(In) action is a choice: guidance on multi-stakeholder action towards a living income for all smallholder farming households in cocoa, coffee, tea and palm oil sectors

This guidance for multi-stakeholder action to close the living income gap of the poorest majority contributes to the literature on living income gaps for smallholder farming households. We concentrated on four agricultural commodity sectors — cocoa, coffee, palm oil, and tea — due to their significant economic impact, supporting around 189 million people globally, of whom about 25 million are smallholder farming households. Many of the smallholder farming households in these commodity sectors remain poor, despite decades of investments to lift them out of poverty. These sectors are also relatively well documented in terms of data compared to others. - The document provides a comprehensive analysis of the factors affecting income disparities, while offering practical recommendations for bridging these gaps, supported by case studies that illustrate successful interventions in diverse contexts. By also synthesizing existing research, highlighting emerging trends, and fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding living income disparities among smallholder farming households in the selected commodities, this document aims to serve as a valuable resource for policymakers (in all types of organisations including companies), researchers and organizations striving to address this critical socioeconomic issue.