The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Cameroon is recruiting a consultant to facilitate the establishment of a partnership between two cooperatives, agroindustries and financial institutions in the Littoral and South Region of
Cameroon

Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home the
Earth? Working with WWF could be the opportunity of a lifetime:
All around the world, people are waking up to the deepening crisis of nature loss. A growing
realization that nature is our life-support system. Nobody will be spared from the impacts of its
loss. Here at WWF, we are helping to tackle this enormous global challenge.
Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from
HR and finance to advocacy and conservation science. We welcome applications from anyone
who believes they can help us create a better future for people and wildlife.
What we do:
We are an independent conservation organization, striving to sustain the natural world for the
benefit of people and wildlife. From individuals and communities to businesses and government,
we are part of a growing coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path to recovery by
2030. Together, we seek to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife,
and make the way we produce and consume sustainably.
We are recruiting a consultant to facilitate the establishment of a partnership between two
cooperatives, agro-industries and financial institutions in the Littoral and South Region of
Cameroon.
Context and Justification
Cameroon boasts many biophysical assets favourable to agriculture, making it the breadbasket of
Central Africa. Forests cover some 22 million hectares, and the country's rich and abundant
biodiversity ranks second in the Congo Basin (SND30). Agriculture is the mainstay of the
Cameroonian economy. It relies on food and cash crops, including oil palm, one of the priority
sectors according to the Rural Sector Development Strategy (SDSR) 2020-2030. The country
currently produces 500,000 tonnes of palm oil, ranking 3rd in Africa and 12th worldwide. Based
on the objectives set out in the strategy, Cameroon aims to increase its production to 800,000
tonnes by 2030, thereby helping to offset the palm oil deficit, which is a yearly burden on its trade
The government is counting on agro-industries and non-industrial operators to achieve
this ambition.
There is no doubt that smallholders are important players in the oil palm sector as in Cameroon,
they occupy an estimated surface area of about 100,000 hectares against the estimated 58,860
hectares covered by the three large agro-industries with an estimated annual production of 60%
and 40% for the smallholders. Historically, smallholding schemes have been sponsored or
supported by the main oil palm growing and producing companies (CDC, PAMOL and
SOCAPALM). However, these schemes have not been fully functional for several reasons,
including the absence of an appropriate collaboration framework. The relationship between the
smallholders and the main oil palm-producing agro-industries has, in most cases, been on an
individual basis (initially promoted by the FONADER scheme of the 1970s, which required
smallholder farmers interested in benefiting from the scheme to sign individual contracts with the
main companies), which makes it difficult for the smallholders to optimize their benefits.
Today, there is renewed interest in revamping the role of smallholders in the oil palm sector. This
is well articulated in the national oil palm sector strategy under development. This process
embraces a broad perspective by considering social, environmental, and economic realities. From
this wide perspective, WWF Cameroon has been working to ensure the proper organization of
smallholders to facilitate collaboration with the leading oil palm companies in key landscapes.
Over the years, WWF and its partners have contributed to facilitating and restructuring about six
cooperatives in the palm oil sector, with two recently in Ngwei and Lokoundjé cooperatives.
Building on this work, WWF is, therefore, seeking an experienced consultant to facilitate
establishing a partnership between smallholder cooperatives (SCOOP COPPALMCAM and
SCOOCA2N cooperatives), agro-industries (SOCAPALM) and financial institutions (BICEC,
Afriland, La Regionale). This assignment shall build on previous field consultations carried out by
WWF around SOCAPALM to sensitize and raise the smallholders' awareness of the opportunities
for partnership between smallholders, agro-industries and financial institutions.
Objective
Facilitate the establishment of a mutually beneficial partnership between two oil palm smallholder
cooperatives in Ngwéi and Lokoundjé, SOCAPALM and a financial institution to promote
sustainable oil palm production, improve livelihoods, and ensure environmental sustainability.What is expected from the consultant?
In close collaboration with the Business and Industries Officer
• As certain the current relationship between the cooperatives, the agro-industry and
financial institutions.
• Facilitate initial consultation with the cooperative, agroindustry and the financial
institution to establish the expectations and priorities of the cooperatives and the
agroindustry in a partnership (defining and documenting expectations, Identifying areas of
mutual interest, and potential collaboration).
• Propose a partnership model that aligns with local laws, industry standards, and sustainable
development goals.
• Draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or partnership agreement.
• Organize and facilitate joint negotiation sessions between cooperatives, agro-industry and
financial institutions to finalize the partnership terms.
• Facilitate the partnership signing agreement between the cooperatives, the agro-industry
and financial institutions.
Deliverables
• Draft Partnership Framework, including the proposed partnership model and MoU or
partnership agreement.
• Comprehensive report detailing the consultancy process, outcomes, and recommendations
for the partnership’s sustainability.
Duration and Time Frame
The assignment is expected to start from January to March 2025. This will evolve based on the
timing of the different activities.
What do you need to apply?
Profile of Consultant
Skills and Qualifications
• Extensive experience of working with local communities and especially farmers’ groups
• Knowledge of group dynamics, governance of community groups
• Administrative and management knowledge.
Expertise and experience
• Master’s degree in social sciences, agronomist and/or any related disciplines• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in grassroots organization, community
development, and partnership development, particularly in the agricultural or agroindustrial sector.
• Proven knowledge of the oil palm sector and cooperative dynamics in Cameroon or similar
contexts.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience in drafting agreements and frameworks for collaboration.
• Excellent knowledge of English and French (both spoken and written)
• Knowledge of the local languages and socio-cultural setup of the project area in general is
an advantage
How to apply?
Interested candidates should submit the following in a single PDF file:
1. Technical Proposal:
o Comments demonstrating understanding of the assignment.
o A clear statement describing why the consultant is a suitable candidate.
o Detailed methodology and work plan.
o A description of the deliverables.
2. Financial Proposal:
o Including all costs associated with the assignment (consultancy fees, travel costs,
etc.), including rates (hourly and/or man-days).
3. Curriculum Vitae (CV):
o Highlighting relevant experience and qualifications.
o Outputs of at least two similar assignments.
4. References:
o Contact details of at least two professional references.
All offers should be submitted at the following address recruit-cam@wwfcam.org .
Please specify in the subject line of your application email: “Partnership agro industries and
financial institutions”
Deadline for applications: 03rd January 2025 at 5:00 pm
PLEASE Kindly note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.