A Day in the Life of Gathering Stories with Cocoa-Growing Families in Côte d’Ivoire
A behind-the-scenes look at how TechnoServe’s communications team documents transformation in the field—meeting the women and youth building stronger, more resilient livelihoods through the Awalé project.
It was 6:00 a.m. in Divo, Côte d’Ivoire, and the sun was already rising over the rust-colored roads that cut through Lôh-Djiboua, a cocoa and palm growing region located in the south of the country. I grabbed a quick breakfast, reviewed the list of TechnoServe clients we were meeting that day, and packed up my equipment: interview questionnaires, consent forms, and a camera.
Today, like every day this week, I would travel to rural villages where farmers, including many women and young people, supported by the Awalé project —an initiative funded by Cargill —are building stronger livelihoods beyond cocoa. In Côte d’Ivoire, cocoa is a regulated market, and most farmers cultivate small plots of land where productivity is often threatened by plant disease and extreme weather patterns, factors largely beyond their control. Diversifying their sources of income helps these families strengthen their resilience and economic stability throughout the year.
This trip was my first time documenting stories on the continent. As part of TechnoServe’s global communications team, a key aspect of my role is collaborating with farmers and entrepreneurs to share their stories of transformation and the impact of our programs on their lives and communities. Being here, seeing it all unfold firsthand, adds a new depth to what “business solutions to poverty” truly means.
From Abidjan to the Cocoa Fields
The journey began in Abidjan, the country’s bustling economic capital. Before heading to the field, I visited TechnoServe’s soon-to-close office—once a lively space, now quiet and half-empty. Muriel, one of the last remaining staff members, welcomed me warmly and shared memories of the team’s work and impact. Her pride and uncertainty mirrored much of what I would come to see across the country: people full of determination and eager to keep moving forward despite challenges.
Côte d’Ivoire is the 3rd largest country in West Africa, just behind Nigeria and Ghana, and is heavily dependent on agricultural activities, which employ roughly two-thirds of its 32 million people. The country is the world’s largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans and a significant producer and exporter of coffee and palm oil.
From Abidjan, we drove three hours west to Divo, the heart of cocoa country and the home base for the Awalé project, implemented by TechnoServe in partnership with Cargill. “Awalé,” meaning “we are together” in local languages, is also the name of a traditional African board game that symbolizes connection and shared purpose. The program carries that same spirit by helping women and youth from cocoa-growing households diversify their incomes through new business ventures, building resilience for their families and communities.
Awalé partnered with the SOCABB and COOP-CA cooperatives, recognizing their central role in aggregating small producers to facilitate training, strengthen bargaining power, and create safer, more reliable opportunities. Through these partnerships, the project supports cooperative members and surrounding communities in building the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to succeed in their businesses. The training and coaching were tailored to the realities of cocoa farmers, women, and youth, ensuring that each group received support that matched their goals and challenges.
For cocoa farmers, sessions focused on:
- How to manage and plan the income they receive from cocoa
- How to calculate profits
- How to invest wisely
- How to explore new income streams outside of cocoa
For women and youth, training emphasized:
- Personal development and entrepreneurial confidence
- Basic business management, including how to calculate revenues, expenses, and profits
- Financial management, especially how to use profits to reach business goals
- How to access markets for their products
In addition, all participants received training on gender and household collaboration, helping families understand how men and women can work together to strengthen their homes.
These workshops were complemented by small-group and one-on-one coaching. Participants learned to keep simple records using tools such as cashbooks and savings trackers, and they had the chance to share experiences, discuss challenges, and build confidence through peer support. This approach helped participants put their learning into practice immediately, be it saving money through their Village Savings and Loan Associations, reinvesting in their small businesses, or finding new customers in local markets.
Women and Families Building New Paths Beyond Cocoa
Our first stop was Dario Didizo, a village surrounded by palm trees and cocoa farms. There, we met Bella Awa, who greeted us with a firm handshake and a shy smile. She led us to a group of women pressing palm nuts to extract oil, their laughter mixing with the rhythmic clatter of work. Through a chain of translations from Malinke to French, then to English, Bella shared her story.
She began as a small-scale farmer growing tomatoes, cassava, and beans. Then, after joining the Awalé project, she pursued the production of kabakourou, a traditional African soap, and began trading handmade brooms from Côte d’Ivoire to Mali. Today, she leads a savings group, mentoring other women who are following in her footsteps. “I never imagined I’d become someone others look up to,” she said.
Nearby, we met Ganou Diata, a determined entrepreneur and broom producer; Marie Noelle, a producer and seller of traditional medicine made from the bark of three trees; and Aya Slievie and her husband Kouadid Roselin, a couple who, in addition to growing cocoa and cassava, run a small shop selling essentials to their neighbors. Finally, we met Bittie Assetou, a talented seamstress whose work TechnoServe staff and visitors, including myself, have long admired. Even Will Warshauer, our CEO, once left with one of her creations.
The Work Behind the Stories
Gathering stories like these is both a privilege and a responsibility. Before each interview, our team—comprising a videographer, photographer, business advisor, and translator—takes the time to explain the process, review consent forms, and ensure that participants feel comfortable and in control of their stories and testimonials.
TechnoServe’s story collection approach is guided by the principles of dignified storytelling. This is a set of principles that promote transparency, respect, and, above all, the dignity of those who generously share their stories with us. We listen first, ask questions gently, and aim to portray people’s stories with honesty and care.
Between interviews, we capture footage of daily life, including children walking to school, farmers tending to their crops on their farms, and engaging in everyday activities such as fetching water and continuing with their lives. These unscripted and real moments often say more about resilience and community than words ever could.
At the end of the day, dusty and tired, we gather at a local eatery—Chez Janette—for Kedjenou, a delicious spicy chicken stew, and reflections on what we’ve witnessed. It’s in those moments that the day’s stories sink in. Each entrepreneur, each smile, each testimony is part of something much bigger, a network of people determined to shape their own future.
Reflections on a Journey
What I’ll carry with me from Côte d’Ivoire are the curious eyes of the children watching us film, a smile that breaks language barriers, and the steady determination of women identifying business opportunities and working hard to turn them into economic benefits for themselves and their families.
The Awalé project helped cocoa-growing families take control of their economic futures by expanding income sources, building savings, and strengthening the social fabric of their communities. It’s a reminder that meaningful change doesn’t come from handouts, but from partnerships rooted in trust, respect, and shared ambition.
As I headed home and let the experience sink in, I felt immense gratitude for the people who opened their homes and shared their stories, for the colleagues making this work possible, and for the chance to witness the power of entrepreneurship in action.
