Solidaridad West Africa Recruiting Project Officer (Ghana)

Solidaridad West Africa is a Ghana-based, not-for-profit organization that supports the sustainable development of farmers and production systems in West Africa, through the enhancement of value chains of fresh and processed agricultural commodities.

Our activities are focused on the fresh fruit, oil palm, cotton and cocoa sectors. As the West African representative within Solidaridad’s international network (www.solidaridad.nl), we are part of a growing global movement advocating and supporting sustainable and responsible production and trade.

Job Description

Vacancy Announcement: Project Officer (Ghana Office)

Background information
West Africa Fair Fruit is a Ghana-based, not-for-profit organization that supports the sustainable development of farmers and production systems in West Africa, through the enhancement of value chains of fresh and processed agricultural commodities.

Our activities are focused on cocoa, oil palm, cotton and other sectors. As the West African expertise centre within the Solidaridad international network (www.solidaridad.nl), we are part of a growing global movement advocating and supporting sustainable and responsible production and trade. We are seeking suitably qualified candidates to fill the positions below in Ghana.

This position provides an opportunity to be part of the development of an international, agricultural sustainability and mainstream certification standards for sustainable cocoa, and to contribute to developing human capacity within the West African cocoa sector to implement cocoa sustainability interventions, as a tool for improving the income and livelihoods of West African cocoa farmers and their families.

Position: Project Officer (Ghana Office)
Reports to: Ghana Cocoa Programme Manager

Role description
As the WAFF cocoa programme continues to expand in Ghana and across the West Africa region, the Project Officers will take responsibility for ensuring that WAFF continues to deliver a professional service to (public and private) partners as well as farmer groups, supporting them to prepare for voluntary certification standards.

In particular, candidates will provide expert advice on how to prepare for cocoa certification activities and will underpin the cocoa programme’s training activities.
Candidates should be flexible to travel across the cocoa producing areas in Ghana (and sometimes to West African Countries).

Responsibilities

Main Activities

• providing technical guidance for programme partners related to a range of voluntary certification standards;
• conducting gap analyses and pre-audit assessments to help partners gauge their current level of compliance;
• co-developing certification action plans;
• supporting the development of strong internal management systems (IMS) and IMS teams;
• training and providing technical support/advice to Licensed Buying Companies, Manufacturing Companies, government agencies, NGOs and other cocoa sector stakeholders, focusing on the activities and processes required to achieve certification against voluntary standards;
• coaching and supporting WAFF’s partners to identify training/capacity needs, and suggesting solutions;
• co-developing and maintaining a library of suitable adult training materials, for different audiences;
• delivering training of trainers and to help build understanding and human capacity around voluntary certification standards;
• Leading and managing farmer organization development projects
• Liaising between project implementing partners and stakeholders through planning and reporting
• contributing to a broader strategy to build overall capacity within West Africa on certification issues
• Other tasks, as required, to support the cocoa programme team and WAFF in general to achieve set objectives.

Required Skills or Experience

• 1st Degree in Agricultural Science, Development Studies or related field
• At least 3 years continuous working experience (preferably in farmer training, farmer organization development, capacity building of partners and project management)
• Very good knowledge in cocoa certification, agricultural and environmental sustainability will be added advantage
• Very good knowledge in Ghana’s cocoa sector and current trends in the industryM

How To Apply

If you are interested in this position and meet the above criteria, please submit a cover letter and your Curriculum Vitae to the WAFF Administrator:

by 24th of August 2012.

• ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.
• *PLEASE INDICATE CLEARLY IN THE SUBJECT LINE THAT YOU ARE APPLYING FOR A PROJECT OFFICER POSITION.