Human Rights Lead Africa

Position Title: Human Rights Lead Africa
Reporting Title: Sustainability Head Africa

Department:  SUBSTAINABILITY

Location: ABIDJAN

JOB SUMMARY

The Regional Human Rights Lead is an expert in the field, responsible for driving the design, communication, and implementation of the Human Rights strategy across the Africa region, ensuring alignment with our global goals. This role focuses on fostering seamless communication between Global and Local offices, facilitating evidence-based learning, and enhancing operational performance through strategic guidance, innovation and partnership engagement.

This role requires a passionate topic expert and strategic thinker with strong communication skills, capable of bridging global and local priorities to drive impactful human rights initiatives across the Africa region.

KEY RESPONSABILITIES

The Human Rights Lead Africa will be responsible across the region for:

Contribution to strategy design and dissemination

• Actively engage in the co-creation and ongoing refinement of strategy design and continuous improvement with our Global Team
• Channel evidence based learning and insights from field operations into strategy design processes
• Lead the dissemination of the regional strategy across countries
• Act as a Strategic Liaison between Global and Origin Offices ensuring clear and consistent communication, mutual understanding, and effective feedback loops that support adaptive strategy implementation and management

Customers program design & reporting

• Actively engage in customers’ program design and proposals development
• Ensure alignment of proposals to strategy and consistency across countries/customers
• Support Country Teams in engaging with Customers by providing technical support and expertise
• Support reporting processes and customers’ discussions when needed

Supporting operations performance and efficiency

• Design, coordinate and support development of operational plans to ensure on time delivery of activities, aligning them with strategic objectives and local needs
• Lead the standardization of operating models across countries, ensuring consistency and efficiency in policies, processes, and SOPs, while allowing for local adaptation where necessary
• Implement and manage feedback mechanisms to gather input from stakeholders, using this feedback to refine strategies and operations in collaboration with Region and Global teams
• Perform required in-depth analysis of operational performance metrics to identify areas for efficiency improvement and ensuring quality control across activities
• Offer targeted technical and expert advice and capacity-building support to local teams when needed to overcome operational challenges and optimize performance
• Ensure that tasks contribute to the sustainability and long-term impact of human rights initiatives in the region.

Learning building and knowledge sharing

• Consolidate learnings across the region with support of the Monitoring and Evaluation team in order to create comprehensive learning resources that inform continuous improvement and strategic adjustments
• Foster knowledge sharing across the region ensuring that best practices and innovative approaches are widely disseminated and adopted
• Coordinate and facilitate on-field training sessions, workshops, and other learning events that promote the adoption of best practices and build local and regional capacities

Partnership management

• Develop and maintain strong, strategic relationships with implementing partners
• Manage partnerships and engagement with relevant stakeholders to support the effective implementation of the strategy
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams when needed to enhance the effectiveness of regional programs and initiatives
• Represent the company in national and regional forums and advocate for human rights issues aligned with the company’s vision
• Maintain transparency in communications and operations with stakeholders, ensuring that all actions are clear, justified, and aligned with our human rights principles

All other tasks required for the proper conduct of his/her mission

SCOPE

• The position will be based in Abidjan with frequent traveling in the region (Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria - 50%)

KEY RESPONSABILITIES

Education and Experience:

• Master Degree in Human Rights, Law, Social Sciences, Development or a closely related field
• More than 10 years’ experience in the areas of Child Protection, Human Rights, Social development or any relevant area with preference for experience in the cocoa sector
• Extensive experience working with private sector, government bodies, NGOs, and civil society actors

Language skills:

• Fluency in both French and English with the ability to communicate effectively in both languages

Key Skills:

• A good understanding of Child Labour management and remediation systems (CLMRS) in cocoa or other agricultural sectors such as coffee
• Familiarity with both local and international human rights laws and regulations that impact the cocoa sector
• In-depth understanding of socio-economic, political, and cultural contexts across the different African cocoa origins
• Proven experience in leading and managing cross-cultural teams, including the ability to inspire, guide, and support team members across different countries and regions
• Ability to communicate complex human rights issues clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences
• Proficiency in data analysis, reporting, and using insights for strategic decision-making
• Extensive experience in working with rural agricultural communities in Africa
• Experience engaging with local rural communities and farmers, with a track record of successful collaboration and relationship building
• Ability to handle human rights crises effectively and respond to urgent issues
• Experience in advocating for human rights policies at national and regional levels, and effectively engaging with policymakers to influence change
• Experience in developing and delivering training programs tailored to different audiences, including local communities, farmers, and organizational staff
• Experience in managing budgets and financial resources effectively, including knowledge of financial reporting and accountability
• Demonstrated passion for advancing human rights and social justice, with a strong commitment to making a positive impact
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities effectively
• A demonstrated ability to navigate and respect diverse cultural contexts and practices.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

●     Travel requirements: Travel 50%

        ●     Ability to drive and possess a valid driving license

• Others: be able to go on assignment outside the country

ABOUT YOU

CANDIDATE PROFIL

• Solution minded
• Manages and responds to crises effectively and calmly
• Proactive and Flexible
• Cross-cultural sensitivity and adaptability
• Innovative mindset with the ability to develop and implement creative solutions, drive initiatives, and adapt strategies in a dynamic environment

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE / TECHNICAL OR FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Effective communicator
• Ability, and willingness to work with rural communities when required
• Demonstrated interest in Agriculture and Human Rights
• Demonstrated ability to manage a team
• Demonstrates ethical leadership
• Project management skills
• Team player
• Must willingly exhibit all the core values of the Barry Callebaut group – Integrity, Customer focus, Passion, Entrepreneurship, and Team Spirit

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES & PERSONAL STYLE

• Ability to lead and be able to plan, coordinate and monitor in order to achieve results
• Ability to explain complex reporting processes to end users with strong coaching and training skills
• Strong listening, analytical skills and solution minded
• Strong delegation capacity without losing control