<div class="show-more-less-html__markup show-more-less-html__markup--clamp-after-5 relative overflow-hidden"> <p><strong>The Organization </strong></p><p><br/></p><p>The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)</p><p>delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform</p><p>food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition,</p><p>climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. With novel partnerships, the</p><p>Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and</p><p>landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis.</p><p><br/></p><p>The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong> Background </strong></p><p><br/></p><p>The Alliance is seeking a Junior Professional Officer (JPO) to support the design and</p><p>implementation of the “The Italian Vision for Sustainable Cocoa Initiative” led by the Italian</p><p>Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) alongside other strategic</p><p>initiatives.</p><p>The initiative aims to position cocoa as a driver of climate resilience, economic opportunity, and</p><p>social equity across key producing countries. It is implemented in partnership with Save the</p><p>Children Italy and Ferrero, and aligns with European national initiatives for sustainable cocoa</p><p>organization (ISCOs), as well as global platforms such as the Cocoa and Forests Initiative and the</p><p>EU Sustainable Cocoa Initiative (TEI).</p><p>The JPO will be embedded within the Ghana Country Office and will primarily support technical</p><p>project design and implementation. The JPO will work closely with project partners and national,</p><p>regional cocoa institutions, civil society and private sector partners. The position will support both</p><p>inception phases of initiatives and the operationalization of early interventions on the ground.</p><p>The position is particularly suited to a motivated professional with a strong agronomic or</p><p>agricultural systems background who seeks to grow within international agricultural research for</p><p>development and applied project implementation. The position also requires travel within the</p><p>country, region and internationally.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>Responsibilities </strong></p><p>Under the supervision of the designated supervisors, the JPO will contribute to the delivery of</p><p>partnership and coordination activities linked to sustainable cocoa value chains. The JPO will</p><p>perform the following duties:</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>Project Design, Coordination and Implementation Support </strong></p><p>• Contribute to the development and planning of project activities ensuring they are well-</p><p>structured and aligned with overall goals.</p><p>• Provide operational support to effective execution of partnership-related project activities,</p><p>ensuring timely progress and communication between teams.</p><p>• Support implementation of frameworks to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of</p><p>partnerships commitments, implementation milestones, and project activities.</p><p>• Oversee field research and analyse data to support the development of sustainable value</p><p>chains, focusing on sustainable intensification through improving soil fertility, managing</p><p>pests and diseases, increasing resilience to shocks and biodiversity.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>Stakeholder Engagement </strong></p><p>• Support the engagement with local farmers, cooperatives, government agencies, and</p><p>private sector partners to ensure the project.</p><p>• Contribute technical inputs to coordination meetings, workshops, and consultations</p><p>relevant to project execution.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>Knowledge Management and Reporting</strong></p><p>• Maintain stakeholder databases and partnership tracking tools to ensure timely, inclusive</p><p>communication and sharing of information.</p><p>• Prepare comprehensive reports, partnership briefs, and documentation of lessons learned.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>Requirements (Qualifications and Experience) </strong></p><p>• Advanced university degree in International Development, Agricultural Sciences,</p><p>Economics, Environmental Science, Sustainable Development, or a related field.</p><p>• Experience in international development cooperation, partnerships, value chain</p><p>development, or sustainability-related programmes.</p><p>• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work in multicultural</p><p>environments.</p><p>• Fluency in English and Italian is required; knowledge of French is an asset.</p><p>• Desirable: Statistical data analysis abilities will be helpful.; Familiarity with project cycle</p><p>management and donor-funded programmes.; Strong analytical, synthesis, and writing</p><p>skills.; Demonstrated interest in sustainability, agricultural value chains, and inclusive</p><p>development is considered an asset.</p><p>• Desirable: Experience working with or coordinating multi-stakeholder partnerships</p><p>involving public institutions, NGOs, research organizations, and/or the private sector,</p><p>particularly in West Africa and/or in agriculture, cocoa, or agri-food systems, is highly</p><p>desirable.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>Expected Outputs </strong></p><p><strong>Year 1: </strong></p><p>• Technical inputs to project design, baseline studies, and feasibility assessments.</p><p>• Support the launch and early implementation of priority field interventions.</p><p>• Contribution to monitoring frameworks and technical progress reporting.</p><p>• Inputs to technical documentation and communication materials.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong>Year 2: </strong></p><p>• Technical coordination of pilot projects.</p><p>• Analytical reporting on field performance and results.</p><p>• Contribution to refinement of interventions based on lessons learned.</p><p>• Documentation of best practices and technical knowledge products.</p><p><br/></p><p><strong> Expected Benefits for Incumbent </strong></p><p><br/></p><p>The JPO will develop his/her skills in partnership building and program design and will be</p><p>integrated in the work of an international research organization. As part of the JPO programme,</p><p>the incumbent will benefit from structured guidance provided by the supervisors, and exposure to</p><p>scientists specialized in diverse aspects of sustainable cacao management. The role is dynamic and</p><p>the JPO will be able to take full advantage of learning opportunities offered by the organization as</p><p>well as external learning and training within the area of responsibility, including but not limited to:</p><p><br/></p><p>• Professional Development: Gain hands-on experience in value chain development and</p><p>sustainable agriculture within an international research organization.</p><p>• Networking Opportunities: Build connections with a wide range of stakeholders, including</p><p>local communities, government agencies, NGOs, and private sector partners.</p><p>• Skill Enhancement: Enhance technical, analytical, and project management skills through</p><p>diverse and challenging assignments.</p><p>• Career Growth: Opportunity to contribute to high-impact projects, supporting professional</p><p>growth and career advancement in the field of sustainable development.</p> </div>