City: Yaounde Posted: 11-Aug-2025

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.

For our Country Office in Cameroon, we are looking for a dynamic and committed Commodity Lead.

Reports to: Conservation Director

**Location:**Yaoundé, Cameroon (with frequent travel in Cameroon and abroad)

**Duration:**Two (02) years renewable

Mission of the Department

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.

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”.

In 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, CANOPE, RESPONSE and potential other related cocoa 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 Cocoa value chain development and enhance community livelihood resilience.

In support of these objectives and working in the framework of the national conservation policy and closely with the Conservation Director, the Commodity Lead, will support Sustainable Cocoa value chains development. 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.

Specific activities under this assignment will include, but are not limited to:

1. Build and maintain an extensive knowledge base of market conditions and or requirements for international, local and specialty Cocoa market (s);
2. Map and engage responsible and fair-trading private business opportunities.
3. Negotiate, closing business deals and investments or offtake agreements between local farmers and potentially interested cocoa related businesses.
4. Contribute to the WWF Cameroon’ Agriculture strategy and development

The position will also provide technical support to the WWF cacao programs in Gabon and the Republic of Congo, as these unfold.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

In close collaboration with Jengi-Tridom field staff and other landscapes programs,

STRENGHTENING PRODUCERS’ CAPACITIES

1. Conduct start-up diagnostics to support partner cooperatives,

2. Build the organizational, institutional, and technical support system for partner cooperatives

3. Provide strategic advice on intensive and practical institutional capacity building for cooperatives to ensure their readiness prior to any partnership commitment

4. Build and maintain an extensive knowledge base on market conditions and requirements of international and local organic/specialty cocoa markets.

5. Ensure that all "pre-conditions" to facilitate sustainable market linkages and cooperative governance structures, including for stricter organic/specialty cocoa markets and other potential partners, have been properly put in place by field teams and that, where possible, relevant documentary evidence is visible and easily accessible electronically, e.g., farmer mapping, documentary evidence of legal registration documents, polygon mapping/traceability considerations, farmers opening bank accounts

   FACILITATING THE MARKETING OF SUSTAINABLE COCOA

6. Analyse and map the demand-side actors in the organic/specialty cocoa market(s), i.e., fair and responsible trade opportunities.

7. Identify the key actors involved in value chains and their structure and establish/maintain an up-to-date database of actors in the cocoa sector, including networking with key stakeholders (both companies and NGOs, service providers, etc.).

8. Develop a marketing strategy (define the type of target markets and products, quality level, legal requirements, necessary capacities, etc.) in collaboration with cocoa cooperatives and WWF partnership managers within the WWF network.

9. Develop a communications package to promote sustainable landscape products and recognize corporate support.

10. Support cocoa cooperatives in establishing long-term business relationships with international and local markets (trade events).

PROMOTING PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENT

1. Engage with businesses through workshops, trade fairs, and bilateral discussions to gain their support for developing sustainable farm-to-store supply chains.

2. Develop and maintain business relationships with suppliers and buyers of specialty organic cocoa.

3. Help strengthen the capacity of cooperatives to negotiate competitive prices and understand the relationship between bean quality and market prices.

4. Negotiate, conclude trade and investment agreements or facilitate Sales agreements (contracts) between local farmers and potentially interested parties

5. Encourage the public sector to promote sustainable cocoa and create a niche for the production and marketing of said cocoa

6. Create and maintain permanent and effective links with public sector stakeholders (Ministry of Commerce, Agriculture, Forestry and Environment and Territorial Administration)

7. Participate in strategic meetings and contribute to the development of national and sectoral policies on conservation and sustainable cocoa

8. Support focus groups and consultation between the private and public sectors, as well as between producers and the public sector, which is responsible for ensuring legality in terms of traceability, national and international cocoa trade, and partnership development.

   CONTRIBUTE TO WWF-CMR'S STRATEGIC THINKING AND TO FUNDING SEARCH AND PROGRAM COORDINATION

9. Preparation of feasibility studies and negotiation with potential donors (Barry Callebaut, EU, FAO, etc.)

10. Program coordination, team leadership, monitoring and coordination of periodic reporting

11. Restructuring of the implementation process, framing of indicators, and definition of appropriate methodologies for program management

12. Contribution to the preparation of the application and preparation of the team for IKI funding for the sub-regional project on forest protection and resilience to climate change

13. Contribute to the coordination of the WWF CMR Food & Agriculture team, the harmonization of activities, and the provision of strategic data

    CONTRIBUTE TO THE COACHING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF COLLEAGUES

14. Provide technical support to several staff members in the implementation of field activities.

15. Coach staff members in strategic and operational planning, team organization for the effective implementation of activities, and monitoring and evaluation related to planning. Draft reports and monitor completion rates

    CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND MEASUREMENT OF THE CONDITIONS FOR ACHIEVING THE LIVING INCOME OF SUPPORTED PRODUCERS

16. Conduct baseline studies on the living income of producers benefiting from our support,

17. Improve indicators for measuring impact achievement

18. Conduct end-of-support evaluations to measure changes in the income and living conditions of supported producers.

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 15 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.

Required Skills and Competencies

• 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
• Strong experience in Team and Program management. Good Leadership
• 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.

Values and Behaviours

• 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.
• Identifies and aligns with the core values of the WWF organization: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration.

Delivrables

1. 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.
2. Create a database of private sector companies in the organic/ specialty market (s) for potential commercial linkages
3. Private sector engagement leading to X number of offtake agreements / MOUs other commitments
   1. Organize X business and marketing events
   2. Deliver regular internal sessions on Private Sector engagement challenges and opportunities, including writing publications and communications for internal and external publishing.

Working 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.