has strong ties to the Philippine Department of Agriculture and has, over SUCCESS Alliance’s three-year USAID project, established memorandums of understanding for cooperation in cocoa promotion with 18 local government units and 21 nonprofit organizations throughout the Philippines

Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA):
The DA will provide critical support in establishing and disseminating national quality standards for cocoa beans and cocoa products. It will also help in leveraging other sources of funds and will provide extension staff and services to farmers in project areas.

University of Southern Mindanao (USM):
USM is the primary cocoa research center in the Philippines. It will secure resource persons and training facilitators as well as budding material for nurseries and side-grafting.

Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA):
PCA is a Philippine government-funded entity responsible for providing support to the country’s vast coconut economy (59 percent of world exports). Because cocoa is an ideal crop for intercropping with coconut, the PCA will donate space in its nurseries for cocoa seedlings, pay for the costs of sending coconut farmers to SUCCESS trainings and promote cocoa production. The PCA has agreed to make cocoa intercropping a priority for the coming years.

Local government units:
This includes principally the mayoral offices in cities and provincial units and associated staff and infrastructure. They will be important for providing training and extension staff, nursery sites and infrastructure.