The OrganizationThe 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. BackgroundThe Alliance is seeking a Junior Professional Officer (JPO) to support the design and implementation of the "The Italian Vision for Sustainable Cocoa Initiative" led by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) alongside other strategic initiatives. The initiative aims to position cocoa as a driver of climate resilience, economic opportunity, and social equity across key producing countries. It is implemented in partnership with Save the Children Italy and Ferrero, and aligns with European national initiatives for sustainable cocoa organization (ISCOs), as well as global platforms such as the Cocoa and Forests Initiative and the EU Sustainable Cocoa Initiative (TEI). During the first year, the JPO will be based in Rome, Italy, working at the Alliance headquarters, as part of an operational team that supports the implementation of the initiative. This phase will focus on project design, partnership development with Italian and African stakeholders, and preparation for field implementation. The position also requires travel within the country, and internationally. Subject to project needs and satisfactory performance, the JPO may be relocated to Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire in the second year, to work closely with field partners across West Africa