Internal Call Only - RFP500611 Job Trainee Cacao of Excellence Temporary Assignment 6 months - Rome Italy

## Job Description (RFP500611) Job Trainee, Cacao of Excellence (Temporary Assignment, 6 months- Rome, Italy) The Organization Cacao of Excellence, led by the CGIAR’s Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), is a neutral global platform that brings together the public and private sector to discover, promote, and reward cacao producers of excellence from all origins, focusing on superior cacao quality and flavour diversity. Since 2009, the platform has held the prestigious global Cacao of Excellence Awards, celebrating and rewarding the work of cacao producers and showcasing the diversity of exceptional flavours worldwide. By leading cacao research, discovering exceptional producers and training the next generation of value chain actors, Cacao of Excellence’s is supporting the expansion of superior quality cacao, ensuring more producers thrive as empowered entrepreneurs. The CGIAR Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers 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. 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 is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. www.cacaoofexcellence.org/www.alliancebioversityciat.org/http://www.cgiar.org/ About the position Based in Rome, Italy, and under the supervision of the Cacao of Excellence, Manager of the Program, the incumbent will provide support withcommunications and partnership. Responsibilities Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement - Provide administrative andcoordination support for partnership development and stakeholder engagementactivities. - Assist with research and analysis onpublic- and private-sector partners, donors, and value chain development initiatives,including policies, programmes, funding priorities, and budget allocations. - Support the development andimplementation of tailored partnership engagement strategies, stakeholdermapping, and event plans. - Provide assistance with communicationsand follow-up actions with partners, collaborators, trainees, and otherstakeholders, maintaining accurate records and supporting relationshipmanagement. - Assist in the planning, logistics, anddelivery of events, workshops, and partner meetings, promoting cacao producers,Cacao of Excellence trainees, and strategic collaborations. Communications& Outreach - Research, draft, and edit engagingonline content, including web stories, opinion editorials, articles, andinfographics. - Contribute to the design andimplementation of creative communication and social media campaigns supportingmajor Cacao of Excellence projects, partnerships, and events. - Draft, edit, proofread, and updatecontent for the Cacao of Excellence website and other communication channels,ensuring consistency and high editorial standards. - Support the maintenance andorganization of communication assets, including mailing lists, emailsubscribers, photographs, videos, and other digital resources. - Contributeto Development of communication materials that highlight programme achievements,partner collaborations, and project impacts. Programme Support - Provide communication and projectsupport to the Innovation, Genetic Diversity, and Capacity Building pillars,including assisting in the development of project-specific communicationmaterials. - Participate in national andinternational events, providing communications, coordination, and logisticalsupport as required. - Provide additional programme,partnership, communications, and administrative support as required tocontribute to the objectives of the Cacao of Excellence Programme. ### Requirements Essential Requirements - Secondary school education. - Working knowledge of Microsoft OfficeSuite packages. - Working knowledge of the Englishlanguage, both written and spoken. - Good interpersonal, communication andteamwork skills, courtesy and tact, and the ability to establish and maintaineffective working relationships with people of different cultural and nationalbackgrounds. - Good skills in personal organizationand priority setting. - Good client orientation and serviceapproach. - Good time management skills andattention to details. Desirable Requirements - Previousinternships. - Workexperience in an international environment. ### Benefits Terms of employment This is a job traineeship based in Rome, Italy, open to internal candidates, namely: regular staff members, complementary staff members, and individuals who are currently employed or have completed a contract with Bioversity in the last 12 months. The monthly salary is Euro 1,217. The contract is initially for a period of six (6) months. The contract may be extendable based on performance and availability of funds. The Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. Webelieve 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. Please note that eligible applicants must have the legal status to live and work in Italy: ·Be Italian nationals holding a valid passport or identity card. ·Orbe EU citizens holding a valid passport or identity card and confirmation of registration from the Registrar’s Office (Anagrafe). ·OrNon – EU citizens holding a valid Italian work permit (permesso di soggiorno per lavoro subordinato). Applications Applicants are invited to visithttps://alliancebioversityciat.org/careersfor full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications must include the reference numberRFP500611. Cover letter and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate's last name and first name for ease of sorting. The Alliance collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Closing date for applications: 4 October2026 Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.