Redefining Gender Roles in Cocoa Farming through the Gender Action Learning System (GALS)

Photo credit: Koltiva

In Aceh, women are central to cocoa production but still encounter structural barriers rooted in tradition, land inheritance, and technology systems that often overlook their roles and contributions. Despite their critical involvement in farm labor, post-harvest handling, and household resilience, women are still excluded from decision-making spaces. 

Through TRANSFORM, KOLTIVA is implementing the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) to address this imbalance. GALS is a participatory methodology that equips women and men to collaboratively analyze household dynamics, define their goals, and design inclusive solutions. Using tools like the Production Tree, Family Tree, and Dream Journey, the training creates a shared foundation for decision-making and resource planning. 

By mid-2025, 107 producers across 21 villages have participated in GALS sessions, with 16 percent of participants or around 39 people being women. By the end of the program, 500 households (half of them women-led) will benefit from this approach. The results are already visible: 73 percent of participating households report practicing joint decision-making, marking a shift toward more inclusive and resilient cocoa farming systems. 

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