On 8 October, under the MoMo4C programme, Tropenbos Indonesia organised the third Business Meeting Day in Mekar Raya Village in West Kalimantan. This year’s event featured the inauguration of the Empowered Village Programme facilities to support communities in their efforts to preserve ancestral heritage, while promoting sustainable livelihoods.

The Nyame tease Women Cocoa Cooperative in Sefwi Wiawso Juaboso Bia landscape is part of the waste-to-energy business case pilot of Tropenbos Ghana under MoMo4C. The women received a comprehensive two-day training on cocoa pod husk aggregation and semi-processing, using a metal kiln in a controlled environment. The training was facilitated by Zaacoal Ghana Ltd.

Northern Ghana has experienced severedrought at a time that is typically characterised by rain. Like much of this region, the Mole Ecological Landscape is vulnerable to climate change due to high levels of poverty and heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture for livelihoods, among other factors. A Rocha Ghana works with entrepreneurs, community associations and companies to improve climate resilience in this landscape.

WWF Cameroon is supporting cocoa farmers in Mintom in improving the quality, quantity and price point of their yields through MoMo4C. Through workshops and Technical Assistance, the SOCOCAM farmers collective can now implement best-practice growing, harvesting and post-harvest activities, with improved access to international buyers. These activities are helping to increasing productivity while preventing deforestation in at-risk Cameroonian rainforest.

In a groundbreaking move, as part of MoMo4C, Tropenbos Ghana has launched a Waste-to-Energy pilot project in the Sefwi Wiawso Juaboso Bia (SWJB) landscape with an all-women cocoa cooperative. By turning cocoa waste into a valuable resource, this model aims to create new avenues for income generation, livelihood diversification, and long-term sustainability in the landscape, particularly for women and young smallholder farmers.

Tropenbos Indonesia’s initiatives in the Simpang Dua subdistrict are yielding promising outcomes for indigenous farmers. Through strategic training and collaboration, farmers are enhancing the quality of their rubber produce, resulting in increased remuneration. Additionally, as part of MoMo4C, the careful management of their agroforests is fostering diversified income streams, which is expected to act as a safeguard for farmers during periods of low rubber prices.