Organisation background

Regeneration is?a partnership between Palladium, a global implementer of development programmes and Systemiq, a leading-edge climate advisory organisation. With on the ground presence in over 90 countries, Systemiq and Palladium have a proven track record of working together on multi-year nature protection and restoration programmes in the tropics. To date, Systemiq and Palladium have leveraged over 1 billion USD in private capital and brought 5 million hectares under improved management, through programmes like Partnerships for Forests.

Building on this joint experience, Regeneration accelerates the restoration of nature and protection of our planet for future generations by creating inclusive and regenerative tropical commodity value chains at scale. By building markets for nature-positive commodities, Regeneration protects and enhances nature, improves the livelihoods of local communities, and produces scalable financial returns. By 2027, Regeneration aims to mobilise 5 billion USD to replicate and scale regenerative businesses across the tropical forest belt; bring 50 million hectares of forest landscape under improved regenerative management; and improve access to livelihood opportunities for 1 million people from rural communities.

About the project

• The African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100) is a country-led effort to bring 100 million hectares of land in Africa into restoration by 2030. It aims to accelerate restoration to enhance food security, increase climate change resilience and mitigation, and combat rural poverty.
• During Phase I (2016-2021), AFR100 mobilized widespread political leadership across 33 African countries, developed national plans and strategies, and catalysed implementation across 5 million hectares. Phase II of AFR100 (2022-2026), which launched at COP27 in November 2022, aims to bring an additional 20 million hectares under restoration.
• Regeneration is leading the AFR100 Markets Readiness Technical Assistance (MRTA) project to connect the communities and entrepreneurs who make up the local restoration economy with private sector supply chains and global markets. Initially MRTA will focus on three of the six target landscapes: Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, the Ruzizi Basin, and the Ghana Cocoa Belt.

About the role

• The Junior Professional (JP) will be a key member of the MRTA team and will be responsible for supporting the successful delivery of TA support to Restoration Champions (RCs) and monitoring their progress against projected impact indicators.
• RCs are defined as locally led land restoration projects including pioneering for-profits and nonprofits that design projects, find and manage financing, support farmers, monitor tree growth, and ensure that the end product can provide income — and incentivize further restoration. The JP will work with the broader team in designing and implementing a strategy that will equip RCs reach their commercial scale up goals through the provision of TA and other financing needs.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio support and management

• For selected RCs in MRTA’s portfolio, support with the development of commercial scale-up plans outlining expected results and required inputs with the aim of facilitating access to market and successful offtake transactions.
• Support and actively participate in team problem solving sessions and provide data insight and trends
• Work alongside the commercial partnerships team to support facilitation of offtaker contracts with RCs
• Deliver and implement targeted technical assistance to RCs, in one or more of these business skills: business growth strategies, go-to-market strategies, business plan development, SME finance, SME accounting, sales and marketing, fundraising, etc.
• Support the Business Associate to deliver high quality and timely related regional programme results and outputs.
• Support sharing of lessons and impact stories on projects in the portfolio.
• Monitor and provide support for the approved project as we accelerate its progression to full scale, impact, and economic sustainability
• Support the development of business plans with project partners to meet expected financial investment and traction from aligned investors.
• Actively participate in relevant stakeholder meetings to build knowledge and engage with key stakeholders in the region.
• Contribute to strategic planning and reporting to meet regional priorities, milestones and outcomes and alignment with global program outcomes and client’s expectations.
• Provide a range of project management support related to the projects, including business advisory and support to commercial wing, budgeting and reporting.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Ensure timely reporting and monitoring to achieve expected outcomes and impacts.
• Support the Business Associate to ensure RCs under implementation achieve MRTA milestone targets as planned.
• Share lessons and impact stories around projects under implementation
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to RCs for successful implementation of activities.
• Review technical reports and track milestones based on each RC’s contract.

Supervision & Location of work

• This role will report to the Business Associate, Ghana. It will be based in Accra.

Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrable experience in one of the following agricultural supply chains, including commodities such as coffee, cocoa, nuts, avocadoes, bamboo etc
• Track record of being part of a team that delivers results and contributes to economic, social and environmental outcomes.
• Entrepreneurial, self-starter who enjoys working in a fast-paced, results-driven business environment.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills with both colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Excellent English language skills (written and spoken).
• A passion for restoration and sustainable land use.
• Willingness to travel within Ghana, meeting a diverse range of stakeholders.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at: accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Closing Date: 28 February, 2025

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Safeguarding

We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.