PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2026

From Commitment to Implementation: A New Industry Platform for Gender Equity in Cocoa

Equal Origins, ECOM, and sector partners launch the Gender Equity Learning & Innovation Network to coincide with the International Year of the Woman Farmer

Zürich, Switzerland — March 5, 2026. Equal Origins, in partnership with ECOM Agroindustrial Corp Ltd. (ECOM) and sector partners, today announced the launch of the Gender Equity Learning & Innovation Network (GENLIN), a new industry platform designed to accelerate practical, field-level progress on gender equity across global cocoa supply chains. The Network convenes origin teams from ECOM and other members of the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa (SWISSCO), a multi-stakeholder initiative committed to improving inclusion, transparency, and the well-being of farming
families.

The first session introducing the Gender Equity Learning & Innovation Network will be held April 16, bringing together participating companies and country teams to kick off a year of peer learning, shared tools, and collaborative implementation.

The GENLIN draws on learnings from the recently launched ALIGN project (Advancing Learning for Inclusive Gender Navigation), a SWISSCO-supported initiative strengthening gender-responsive systems within ECOM’s cocoa operations and generating shared tools for the wider sector. Building on validated Gender Equity Index (GEI) baselines from nine ECOM origin teams, the GENLIN model transforms diagnostic data into applied learning—ensuring that insights from the field directly inform
peer exchange and practical tools.

At a time when companies face increasing expectations around due diligence, transparency, and measurable impact, GENLIN offers a structured space to translate gender commitments into operational practice.

Importantly, the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) will actively promote and amplify GENLIN across its membership, supporting alignment on gender-responsive due diligence and expanding access to practical resources across the sector.

“There is no sustainability without gender equity,” said Kimberly Easson, CEO of Equal Origins. “The Gender Equity Learning & Innovation Network gives companies a practical, field-driven way to strengthen internal systems, learn from peers, and ensure that women farmers are equitably included in training, decision-making, and opportunities.”

ECOM, one of the world’s largest cocoa supply chain actors, has played a central role in the development of the ALIGN project and in shaping the first year of learning within the Network.

“Gender equity is fundamental to our vision for Smarter Cocoa and the resilient, future-ready supply chains we want to build,” said Pam Schreirer, Global Head of Cocoa Sustainability at ECOM. “The Gender Equity Learning & Innovation Network gives our origin teams a platform to learn from one another, deepen their capacities, and apply practical solutions that strengthen outcomes for farming families. The Gender Equity Index, now a KPI within our Smarter Cocoa Charter, helps us track and elevate progress consistently across teams. We’re proud to contribute to this collective effort and help drive meaningful sector-wide change.”

Throughout 2026, GENLIN will provide participating companies and origin teams with:

Quarterly learning sessions on gender-responsive program design, diagnostics, and organizational systems
Peer exchanges on actionable practices such as inclusive training design, time-use mapping, and shared decision-making
Creative Commons tools including Practice Notes, planning templates, and evidence-based resources
A leadership-focused Better Together – Executive Edition convening to align senior decision-makers
An online resource hub and discussion platform supporting continuous exchange across geographies

As 2026 marks the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer, GENLIN provides a structured mechanism for cocoa supply chain actors to move beyond recognition toward implementation — embedding gender equity into systems, partnerships, and performance indicators.

By design, the GENLIN is practical, replicable, and low-barrier. While ALIGN directly supports ECOM origin teams, all learning products, including practice notes and planning tools, will be openly accessible. This ensures that progress made by one actor strengthens the entire cocoa ecosystem.

Esther Waldmeier, Human Rights Lead at SWISSCO noted: “Collaborative learning is key to achieving Roadmap 2030. The GENLIN creates shared value by equipping companies to meaningfully integrate gender equity into their operations and due diligence systems.”

Women contribute significantly across cocoa production—from field labor to post-harvest roles—yet continue to face structural barriers to training, resources, and decision-making. The GENLIN’s focus on organizational practice aims to drive more inclusive participation and improved outcomes for women farmers and their families.

GENLIN welcomes engagement from cocoa traders, origin teams, sustainability leaders, brands, and sector stakeholders seeking practical approaches to strengthening gender-responsive supply chains.

There is no cost to participate in the program. Interested participants can contact Equal Origins at program@equalorigins.org.

About Equal Origins
Equal Origins is a global nonprofit advancing gender equity in agriculture. Through diagnostics, capacity-building, and collaborative learning, Equal Origins equips producer organizations, companies, and service providers with practical, field-tested tools to strengthen gender-responsive systems and expand opportunities for women farmers. In 2024, Equal Origins marked its Decade of Progress with a comprehensive impact report documenting ten years of research, partnerships, and on-the-ground results across 40+ countries and more than 500,000 farming families.

About ECOM
ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. is a world-leading soft commodity services group specialising in coffee, cocoa, and cotton. Through its origin networks and sustainability programs, ECOM partners directly with farming communities to promote responsible sourcing, climate-smart agriculture, improved livelihoods, and resilient supply chains. Its Smarter Cocoa initiative guides the company’s approach to sustainability by integrating stronger due diligence, gender equity, and measurable improvement across origin teams. ECOM remains committed to improving long-term outcomes for farmers
and their families.

About SWISSCO
The Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa (SWISSCO) is a multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together organisations based in Switzerland relevant to the cocoa value chain – including chocolate manufacturers, cocoa traders and importers, food retailers, public authorities, non-governmental organisations, and research institutions. The Platform’s members account for 94% of all cocoa products imported into Switzerland. Together, SWISSCO members aim to improve the living conditions of cocoa farmers and their families, protect natural resources, and build a viable and resilient cocoa value chain for present and future generations.

Media Contacts:
Equal Origins — program@equalorigins.org
SWISSCO — info@kakaoplattform.ch
ECOM — sustainability@ecomtrading.com