Country Manager - Coffee Sector, Burundi

About the role

Kahawatu Foundation, an NGO under Sucafina, supports coffee-farming households in Burundi, where coffee is central to the rural economy. As Country Manager, you will help shape a roadmap for the next decade of coffee farming, addressing regenerative agriculture, climate adaptation, household resilience and the roles of women and young people. The role is full-time and based in Burundi.

Key responsibilities

• Shape Kahawatu's vision for Burundi with the Burundi and international teams, turning it into practical, scalable programs that strengthen coffee production, farmer incomes and household resilience.
• Lead field programs on coffee productivity, quality and regenerative agriculture, integrating climate adaptation, income diversification, gender and youth issues, and maintain a strong field presence.
• Define indicators for production, income and resilience, use data to improve programs, and present results to partners, funders and the coffee sector.
• Mobilise partnerships, visibility and funding with government, donors, development organisations and the international coffee industry, and represent Kahawatu in national and international forums.
• Lead and develop a local team in agronomy, field, monitoring and evaluation and administration, and coordinate field delivery, learning, communications and reporting.
• Oversee budgets, reporting, compliance and resource use, and ensure the foundation meets local legal and regulatory requirements.

Required profile

• At least 5 years of experience in agriculture, coffee, rural development or a related field.
• Experience designing and delivering agriculture-based programs with measurable results.
• Proven experience leading multicultural teams, projects or large areas of responsibility.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with communities, government, funders and private-sector partners.
• Commitment to living in Burundi and travelling regularly to coffee-growing communities.

Required skills

• Practical understanding of agricultural production and smallholder farming.
• Strong communication skills and ability to turn ideas and evidence into proposals and presentations.
• Fluency in French and a basic command of English; Kirundi or Swahili is a plus.

Nice to have: experience in coffee and regenerative agriculture, in Burundi or the Great Lakes region, donor-funded programs, fundraising and communications, M&E data use, a coffee-sector network, and knowledge of Kirundi.