Of course, we couldn’t let this moment pass without sitting down with Natan YAO himself—after all, he’s not new to Progreso, but he is stepping into a new and exciting role.

With nearly 15 years of experience in the cocoa sector, Natan’s journey began as an agronomist with a local firm, where he was in charge of some of the first UTZ and Rainforest Alliance certification assessments. His growing interest in cooperative development led him to join the HRNS Foundation (Hanns Neumann Stiftung, Germany), where he worked as a capacity-building manager for cocoa producer organizations. There, he focused on identifying training needs, designing tailored modules, and delivering capacity-building programs for cooperatives.

In 2018, Natan’s path first crossed with Progreso, when he began supporting us in several activities while still with HRNS. Between 2018 and 2021, he served as Progreso’s main point of contact in Côte d’Ivoire. His official journey with Progreso began in 2021, when he was recruited as Project Manager and Country Representative. In this role, he oversaw significant growth: the number of cooperatives under permanent supervision tripled from 2 to 6, and 3 additional cooperatives gained access to marketing funds.

In 2025, following the spin-off of Pool Africa, Natan took on his new role as Program Manager for West Africa. His ambition is clear: to grow Progreso’s presence in the African sub-region and increase the number of partner cooperatives.

“Working for Progreso allows me to thrive in a sector I’m passionate about,” Natan shared during our conversation. “What motivates me most is the chance to work closely with farmers from diverse backgrounds and to contribute meaningfully to improving their conditions, with the freedom and trust to act.”

With his experience, dedication, and vision, Natan is well-positioned to lead Progreso’s efforts in West Africa—both in strengthening our work in Côte d’Ivoire and expanding our impact across the region.