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Regional Coordinator (m/f/d) for Cocoa in West Africa Bookmark jobadShare jobad

Our model for success is a better life for everyone and purposeful tasks for our employees. For more than 50 years, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), as a company of the German Federal Government, has been supporting the implementation of development policy goals worldwide. Together with partner organisations in 120 countries, we are involved in a diverse range of projects. If you want to make a difference in the world and develop yourself in the process, you've come to the right place.

Job description

Cocoa production faces considerable challenges. About 90 to 95 % of cocoa is grown by smallholder farmers on an average cultivation area of two to five hectares. Especially in West Africa, the main cocoa growing region, the working and living conditions of cocoa farmers and their families are difficult and the incomes of most cocoa farming families are below the internationally defined poverty line. Poverty is thus a major challenge in the cocoa sector. Other challenges are child labour, the loss of forest areas due to cocoa cultivation, and respect for human rights along the supply chain.

The Regional Coordinator will support an international food company and major buyer of cocoa (“Company”) in the management and verification of supply chain sustainability. Considering the aforementioned challenges, the company, which sources cocoa principally from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, has implemented a range of measures to help bring about positive change across its cocoa supply chain. Among these measures is the application of a minimum due diligence to all Tier 1 suppliers. Additionally, support is provided to farmers and communities through an integrated programme closely aligned with the pillars defined by the World Cocoa Foundation’s Pathway Strategy (namely (i) improving farmers’ livelihoods, (ii) protecting children’s rights, and (iii) safeguarding natural capital). A range of supply chain stakeholders as well as other partners – including direct suppliers, farmer groups, and NGOs – are heavily involved in reaching company goals.

A sound and comprehensive system for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of these wide-ranging sustainability efforts is paramount to ensure the effectiveness of implemented programmes and initiatives. To strengthen existing approaches for M&E, the company commissioned GIZ to support in the management and verification of sustainability programs implemented in company cocoa supply chain in West Africa (mainly Côte d’Ivoire) by company partners and suppliers. The coordinator’s role also entails ensuring compliance with due diligence, identifying synergies with other organization’s sustainable cocoa activities, and follow evolving best practices in relevant areas.

Your tasks

Overall objective

This coordinator role has the objective to support the Company’s responsible cocoa sourcing manager in the management and verification of the sustainability programme implemented in the cocoa supply chain in West Africa and to ensure compliance with due diligence. The coordinator will be based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The position’s main scope will be on activities in Côte d’Ivoire but will also include Ghana and potentially Nigeria and Cameroon.

The coordinator is responsible for the following:

Your profile

Pre-requisite experience

Desirable qualifications

Notes

This job is suited to a full or a part-time (80%) position.

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