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An Update on Earthworm Foundation’s Field Investigations with Socfin
An Update on Earthworm Foundation’s Field Investigations with Socfin
News May 30, 2024

An Update on Earthworm Foundation’s Field Investigations with Socfin

We continue to support our member, Socfin, in their commitment to sustainable and responsible management. As part of this effort, we have conducted field investigations to address environmental and social grievances against Socfin’s subsidiary in Sierra Leone, Socfin Agricultural Company (SAC), as well as their SAFACAM plantation in Cameroon.

Our team visited SAC from October 9-20, 2023 and SAFACAM from 11-16 December 2023. The primary objectives of these visits were to:

  • Thoroughly investigate the allegations against the operations.
  • Assess each site’s development of robust policies and systems to prevent similar grievances.
  • Provide actionable recommendations to address verified issues and enhance future practices.

Download the Investigation Reports

We invite you to read the reports of the investigations related to our field investigations at SAC and SAFACAM. These documents include our findings, progress assessments, and recommendations for future improvements.

Download the SAC Investigation Report

Download the SAFACAM Investigation Report (in English)

Télécharger le rapport d’investigation pour SAFACAM (en français)

Socfin will publish action plans for how they will respond to our findings.

Progress and Future Reports

Our investigations are part of a broader initiative that includes multiple phases:

  • Phase 1 (March to June 2023): Focused on Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC) in Liberia and SOCAPALM Dibombari in Cameroon.
  • Phase 2 (Starting August 2023): Expanded to include SAFACAM and SOCAPALM (Edéa, Mbongo & Mbambou) in Cameroon, LAC in Liberia, SAC in Sierra Leone, OKOMU in Nigeria, and Socfin-KCD and Coviphama in Cambodia.

The field visits for Phase 2 are nearly all complete, and we aim to publish our investigation reports over the summer. Once the reports are published, Socfin will publish action plans for each site investigated. This approach aligns with our joint commitment to transparency and continuous improvement.

For further information or inquiries, please contact our team at socfin.investigation@earthworm.org.

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