The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Cameroon is looking for a Senior Expert Cocoa

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. And that 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 business 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 sustainable. WWF Network has moved to the development and the
implementation of 9 Practices with Global Goals to be achieved.
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with
over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to
stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in
harmony with nature, by: conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable
natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
For our Country Office in Cameroon, we are looking for a dynamic and committed Senior Expert Cocoa .
Reports to: Conservation Manager
Location: Yaounde, with frequent travel (in Cameroon and abroad)
Duration: An initial two (02) years’ contract to be renewed depending on funding availability
The mission of the department
The Tri-National Dja-Odzala-Minkebe (TRIDOM) Landscape covers nearly 10% of the Congo Basin
rainforests (178,000 km²) in Cameroon, Gabon, and Congo-Brazzaville, and currently includes 11
protected areas (in total 42,319 km² or 24% of TRIDOM). This Landscape is one of the priority Landscapes
for WWF because it holds the largest elephant population in the Congo Basin (estimated at up to 40,000,
though rapidly declining) and harbors most of the biodiversity typically found in central Africa’s
rainforests, including both western gorillas and central chimpanzees (estimated at up to 140,000).
TRIDOM has 250,000 inhabitants (typically 1 inh/km² average density) including an estimated 10,000 Baka
indigenous people. With a forest cover of 97% and a deforestation rate of 0.2% per decennium (1990-
2010) it is one of the most intact forest blocks in the Congo Basin. TRIDOM has low road density and few
easily navigable rivers. However, the development of a growing logging road network and public road
improvement have led to many emerging threats such as artisanal mining, palm oil and cocoa expansion,
logging, and ivory poaching.
The WWF 2030 Vision for the TRIDOM transboundary tropical forest landscape is “to provide a safe home
to healthy populations of forest elephants and great apes and a wealth of biodiversity, supported by
empowered local communities while contributing to the sustainable economic development aspirations
of Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of Congo”.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Cameroon is looking for a Senior Expert CocoaIn Cameroon, the cocoa sector plays a vital role for job and wealth creation for local communities, and
for forest protection and ecosystem conservation. To increase cocoa production sustainably, protect
forested areas, and to help farmers find a sustainable livelihood, WWF is supporting the Roadmap to
Deforestation-free Cocoa.
WWF is focused on working with communities within its priority landscapes to promote sustainable
natural resource use. This includes the promotion of deforestation-free commodity production as a
means of increasing income and reducing pressure on forest resources. The objective of this position is to
sustainably improve the living and working conditions and opportunities for cocoa smallholder producers
in TRIDOM, notably for indigenous people and women by establishing a Congo Basin sustainable
production model combined with creating market access that achieves zero conversion of natural forests
and corridors related to cocoa production in TRIDOM; and to improve traceability and accountability in
the cocoa value chain.
Successful reduction of deforestation requires landscape level interventions that combine private sector
action along agricultural supply chains with public sector planning and integration of producers.
Companies need to be involved to ensure long-term sustainable supply chains. WWF-Cameroon
currently is looking for an expert to support cooperative capacities “to be ready for market”, to further
develop the (inter)national market links and to connect cooperatives with buyers of responsible cacao.
Major Functions
WWF Cameroon implements the MOMO4C and GCLP programs in TRIDOM with the main objectives:
to strengthen capacity farmers and cooperatives, with a focus on Cocoa and NTFP (s); improve
farmers access to responsible/Fair trade markets and improve access to private sector finance/
investment.
The ultimate goal of WWF's work is to strengthen the Cocoa (and NTFP) value chain development and
enhance community livelihood resilience.
In support of these objectives, and working closely with the WWF Cameroon Conservation Manager,
the Senior Cocoa Expert, will support business development and private sector engagement. The
position will help establish and nurture commercial business linkages for WWF supported cocoa
producers that can attract private, as well as Public, investment further unlocking potential and
benefits for local communities.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Specific activities under this assignment, will include, but are not limited to:
(i) Build and maintain an extensive knowledge base of market conditions and or requirements
for international, local and specialty Cocoa (NTFP) market (s);
(ii) Map and engage responsible and fair trading private business opportunities;
(iii) Negotiate, closing of business deals and investments or offtake agreements between local
farmers and potentially interested cocoa related businesses.
The position will also provide technical support to the WWF cacao programs in Gabon and the
Republic of Congo, as these unfold.
Activities:
In close collaboration with Jengi-Tridom field staff,
1. Building capacity of farmersIn close coordination with the Conservation Manager further support efforts to develop the supply
(farmers) side for organic/ specialty market(s).
