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Cocoa production faces considerable challenges. About 90 to 95 % of cocoa is grown by smallholder farmers. Their average cultivation area is 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.
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 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 their cocoa supply chains. 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 a 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 stretching from the aforementioned pillars over traceability and certification, to climate-smart cocoa and beyond.
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 the company’s 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 around e.g. agroforestry and living income. Alignment with other GIZ programmes working in the cocoa sector in Côte d’Ivoire will be sought.
Overall objective
This coordinator role has the objective to support the company’s responsible cocoa sourcing manager in the management and verification of sustainability programmes implemented in the cocoa supply chain in West Africa by our partners 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 providing the following services:
Company sustainability program implementation and due diligence Organize regular meetings with local suppliers to monitor status and progress project implementation against agreed targets Collect and verify data from suppliers and ensure their traceability Conduct field trips to the company’s farmer groups and project activities in West Africa to check compliance Support independent audits to check compliance in the company’s cocoa supply chain Support the compliance with the company’s due diligence process Lead the coordination of company sustainability related investments “on the ground” Company sustainability program monitoring and communication activities Provide regular update reports to the company’s Responsible Cocoa Sourcing Manager Support the preparation of Responsible Sourcing material for meetings with internal and external stakeholders Support the collection of relevant content (e.g., pictures, videos, testimonials) for communication materials Support the organization of field trips with internal and external stakeholders Local stakeholder management Participate in relevant local meetings and events representing the company (e.g., WCF country huddles, CFI, and African Regional Standard) Manage relationships with key stakeholders at local level (e.g., WCF, ICI, Save the Children, Jacobs Foundation) Participate in formal activities with suppliers/local authorities such as the opening of a school constructed with company investments Innovation, risks, and opportunities Monitor innovation, risks, and opportunities in the West African cocoa sector Collect insights and info on relevant trends and best practices, and on risks and opportunities in the cocoa sector in West Africa Develop suggestions on how to improve operationalization of topics such as agroforestry, no deforestation, or living income Identify potential synergies with non-company existing or planned sustainable cocoa programsPre-requisite experience
University qualifications and/or training in agriculture / agroforestry / supply chain-related fields Fluency in French Good business English skills Good ability to build relationships with diverse actors and good communication skills Structured and independent way of working Ability to handle, organize, and report large amounts of data Minimum 5 years of experience in working with the cocoa supply chain and/or with cocoa companies in Côte d’Ivoire Existing network in the Ivorian / West African cocoa sector Willingness for frequent domestic and irregular regional travelDesirable qualifications
Experience in the implementation and / or evaluation of due diligence processes in the cocoa sector (or similar sectors such as coffee) Experience in monitoring and evaluation of sustainability related projects and programs in the cocoa sector (or similar sectors such as coffee) 2 years of experience with farmer or community development projects in Côte d’Ivoire Experience in Ghana and/or Nigeria Experience of reporting in a corporate context Expertise in either M&E, living income, agroforestry, or deforestation-free supply chainsThis job is suited to a full time position.
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