Project Manager on Agroecology

The European Forest Institute (EFI) is an international organisation with 30 member countries and around 130 member organisations. EFI undertakes policy support and forest research at pan-European and global level, with headquarters in Joensuu, Finland. EFI has several offices across Europe in Barcelona, Bonn and Rome, and under its International Partnerships Facility, a project office in Kuala Lumpur.

The International Partnerships Facility (IPF) of EFI is a global centre of knowledge and expertise that supports policy and governance reforms to safeguard the world’s forests. It promotes sustainable forest and land use to help protect and restore forests and maximise their role in green economic growth, climate change mitigation and poverty alleviation. It also fosters legal, deforestation-free and sustainable commodity production and trade.

As part of its work on the transition to sustainable and deforestation-free agricultural systems, EFI has extended its scope of work to support the agroecological transition and promote agroforestry practices in key value chains (notably cashew, coffee, and cocoa) in Sub-Saharan Africa.  This work combines research, policy support, capacity building and field action to achieve scale and support compliance with market and environmental regulations.

EFI is seeking a Project Manager to lead the development and implementation of new projects in the field of agroecology.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Lead EFI´s work on agroecology and agroforestry across workstreams and countries, in close collaboration with EFI technical experts and partners.

• Manage and coordinate implementation of projects and interventions, ensuring strategic planning, high-quality execution, and effective follow-up of activities with national partners, service providers and grantees.

• Serve as the primary focal point on agroecology and agroforestry for partners, donors, and stakeholders, ensuring strategic alignment and impact across partner countries, such as Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique and other Sub-Saharan African countries.

• Oversee work planning, budgeting, risk management and annual reporting of activities in line with donor requirements.

• Coordinate EFI technical experts in Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Uganda and Barcelona, ensuring alignment with other programmes and stakeholders in the target landscapes and technical areas of intervention.

• Ensure technical coherence across field implementation, policy engagement, and applied research promoting the scale-up of science-based agroecology and agroforestry practices across Africa.

• Facilitate information exchange and operational coordination among implementing partners, including NGO, research institutions and international organisations.

• Contribute to the production of technical reports, evaluations, policy briefs, scientific publications and communication materials to inform donors’ programming and policymaking.

• Identify and mobilise complementary funding sources to expand EFI’s institutional expertise and portfolio in agroecology and agroforestry.

• Represent EFI in dialogues with donors, national authorities, and implementing partners, ensuring strategic alignment in the field of agroecology and agroforestry.

The Project Manager will work closely with the European Commission – DG INTPA and EU Delegations in partner countries, as well as other key national and subnational stakeholders involved in the implementation of the activities.

Duty station and travel

The Project Manager will ideally be based at EFI´s office in Barcelona, Spain.  Other EFI locations can be considered.  The position includes regular field missions and travel to partner countries.

Conditions of engagement

The Project Manager will be an EFI staff member. The duration of employment will be four (4) years including a six-month probation period. EFI offers a competitive benefits and salary package.

Interested candidates are requested to send (in English) a CV including copies of academic degree certificates/diplomas with a motivation letter outlining how you fulfill the requirements for the position by 1st September 2025 23:59 CET, using our online application form.

For more information about the position, please contact Christophe Van Orshoven, Team Leader at the IPF: christophe.vanorshoven@efi.int.

EFI is an equal-opportunity employer.  All applications will be treated confidentially.

• University degree in forestry, agriculture, environmental or natural resource management, or a related and suitable field. MSc/MA or higher degree is an asset.

• Minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant working experience in agriculture, forestry or natural resource management, or a related field, with experience in West and East Africa, either through permanent residence in the region or frequent travelling.

• At least eight (8) years of experience with managing multi-country, multi-partner programmes and managing funds of international donors/organisations.

• Proven expertise in one or more of the following: agroecology, agroforestry, sustainable value chains, land-use governance, or forest–agriculture nexus. Working experience with the national and/or international research community in this field is an asset.

• Ability to work on politically sensitive issues with different stakeholders: (local) governments, private sector, NGOs, CSOs and local communities, etc.

• Strong leadership, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and team coordination abilities, in particular multi-disciplinary teams in multi-cultural environments.

• Professional proficiency in written and spoken French and English, and proven writing, reporting, presentational and communication skills.