ISO 34101-1:2019 Cocoa Sustainability Management Systems Lead Implementer Training and Certification Program

Programme Summary

Practise leading a structured cocoa sustainability management implementation project against ISO 34101-1:2019. Working through a cocoa producer cooperative case, participants translate producer governance, cocoa traceability and sustainability improvement planning into accountable controls, resources and measurable milestones. The programme develops an implementation portfolio, tests operational feasibility and prepares management review evidence to support credible control of cocoa production and post harvest activities.

Training Objectives

1 Structure cocoa sustainability management implementation leadership; 2 Translate requirements into workable controls; 3 Coordinate ownership resources and project milestones; 4 Establish meaningful measures and review evidence; 5 Prepare implementation priorities for management approval.

Learning Outcomes

1 Build a cocoa sustainability management implementation roadmap; 2 Specify controls for untraceable cocoa movements; 3 Design producer and farm records; 4 Assign accountable owners and measurable milestones; 5 Present a justified management review proposal.

Target Audience

Cocoa Cooperative Managers; Cocoa Sustainability Managers; Agricultural Extension Managers; Implementation Project Managers; Management System Consultants.

Target Industries

Cocoa Farming; Cocoa Producer Cooperatives; Cocoa Post Harvest Processing; Cocoa Collection Operations; Cocoa Sustainability Programmes.

Course Contents

• Module 1 Implementation Mandate: Business case scope and intended benefits; Sponsor responsibilities and implementation team roles; Constraints resources and governance decisions.
• Module 2 Baseline and Priorities: Requirements mapping and baseline evidence; Risk based gaps and priority decisions; Implementation milestones and acceptance criteria.
• Module 3 Cocoa Scope and Interfaces: Producer organisation and post harvest boundaries; Management performance and traceability standard interfaces; Sustainability claims and supporting requirement sets.
• Module 4 Producer Context: Producer needs and relevant interested parties; Economic social and environmental challenges; Risks obligations and climate relevance.
• Module 5 Producer Leadership: Sustainability policy and organisational responsibilities; Producer participation and communication arrangements; Resources competence and documented information.
• Module 6 Producer and Farm Records: Producer identification and reliable farm records; Baseline information and data quality checks; Confidentiality access and controlled record updates.
• Module 7 Cocoa Sustainability Planning: Producer development priorities and realistic objectives; Action plans resources and measurable progress; Interfaces with applicable performance requirements.
• Module 8 Production and Post Harvest Controls: Field activity and operational control planning; Fermentation drying storage and transport interfaces; Supplier service and process change coordination.
• Module 9 Cocoa Traceability and Claim Controls: Bean identification and movement records; Internal traceability and reconciliation checks; Claim limitations and downstream traceability interfaces.
• Module 10 Progress and Improvement: Performance monitoring and producer feedback; Internal audit and management review; Corrective action and sustainability improvement records.
• Module 11 Implementation Design: Process interactions and accountable control owners; Integration with existing management arrangements; Proportionate documentation and practical control design.
• Module 12 Operational Control Design Workshop: Preventing untraceable cocoa movements; Addressing unsupported sustainability claims; Responding to unmanaged producer welfare concerns.
• Module 13 Building the Required Evidence Portfolio: Producer and farm records; Cocoa movement and traceability records; Producer development and monitoring records.
• Module 14 Competence and Adoption: Role based competence and learning needs; Operational communication and stakeholder engagement; Resistance escalation and management support.
• Module 15 Resources and Scheduling: Resource estimates and implementation dependencies; External support and supplier accountability; Controlled milestones and progress reporting.
• Module 16 Piloting Controls and Managing Changes: Pilot objectives and realistic acceptance checks; Operational feedback and control adjustments; Approval communication and controlled change records.
• Module 17 Performance and Effectiveness: Measurable indicators and reliable data sources; Control performance and exception reporting; Evidence based decisions and corrective action.
• Module 18 Assurance and Review: Internal audit planning and independence; Review inputs decisions and resource commitments; Readiness gaps and continuing improvement priorities.
• Module 19 Maintaining the Management System: Ownership handover and ongoing monitoring; Changing risks obligations and operating conditions; Learning mechanisms and improvement programme.
• Module 20 Implementation Leadership Case: Present controls responsibilities and milestones; Defend priorities using supplied evidence; Respond to management challenge and feedback.

Assessment

• 100 single best answer questions, including applied scenarios; one mark per question.
• 150 minute invigilated digital examination with identity verification. Approved accessibility adjustments preserve the assessed competence.
• Clean standard text and supplied case documents permitted; internet, messaging and external AI tools prohibited.
• Individual applied assessment (90 minutes): Using a cocoa producer cooperative case, develop a cocoa sustainability implementation plan and producer control register, assign resources and milestones, demonstrate one control and defend implementation priorities in a brief panel review.
• Assessment criteria: Workable design of controls for untraceable cocoa movements; Relevant evidence portfolio including producer and farm records; Feasible sequencing ownership and measurable implementation acceptance criteria.
• Pass each component separately: 75/100 written marks (75%) and at least 70% on the applied task.
• All mandatory criteria must pass: Do not fabricate evidence or knowingly present unsupported conformity conclusions.
• Individual results and feedback are provided. One reassessment may follow coaching under the published enrolment terms.

Certification

• Successful learners receive a TQCSI Arabia digital Certificate of Successful Completion.
• The certificate records the learner name, exact programme title, teaching hours, completion date and unique verification reference.
• Verified identity, full attendance and separate written and applied passes are required; all mandatory critical criteria must be met.
• Proposed issue target: within 30 calendar days of approved results and settlement of applicable fees.
• Records assessed implementation planning skills in cocoa sustainability management; it does not confer independent personnel certification or guarantee organisational certification.
• Attendance confirmation may record completed hours for unsuccessful learners; it does not certify successful completion.

Programme Profile

Number of daysNumber of daysNumber of days

555

Total teaching hoursTotal teaching hoursTotal teaching hours

35 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.35 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.35 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.

Delegates allowedDelegates allowedDelegates allowed

Maximum 20 delegates.Maximum 20 delegates.Maximum 20 delegates.

Training prerequisitesTraining prerequisitesTraining prerequisites

Working knowledge of ISO 34101-1:2019, relevant cocoa sustainability management experience and familiarity with project planning are required. Participants should understand process ownership and operational controls.Working knowledge of ISO 34101-1:2019, relevant cocoa sustainability management experience and familiarity with project planning are required. Participants should understand process ownership and operational controls.Working knowledge of ISO 34101-1:2019, relevant cocoa sustainability management experience and familiarity with project planning are required. Participants should understand process ownership and operational controls.

Pre course assignment and assessmentPre course assignment and assessmentPre course assignment and assessment

Complete a 45-minute gap diagnostic using supplied producer and farm records; identify priorities, process owners and implementation constraints.Complete a 45-minute gap diagnostic using supplied producer and farm records; identify priorities, process owners and implementation constraints.Complete a 45-minute gap diagnostic using supplied producer and farm records; identify priorities, process owners and implementation constraints.

End of course assessmentEnd of course assessmentEnd of course assessment

100 question written exam (150 minutes) and individual applied task (90 minutes).100 question written exam (150 minutes) and individual applied task (90 minutes).100 question written exam (150 minutes) and individual applied task (90 minutes).

Passing criteriaPassing criteriaPassing criteria

75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance. All mandatory criteria must pass.75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance. All mandatory criteria must pass.75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance. All mandatory criteria must pass.