Societal dynamics of sustainability certification in Ghanaian cocoa producing communities: Assessing social cohesion effects and their implications for collective action

Figures & data

Table 1. Farm requirement components of the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard.

Farm requirement component	Components’ content relevant for cocoa production
Management	Group management collects data on members, workers, farm location, farmer training, risk assessment, and development of risk management plan
Traceability	Producers record their cocoa quantities at RA traceability platform, payment of sustainability differential (premium)
Farming practices	Renovation of tree crops based on a climate risk assessment, diversification and intercropping, prohibition of genetically modified organisms on the farm, optimization of fertilizer use, integrated pest management, improved weed management and regular pruning, use of agrochemicals in a safe, effective, and efficient way, as well as the application of efficient post-harvest practices
Environmental	Conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems and their services, no encroachment into forests, maintenance of on-farm vegetation, riparian buffers, protection of endangered species and native flora and fauna, efficient water use and waste management, biomass use minimizing effects on natural systems
Social	Respect of workers’ rights in conformation with UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human and ILO conventions, measures to assess and address discrimination, forced labor, and child labor, establishment of systems to eradicate child labor, forced labor, and workplace violence, freedom of association, work time and safety, and assurance of decent housing and living conditions of workers

Source: (Rainforest Alliance 2020).

Table 2. Social cohesion indicators.

Components of social cohesion	Theory-based codes	Sub-codes
Attitudes	Trust	Confidence in fellow farmers and community members Trust in not being cheated by fellows
	Solidarity	Readiness to support others reciprocalness with assistance in times of difficulties
	Harmony	Low levels of ressentiments General good-will toward fellows Perceived absence of community conflicts
Behaviors	Patterns of community cooperation:	Activities and forms of cooperation Frequency Transfer to other spheres of community action
	Quality of participation	Inclusion in decision making Balanced participation among members Understanding of project (reasons, structure, actors involved, distribution of patterns)
Fragmentation	Patterns of in-/exclusion	Inclusiveness Selection criteria participants
	Socioeconomic inequalities	Access to material resources Access to opportunities Distribution mechanisms
Awareness	Understanding socioeconomic environment	Differentiated picture of reason of socioeconomic situation Understanding of position in Global Cocoa Chocolate Chain Ideas about existing alternatives Ideas about strategies to change status quo
Local institutions	Quality	Functionality Efficiency Appropriateness for local context
	Acceptance	Community agreement with practices Use of practice

Source: Own elaboration.

Rainfoest Alliance. (2020): Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard. Farm Requirements. Rainforest Alliance (Version 1.1). Available online at https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/de/resource-item/2020-sustainable-agriculture-standard-farm-requirements/, checked on 11/30/2021.

 Google Scholar

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, [Franziska Ollendorf]. The data are not publicly available due to containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.