by Janine A.J. Glas, April 2024. Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences.
Supervisors: Frank C.A. Veraart, Jan-Pieter P.H. Smits, Harry W. Lintsen & Henny A. Romijn.
Abstract:
With the introduction of the SDGs, the Dutch government became a frontrunner in altering the narrative of its international policy from development aid to trade, shifting towards a more inclusive focus on sustainable development rather than solely poverty reduction in the Global South. However, a complex interplay between trade dynamics and sustainable development exists, raising questions about the effectiveness of such policies. This thesis aims to explore how the sustainability policy implemented by the Dutch government, involving the combination of trade and aid, contributes to sustainable development and the achievement of the SDGs in entangled supply chains in the Global South. As the Netherlands is the largest importer of cocoa in the world, and Ghana the second-largest exporter, the cocoa supply chain between these countries provides a case study with strong entanglement to be researched. In this mixed-method research, Dutch government efforts are compared against the Monitor of Wellbeing and SDGs, alongside academic and grey literature from Ghana and West Africa, addressing a variety of issues in Ghana, Dutch policy, and the intricacies of the cocoa supply chain. Policies geared towards reducing child labor, deforestation and ensuring viable farmer incomes via trade through tracing, certification, and fair trade leave much to be desired, especially against the backdrop of inflation, national debt, corruption, and a deteriorating natural environment. The emphasis of policymakers on the downstream industry to promote sustainable development in the upstream cocoa production appears counterproductive, given that deforestation and child labor persist, while small cocoa farmers remain ensnared in a cycle of commodity dependence and poverty, ultimately facing extinction due to economies of scale.
Link to thesis: https://research.tue.nl/en/studentTheses/unwrapping-dutch-sustainable-development-cooperation-regarding-gh