 Provide strategic advice on intensive and hands-on institutional capacity building for
cooperatives ensuring their readiness before any partnership engagements
 Build and maintain an extensive knowledge base of market conditions and or requirements
for international, local organic/ specialty Cocoa (NTFP) market (s);
 Ensure any "pre-requisites" to facilitate lasting commercial linkages and coop governance
structures, including for more stringent organic/ specialty market (s) and other potential
partners have been adequately put in place by field teams, and that where possible, relevant
documentary evidence is visible and easily accessible electronically where possible e.g.
farmer mappings, documentary evidence of legal registration documents, polygon mapping/
traceability considerations, farmers opening bank accounts etc.
2. Business Development: Commercialization of sustainable cocoa
The Senior Cocoa Business expert will be tasked to support the commercialization of Cocoa and
NTFPs products on the local and international markets, with particular focus on organic/ specialty
market (s).
 Further analyze and map the demand side actors in the organic/ specialty cocoa market (s)
i.e. fair trade and responsible business opportunities
 Identify the main actors which are playing a role in the value chains and their structuration
and establish and keep an updated database of actors in the cacao sector including setting up
network with important stakeholders (both business and NGOs, service providers, etc.)
relevant for TRIDOM;
 Develop a marketing strategy (defining type of targeted markets and products, level of
quality, legal requirements, needed capacities…) in collaboration with cocoa cooperatives and
WWF partnership managers in the WWF Network;
 Develop communication package to promote the sustainable landscape products and to
recognize companies’ support;
 Support cocoa cooperatives to establish long term business relations to international and
local markets (Business events).
3. Private sector engagement: Relationship management
 Contact companies through company workshops, trade fairs and bilateral discussions to gain
their support for the development of sustainable supply chains: from the farm to the shop;
Develop and nurture commercial relationships with suppliers and buyers of organic specialty
cocoa
 Help build the capacity of cooperatives to negotiate for competitive prices and elaborating the
relationship between quality of beans and market prices;
 Negotiate, closing of business deals and investments or facilitate offtake agreements
(contracting) between local farmers and potentially interested parties.
Profile:
Required Qualifications:
You have a strong technical grasp of commodities trade and supply chain management. Ability to develop
and/or structure business and impact investment plans that enables you to facilitate and nurture
commercial investment (s) and market linkages between international and local private businesses with
local farming communities.
Relevant academic qualifications (university level) in Agriculture, Economics, Business, or related
discipline;At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in dealing with commodities, including cocoa and
sustainability
Experience working on Cocoa/ NTFPs or related within a Private sector context
In-depth knowledge of the cocoa and chocolate industry, from both a demand and supply, marketing and
regulation perspectives e.g. understanding of importance of traceability
Good understanding of key sustainability issues of the cocoa sector including on standards and
certification;
Proven experience in marketing and developing communication materials aimed at a private sector
audience (ability to present information in a way that will resonate and appeal to this specific audience).
Experience in managing client relationships, including engaging and negotiating with international or
foreign companies, ideally across a number of different geographies
Proven ability and experience to engage corporates at national or sub-regional levels;
Familiarity with the WWF Network and/or other international NGOs is an advantage.
Required Skills and Competencies:
 Capacity to work effectively in teams
 Effective communicator with fluency in English & French
 Adherence to WWF’s values, which are: Courage, integrity, respect, collaboration
 Excellent people, diplomacy, and conflict resolution skills to handle complex and highly
sensitive multi-stakeholder situations;
 Knowledge of cutting-edge research on the development of deforestation free agriculture;
 Strong training and coaching skills;
 Excellent written and oral communication skills;
 Quick thinking; capability of reacting under pressure.
WWF’s Values & Behaviors:
 Able to demonstrate WWF behaviors in ways of working: strive for impact, listen deeply,
collaborate openly and innovate fearlessly.
 Aligns and identifies with the core values of the WWF organization: Courage, Integrity, Respect and
Collaboration.
Deliverables:
 Develop and maintain a robust list of "pre requisites" to be in place to facilitate lasting
commercial linkages, including for more stringent organic/ specialty market (s) and other
potential partners have been put in place by field teams e.g. governance capacity of
cooperatives have been addressed, documentary evidence of legal registration documents,
polygon mapping/ traceability considerations, farmers opening bank accounts etc.
 Create a data base of private sector companies in the organic/ specialty market (s) for
potential commercial linkages
 Private sector engagement leading to X number of offtake agreements / MOUs other
commitments
- Organise X business and marketing events
- Deliver regular internal sessions on Private Sector engagement challenges and opportunities,
including writing publications and communications for internal and external publishingWorking Relationships:
 Internal
Interacts with WWF staff on a daily basis; Co-ordinates and interacts with Regional Office for Africa,
WWF-International, Practices and other WWF Network staff as appropriate.
 External
Interacts as required with Partner NGOs, private sector and donors .
This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are
anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to
organizational needs.
How to apply:
Apply through the link:
https://cameroon.panda.org/apply_to_a_job/apply_for_a_job/
Deadline for applications: 12th November 2023.
Thank you in advance for your interest in this position. Please note that only candidates under serious
consideration will be contacted for follow up.
WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce.