21 August 2025
Giving workers a voice: Using digital technology to tackle labour risks in cocoa and oil palm supply chains
The case of Labour Right Project in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire
Background & Context
In Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, cocoa and oil palm remain vital sources of income for millions of smallholders, yet both sectors face persistent human rights challenges. Unsafe working conditions forced and child labour, limited access to rights-based information, and weak grievance systems leave many workers without a safe way to report abuse or seek remedies. The Labour Rights Project (LRP) set out to change this by leveraging mobile technology to track and prevent labour risks while enabling workers and farmers to share concerns anonymously, access information on their rights, and connect to remedies. The project focused on cocoa and oil palm cooperatives in key production landscapes, with particular attention to women, youth, and marginalised groups.
Implementation & Approach
The project began with stakeholder engagement, bringing together government agencies, NGOs, CSOs, and cooperatives to jointly address systemic labour issues. A baseline study mapped the key human rights risks in target communities. Ulula's mobile platform was deployed to provide a safe, anonymous channel for reporting grievances and receiving information via SMS and WhatsApp. Worker voice surveys gathered continuous feedback on workplace risks, while a grievance management system ensured reported issues were tracked and resolved. Capacity-building sessions and rights-awareness broadcasts strengthened workers’ understanding of labour and human rights. Partnerships were central to the approach, with Global Affairs Canada funding the initiative, Ulula providing the technology, WiLDAF advocating for women’s rights in Ghana, and the International Cocoa Initiative supporting child and forced labour awareness efforts in Côte d’Ivoire.
Results & Outcomes
The project empowered farmers and workers to speak up without fear of retaliation, leading to the resolution of over 60% of reported cases related to labour rights, health and safety concerns. Women’s participation rose to 68%, enabling them to address issues such as harassment and land disputes more effectively. The grievance system increased transparency, enabling real-time reporting and timely intervention by cooperatives. For the first time, continuous, granular labour rights data became available to inform targeted actions in supply chains.
Impact Stories
One case involved a child labour tip-off in Ghana’s cocoa landscape. An anonymous report flagged a child missing school to work on a family farm. The project intervened, educated the parents, and ensured the child’s return to school showing how digital reporting could directly protect children’s rights. In the Jukwaa Oil Palm Cooperative, women millers used the Ulula platform to share their grievances. “Harvesters often failed to honour their commitments to the millers by taking money without delivering the palm fruits (financial abuse). This created tensions between millers and farmers. Through the platform, we now have a space to voice our grievances and seek resolution from the leadership," Florence Annancy explained. This safe reporting space, built solidarity, encouraged action from cooperative leaders, and highlighted the importance of gender-sensitive grievance systems.
Sustainability & Next Steps
With its community-level impact and strong partnerships, the project has laid the foundation for long-term change. Continued funding will be crucial to sustain operations, maintain the platform, and expand services. Ongoing training, outreach, and engagement with companies sourcing from the regions will strengthen the system’s reach and effectiveness.
Lessons Learned
Stakeholders buy-in and strong partnerships were critical to success. Real-time data from the platform enabled precise, targeted interventions. However, low digital literacy among some farmers required ongoing training, and potential data security risks had to be mitigated through strict compliance measures. Deeper community engagement, broader partnerships, and long-term funding commitments will be essential to sustain and scale this innovative approach to protecting workers’ rights in agricultural supply chains.
