The Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative is a single set of principles for the responsible production of agricultural commodities.

It puts producer countries in Africa at the forefront of defining the principles for the sustainable development of cocoa, rubber, palm oil, coffee and other commodities, in a way that improves livelihoods and protects natural resources, including forests.

The Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative (ASCI) expands on the ‘Marrakesh Declaration for Sustainable Development of the Palm Oil Sector’ signed at CoP22 in 2016, which acknowledged the role of agriculture as a driver of deforestation, whilst emphasising the critical role of forests and forest conservation in addressing climate change.

The Marrakesh Declaration was implemented through the Africa Palm Oil Initiative. At CoP26 in 2021, ministers responsible for APOI agreed that the issues being addressed in palm oil were the same in other commodities, catalysing the transition to the Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative to ensure alignment of all sectors to drive positive outcomes for people, nature and climate.

The Declaration for the ASCI was signed by 10 countries at CoP27 in November 2022: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone.

Why forests matter

  • People

    Globally, forests provide jobs and livelihoods for 1.6 billion people, including indigenous people. The Congo Basin provides food, fresh water and shelter to more than 75 million people, including nearly 150 distinct ethnic groups.

  • Nature

    Forests provide three-quarters of the Earth’s fresh water and are home to 80% of Earth’s terrestrial species, including trees and animals.

  • Climate

    The ten countries within ASCI account for 25% of the world’s tropical forest and 75% of Africa’s forests.

    The Congo Basin alone can hold 30 billion tonnes of carbon, equivalent to three years of global fuel emissions. And its forests are essential for regional climate stability.

ASCI Declaration signing