Fairtrade Africa (FTA) Job for Regional Cocoa Manager

Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is the umbrella network organisation representing Fairtrade certified producers and workers in Africa. It has four (4) regional networks – Eastern & Central Africa; Southern Africa; Western Africa; and the Middle East and North Africa. Established in 2005, FTA aims to effectively represent producers and workers within the International Fairtrade system and provide services to them that contribute to the improvement of their livelihoods. The FTA Board directs policy and strategic development of the organisation.

Since 2012 FTA has taken a much bigger role in delivering services to producers and workers, resulting in more than doubling the size of its budget responsibility. The resultant larger regional budgets and a greater income from the global Fairtrade system has increased requirements to report and track expenditure to the Fairtrade system and our partners, in order to ensure compliance against various agreements.

Job Description

• TEAM: Programmes
• LOCATION: Accra, Ghana
• REPORTING LINES:
  • Post holder reports to: Head of Region – Western Africa Network
  • Staff reporting to this post: None
• SALARY RANGE : USD 2,500 – 3,960

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY: Yes

FAIRTRADE AFRICA PURPOSE

To improve the socio-economic conditions of African producers through increased access to better trading conditions.

JOB PURPOSE AND REPORTING

Reporting to the Head of Region; Western Africa Network, the post holder will be required to coordinate Fairtrade cocoa strategy development and implementation in West Africa working with the various country teams in the West African sub-region. The immediate focus of this role will be to coordinate the effective achievement of the current market demand for Fairtrade cocoa; while leading cocoa strategy development for the region to increase volume and impact on producers in the medium and long term.

Key Tasks

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the following tasks are fulfilled:

• Implement the West Africa Cocoa program (WACP), including oversight of relevant producer support services provided by country teams. Ensure alignment of the program to Fairtrade Africa’s strategies and Fairtrade’s global cocoa strategies.
• Ensure delivery of global account objectives in origin, working with Fairtrade Producer Organisations and country teams as appropriate and coordinating effectively with market-facing colleagues in the global Fairtrade system under the guidance of the Cocoa Category Director.
• Strengthen the Fairtrade Africa cocoa network and cocoa consultative committee, and collaborate with country networks where relevant. Ensure mechanisms are in place for knowledge transfer and consultation, allowing for producer networks and their representatives to engage in strategic planning processes and in strategic fora.
• Ensure origin government engagement strategies are in place and executed, working with country teams and producer networks for relevant policy and advocacy interventions.
• Ensure senior leadership within Fairtrade Africa and the Fairtrade system are informed and involved as appropriate.
• Lead cocoa strategy development within West Africa. Collaborate with the Cocoa
• Category Director on developing Fairtrade’s global cocoa strategy.
• Collaborate with country teams in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to understand potential production, business capacity, and development priorities of Fairtrade Producer Organisations across West Africa, and ensuring this analysis informs commercial planning and WACP planning
• Identify the supply need (linked with market opportunity and existing capacity) for new Producer Organisations to enter the Fairtrade system. Work with country teams to ensure new applicants are well-advised on market potential. Ensure coordination and communication with FLO-CERT as applicable.
• Support the development of project proposals and projects to ensure adequate financing for the WACP within the parameters of Fairtrade cocoa strategy
• Support the development of partnerships and working relationships with implementing partners (NGOs, government agencies, or private companies) needed to ensure the delivery of the West Africa Cocoa Program
• Build strategic/senior relationships with commercial partners (cocoa traders, processors and brands) in region, collaborating with Fairtrade market colleagues in the North, to facilitate effective partnerships with Fairtrade
• Establish and be accountable for rigorous monitoring of programme performance, including KPIs and milestones as agreed with line manager.
• Support monitoring and evaluation systems and activities within Fairtrade Africa and the global Fairtrade system. Collaborate with relevant colleagues to ensure reporting commitments to commercial partners are met.
• Communicate programme progress and performance to all key stakeholders.. Ensuring case studies, producer profiles, best practices, and other impact materials are made available both internally and externally as appropriate.
• Provide cocoa-specific expertise and guidance to other functions within Fairtrade Africa
• Represent Fairtrade in the African cocoa sector and at relevant conferences

Required Skills or Experience

Experience

• Graduate Degree in Agricultural Science/ Development Studies/ Economics, Rural Development, Social Sciences or related studies or equivalent by experience
• At least 5+ years with working on value chains market access issues in an INGO setting
• At least 3years of Programme development and management experience
• Experience of commodity/cocoa strategy development to increase both sales and developmental impact for producers
• Proven experience of developing strategies for capacity improvement programmes
• Experience of developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems
• Extensive experience in building and maintaining effective working relationship(s) with external partners; including commercial, NGO and government organisations on a global scale
• Proven experience of project cycle management, ensuring delivery on key programme outputs
• Experience of budget planning, implementation and monitoring.
• Familiarity and understanding of West Africa region

Skills

• Excellent conceptual and analytical skills and effective negotiator with the ability to positively influence project partners.
• Ability to negotiate with, and influence senior level counterparts in commercial, NGO and government organisations
• Commitment to and understanding of Fairtrade values and principles.
• Demonstrated ability to understand complexities of cocoa producer support and market access issues and successfully develop and implement strategies to increase opportunities for West African producers.
• Knowledge and working experience in the cocoa supply chains across West Africa
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently
• Competence in relevant IT packages eg. MS Office

Others

• Excellent verbal and written communication in French and English
• Commitment to Fairtrade and ethical standards
• Clear and demonstrable commitment to contribute to livelihoods improvement of cocoa farmers
• Able to take the initiative to drive work forward and to lead
• Ability to motivate others and to recruit their support