Director - West Africa at Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund

About the Role

• As the AECF enters a new growth phase, we seek a Director – West Africa to solidify the organization’s presence, steer the programmatic work and build new business opportunities.
• The Director - West Africa will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serve as a member of the senior leadership team.
• The Director will play a pivotal role in shaping and implementing AECF’s regional vision and strategy.
• This includes driving high-impact stakeholder engagement, spearheading business development initiatives, and devising innovative regional growth strategies that align with organizational priorities.
• The role will also involve providing strategic leadership for program implementation and ensuring that AECF’s interventions deliver transformative outcomes for rural and marginalized communities.
• The role will have access to a wide range of resources and a team that will look to you for leadership, coaching, mentoring, training, and support for career development.
• The role will be based in either Dakar, Abidjan, Cotonou or Abuja with about 30% travel in the region. The role holder will report to the CEO.

Key Responsibilities
Strategy execution and stakeholder engagement:

• Strategic leadership: Execute AECF’s strategic plan regionally by aligning country strategies with corporate objectives, organizational impact targets, and funder priorities.
• Representation and advocacy: Serve as AECF's primary representative in West Africa, advocating for its mission, building relationships with stakeholders, and raising its profile through conferences, publications, and the development finance sector.
• Partnerships and funding: Build and maintain partnerships with government agencies, private sector players, and funders to co-create solutions, advance organizational goals, and attract funding opportunities.
• Policy and program implementation: Collaborate with government bodies and regional partners to ensure smooth program implementation, policy alignment, and advocacy for regulatory environments supporting SMEs and innovation.
• Regional insight and innovation: Highlight West Africa’s unique challenges and opportunities to inform AECF’s global strategies, attract investments, and strengthen impact through tailored solutions.

Partnership development and resource mobilization:

• Identify, onboard and sustain partnerships that align with AECF’s strategy and priorities, managing relationships to maximise value to partners and AECF’s beneficiaries – rural and marginalized communities across sub-Saharan Africa.
• Build long-term relationships with key stakeholders, including private sector actors, government entities, and development agencies, ensuring partners are actively engaged in co-creating solutions and delivering impactful results
• Maximise mobilization of resources (public and private sector funders including bilateral, multilateral, and philanthropic funders) and bring co-financier and/or co-investor resources to support existing and new programmes/products.
• Working with the Director of Partnerships to grow and diversify AECF’s portfolio in West Africa.

Provide leadership for programs:

• Lead the strategic execution and seamless delivery of AECF's programs within the region, ensuring initiatives are tailored to address local needs while aligning with AECF's overarching objectives.
• Cultivate and sustain strong, collaborative relationships with partners, ensuring alignment with AECF’s mission.
• Monitor and steer program delivery to ensure it consistently aligns with AECF's impact objectives, leveraging data-driven insights and stakeholder feedback to optimize outcomes and maximize long-term benefits.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and capacity building for program managers and portfolio officers, building a high-performing, collaborative, and impact-driven culture.
• Lead the strategic allocation of resources across programs, optimizing efficiency and ensuring sustainability in alignment with funding agreements.
• Champion using data and insights from program implementation to inform decision-making, enhance learning, and improve future program designs.
• Identify potential risks and challenges in program execution and, working with the Director of Programs, implement proactive measures to mitigate them, ensuring program continuity and effectiveness.

Required Qualifications, Experience and Attributes
Educational Background:

• Master's Degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, International Relations, or a related field.
• Additional certifications in project management, leadership, or relevant fields are advantageous.

Professional Experience:

• At least +12 years of progressive leadership experience in a regional or multi-country role within the development or private sector.
• Strong background in managing innovative finance/private sector development programs in the agriculture and renewable energy sectors.
• Demonstrated experience working with international funders, including bilateral, multilateral, and philanthropic organizations, with a proven track record in stakeholder management and resource mobilization.
• Experience cultivating partnerships with governments, private sector players, and civil society organizations to drive impact goals.
• Familiarity with engaging private sector actors in development initiatives, particularly financing and market development.
• Extensive knowledge of the socio-economic and political dynamics of West Africa, with proven experience working in multiple countries within the region.
• Strong experience designing, implementing, and monitoring large-scale, multi-stakeholder projects or portfolios.
• Experience managing donor budgets, ensuring cost efficiency, and demonstrating strong accountability in resource utilization.
• Proven capability in representing organizations at high-profile events, forums, and meetings, with a strong network in the development and private sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and inspire diverse, high-performing teams across multiple geographies.

Skills and Competencies:

• Ability to develop and execute regional strategies that align with organizational goals.
• Exceptional interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to effectively engage and influence diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, proficient in French and English.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex challenges and devise innovative solutions.
• Deep understanding of and respect for the cultural contexts and diversity in West Africa.
• Track record of delivering measurable outcomes in challenging environments.
• Ability to work under pressure, navigate uncertainty, and manage multiple priorities effectively.