Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is the umbrella network organization representing Fairtrade certified producers and workers in Africa. It has four (4) regional networks – Eastern Africa; Southern Africa; West Africa; and Middle East and North Africa. Established in 2005, FTA aims to effectively represent producers and workers within the International Fairtrade System and provide services to them that contribute to the improvement of their livelihoods. The FTA Board directs policy and strategic development of the organization.

FTA Secretariat is located in Nairobi where the operations are in the hands of the FTA Senior Leadership Team (FTA-SLT). In enabling the members to have a strong voice in the governance, strategy and the overall direction of the Fairtrade movement in Africa, the FTA-SLT has the responsibility for directing and managing all FTA resources including employees. The FTA-SLT has the overall responsibility of strategy development and operational implementation. The Finance and Administration Director (FAD) is expected to be an active member of this team.

FAIRTRADE AFRICA PURPOSE

To improve the socio-economic conditions of African producers through increased access to better trading conditions.

• TEAM: Fairtrade-Mondelez project, Fairtrade Africa – West Africa Network (FTA-WAN)
• LOCATION: Accra
• REPORTING LINES: Project Manager
• Staff reporting to this post:  NA

ABOUT THE FAIRTRADE – MONDELEZ PROJECT

• Fairtrade and Cadbury have been working together in Ghana since 2009 under the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership (CCP). In 2012, CCP was continued by Mondel?z international after it was created from Kraft Foods but changed the name of the sustainability programme to Cocoa Life. The Cocoa Life programme focuses on 3 areas: Sustainable Cocoa Farming Businesses, Empowered Cocoa Communities and Conserved and Restored Forests. In 2016, the Cocoa Life – Fairtrade partnership was created, moving “beyond sourcing,” based on partnership principles. In 2020, the Climate Change and Organisational Strengthening Programme (CCOSP) was launched, with the aim to support the cocoa farmers in the Mondel?z Ghana Cocoa Life programme to become more resilient against changing climate and to ensure ongoing viability of the Cocoa Life unions.

• With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme was awarded additional funding by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) as part of the Vulnerable Supply Chain Facility, and hence has expanded to include two additional aims – to maintain the incomes of farmers through the pandemic, and create awareness on safe practices. This will be achieved through the launch of a flexible grant facility to provide start-up capital on climate-smart new business models, and help farmers maintain their cocoa harvest through the 20-21 season. The programme will also launch a communications strategy for each of the unions to ensure their members and key cocoa supply chain actors are enacting safe COVID practices.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

• The COVID Communications Coordinator will be responsible for developing a communications strategy for each union to ensure their members, and key cocoa supply chain actors they interact with (such as procurement officers, transporters, extension officers, agri-input providers etc.) are informed about COVID-19 safe practices. This will be informed by a gap analysis, looking at existing practices, other support being provided, materials and support from other sources available to union members.
• The COVID Communications Coordinator will conduct the gap analysis and develop a strategy for the unions to identify the target audiences, understand their needs and where these are not being met, develop messages and materials appropriate to their needs and create, design and print the necessary materials – taking ownership of the communications budget for this purpose. The COVID Communications Coordinator will work with union management to set up communications systems to reach the target audience and will work with the climate coordinator to incorporate materials into CAAP trainings where feasible. Rolling out the training concurrently with development of a grant facility for unions will enable them to identify areas where greater support is needed to ensure a productive cocoa harvest or income diversification activities for union members.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREA

Planning and implementation

• In liaison with the key project partners, producer organisations, project team and the Head of Region, lead the development of the gap analysis, communication strategy and materials.
• Conduct research to identify the target audience, understand their needs, what support they are currently receiving and where gaps exist
• Develop messages and materials appropriate to their needs and create, design and print the necessary materials.
• Work with union management to set up communications systems to reach the target audience
• Train the unions on the models and market analysis findings, with follow-up training where needed
• Work with the climate coordinator to incorporate materials into CAAP trainings where feasible.
• Conduct site visits and support the unions and project team with the information and processes required for developing grant applications and implementing the projects
• Prepare annual and quarterly work plans in line with the project and partnership objectives for approval
• Develop, submit and update field activity implementation guidelines based on learnings from implementation and producer needs

Reporting, Communication, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Lead in preparing communications strategy and materials and submit to the Project Manager for approval and submission to key project partners
• Build relationships with COVID-19 support providers from government, industry and NGOs, to ensure the gap analysis situates solutions within the context of existing support
• Facilitate joint planning and review meetings with producer organisations and ensure timely gathering and distribution of all relevant information to producer organisations
• Participate in key partners and project related meeting in-country and outside, where necessary including in-country Proof of Performance (POP) meetings
• In liaison with MEL Officer, project team and key project partners, lead in effective monitoring of progress of project implementation, adopt appropriate tools and methodology to collect and analyse required data and apply agree templates to report outcome
• Compile quarterly summary reports of activities in liaison with MEL Officer and project team using agreed/required Fairtrade Africa and project specific templates
• Undertake risk mapping and report on same

KEY DELIVERABLES

A. Gap analysis on COVID-19 needs by the cocoa farmer unions. The gap analysis should:

• Map current support provided by the unions to their members and key cocoa supply chain actors interacting with farmers
• Identify best practice COVID-19 safe practices that the cocoa farming unions, cocoa farmers and other key cocoa supply chain actors should be carrying out
• Identify where gaps exist between current support and best practice COVID-19 safe practices
• Provide recommendations as to what each union needs to put in place to ensure safe COVID-19 practices for their members, with specific focus on communications and what The Project can carry out.

B. COVID-19 safe practices communications strategy to be carried out by each of the nine unions in The Project

C. Design and delivery of any identified communications materials needed to carry out the strategy.

Qualification Required & Experience

• University Degree with focus on Communications, Media, Agricultural studies or Economics, Rural Development Studies, Health communications or other relevant field
• At least 5 years working experience of developing communications strategies to reach rural communities, farmers and others in agricultural supply chains

Skills

• Substantial experience developing communications strategies and materials for farmers
• High level of relationship and communication management skills to build relationships with producer organisations, key partners and stakeholder
• Good experience in Monitoring and Evaluation and coordinating projects
• Good level knowledge of budget management, ownership, procurement processes and reporting
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to prioritize and plan work activities and use time efficiently.
• Demonstrated skills in project planning, implementation and budgeting
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, meet tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

To apply for this position please download recruitment application form on our website www.fairtradeafrica.net (CVs will not be accepted). Completed applications should be e-mailed:

recruitments@fairtradeafrica.net

Closing Date: 20 September, 2020

All applicants should state how they meet essential requirements of the job in the application form, and should include email address and telephone contact details in their applications. Qualified applicants will be subjected to a background check as a condition of employment.

If you have any queries, please e-mail recruitments@fairtradeafrica.net or call +233 244973609 and ask to speak to a member of the recruitment team.