Consultant, Project Director Italian Vision Sustainable Cocoa Value Chain

Position: (22007659) Consultant, Project Director of The Italian Vision for a Sustainable Cocoa Value Chain
) Consultant, Project Director of The Italian Vision for a Sustainable Cocoa Value Chain
(Temporary assignment, 12 months – Rome, Italy)

The Italian Vision for a Sustainable Cocoa Value Chain

An Initiative promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) under the Mattei Plan for Africa

The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) deliver research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. The Alliance works with local, national, and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, and with the public and private sectors.

The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services. With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis.

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

The Italian Vision for a Sustainable Cocoa Value Chain is a flagship, multi-country initiative under development promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), within the context of the Mattei Plan for Africa, and informed by relevant EU policy orientations, including the Global Gateway, as well as international cocoa sustainability frameworks.

The Initiative aims to transform cocoa into a driver of climate resilience, inclusive economic growth, and social equity across West and Central Africa, while strengthening Italy’s leadership in global cocoa sustainability. The Initiative is coordinated by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, in partnership with Save the Children Italy and Ferrero Group, and will lead to the establishment of the Italian Sustainable Cocoa Platform (ISCP) as a long-term public–private partnership.

Reporting directly to the Steering Committee, the Consultant will have overall responsibility for the strategic, technical, and operational leadership of the Initiative. The role will require extensive international travel and will lead coordination across partners, manage the operational team, oversee implementation of the inception phase, and ensure delivery of agreed outputs in line with MAECI priorities, donor frameworks, and partner commitments.

Responsibilities
Leadership, Representation, and Strategic Direction
Scope and Responsibilities

Provide overall strategic leadership and vision for the Initiative, ensuring full coherence with MAECI priorities, the Mattei Plan for Africa, and relevant EU and global sustainability frameworks.

Serve as the primary focal point for high-level governance and decision-making bodies, including the Steering Committee, preparing strategic briefings, progress updates, and decision documents.

Represent the Initiative in high-level meetings, international fora, and public events, in close coordination with MAECI, partner organizations, and diplomatic counterparts.

Strengthen and manage strategic partnerships with producing-country governments, cocoa institutions, civil society, research bodies, private-sector actors, and international platforms.

Lead the…