Nigeria Country Manager at The African Climate Foundation (ACF)

Purpose

• The African Climate Foundation (ACF) has established a growing and influential presence in Nigeria, working at the nexus of climate, energy, and development to support the country’s transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. Building on the solid foundations laid by our programme team, ACF is seeking a dynamic, strategic, and highly networked individual to serve as Nigeria Country Manager.
• This role will lead the Nigeria Programme, oversee the delivery of a country strategy, and manage a growing portfolio of grants, partnerships, and engagements. The Country Manager will report to the Head of Programmes and serve as the primary representative of ACF in Nigeria.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to the following:

Country Strategy Development and Implementation: 

• Lead the development and periodic review of ACF’s Nigeria Strategy, including sectoral strategies that align with low-carbon development and just transition goals.
• Translate the strategy into actionable, budgeted implementation plans with measurable outcomes.
• Oversee key research and analytical work to inform programming and decision-making.
• Ensure integration with other ACF regional and thematic strategies and foster cross-programme learning.
• Ensure proper Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) frameworks are in place and effectively used.

Partnerships and Representation:

• Identify and map key partners and stakeholders at national and sub-national levels.
• Build and manage strategic relationships with government institutions, civil society, financial institutions, donors, and the private sector.
• Represent ACF in high-level platforms, dialogues, and forums in Nigeria and the broader West Africa region.
• Create linkages with other in-country and regional programmes to maximize synergies and visibility.

Grant-Making and Programme Delivery:

• Set grant-making priorities and guide the design, review, and implementation of grants aligned with the Nigeria strategy.
• Work with the grants and MEL teams to ensure quality control, compliance, learning, and adaptive management across the grant portfolio.
• Provide oversight to project implementation and technical support to grantees and partners.
• Manage or supervise flagship projects and initiatives under the Nigeria portfolio.

Fundraising, Resource Mobilisation and Reporting:

• Support ACF’s fundraising team in identifying and pursuing funding opportunities for Nigeria-based and regional initiatives.
• Contribute to donor proposals and lead donor engagement on Nigeria-specific work.
• Ensure high-quality and timely reporting to donors and internal governance bodies.

Leadership and People Management:

• Supervise the Senior Programme Officer (SPO) and other future Nigeria Programme staff.
• Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to the Nigeria team and contribute to staff development.
• Ensure coordination with ACF’s Programme, MEL, Grants, and Communications teams to deliver on strategic goals.

Thought Leadership and Strategic Advisory:

• Provide insights on the political economy of climate and development in Nigeria.
• Contribute to ACF’s research, advocacy, and communication efforts, positioning the Foundation as a key thought leader in Nigeria.
• Advise the Senior Management Team on key developments and opportunities in-country and across the region.

Other Duties:

• Undertake other responsibilities relevant to the role as required by the Head of Programmes or Executive Management.

Requirements include but not limited to:  

• Master’s degree or equivalent in economics, environmental sciences, development studies, public policy, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of climate change, project finance, project preparation, climate adaptation and resilience, or energy transition experience.
• Minimum 4 years in a managerial or supervisory capacity.
• Demonstrated experience working on or supporting government institutions, donors, or private sector actors in policy or programme development.
• Proven track record of strategy design, grant management, and partnership development.
• Experience with financial institutions such as MDBs, central banks, or development finance institutions is a plus.
• Familiarity with climate policy, sustainable development, and energy transition work in the Nigerian context. 
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (verbal and written).
• Fluency in English; additional local or regional languages are an advantage.
• High levels of professionalism, integrity, and diplomatic acumen.
• Ability to work independently while managing cross-functional teams and stakeholder relationships.