The Climate Specialist will serve as AECF’s in‑house expert and key advisor on climate finance and climate‑technical matters. The role will ensure that AECF’s programs are climate‑responsive, investment‑ready, and aligned with emerging global standards, funder priorities, and national climate strategies in the countries where they work. In addition, the specialist will lead the mobilization of climate finance resources and the design of high‑quality, fundable initiatives that position AECF competitively within the global climate landscape.
Key responsibilities
Conceptualize and design new climate-responsive programs for the private sector that impact our target groups of low-income households in rural areas— including renewable energy technologies, climate‑smart agriculture, nature‑based solutions, and adaptation projects.
Lead the development of AECF strategies to mobilize climate-related co‑financing from multilateral development banks, bilateral agencies, private investors, and philanthropic partners.
Integrate climate rationale, climate metrics, and measurable mitigation/adaptation outcomes into all program concepts – and integrate climate metrics into existing programme performance measurement frameworks.
Ensure alignment of AECF’s approach with funder requirements, national climate priorities (including NDCs), and international climate‑finance standards and frameworks such as the GEF, GCF, and the Adaptation Fund.
Provide ongoing technical leadership and advisory support to existing programs to ensure they remain aligned with evolving climate priorities and funder expectations.
Lead the technical review of concept notes and full proposals, ensuring they meet rigorous climate-related pipelines, investment standards, and environmental safeguard policies.
Advise partnership and business development teams on alignment with national climate priorities in target countries, including NDCs, NAPs, sectoral climate strategies, and government investment plans. This includes guidance on country ownership.
Support climate risk assessments using AECF’s existing methodology for investees and pipeline enterprises and recommend practical adaptation and mitigation actions, and embed them into investment contracts, technical assistance packages, and monitoring plans.
Ensure climate risk screening and classification (mitigation/adaptation) is consistently maintained across all investees and projects, and further, review climate data from projects and ensure accuracy, integrity, and alignment with the methodological guidelines of key climate funds.
Build strong networks with national authorities, climate finance entities, private-sector investors, research institutions, and implementing partners.
Required qualifications, experience, and attributes:
Possess a master’s degree in climate science, environmental management, energy, agriculture, economics, finance, or related fields.
Have eight (8) years of experience in climate program design, climate finance, renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, or adaptation/mitigation programming in Africa.
Demonstrate experience developing proposals or managing initiatives linked to GEF, GCF, Adaptation Fund, and other climate finance facilities from bilateral and multilateral funding sources.
Have strong analytical skills and comfort working with climate data, climate science, and quantitative climate indicators.
Possess excellent stakeholder management, facilitation, and communication skills.
Knowledge of French is an added advantage.
How to apply
The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered based on merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
AECF does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or otherwise).
If you believe you meet the criteria for the role, register and apply at https://recruitment.aecfafrica.org. To be considered, your application must be received by 29th May 2026.
The Senior Impact Officer is responsible for supporting the team on impact measurement and reporting. The role holder will take the lead in analyzing and leveraging data collected from portfolio companies, updating performance across all impact metrics, and documenting progress and lessons learned from AECF’s portfolio to support program development, efficient program management, and communications. The Senior Impact Officer will also play a role in supporting the development and implementation of AECF’s results measurement system and ensuring compliance with the reporting requirements of donor partners.
Key responsibilities
Update and improve the portfolio monitoring plan for the Sudan SME Catalyser, including future portfolio partners, in line with AECF policies and procedures and donor requirements.
Support the development of investee monitoring plans, targets, and budgets during the process of investee selection and review as needed throughout the project lifecycle.
Provide an evidence-based feedback loop to the programme on an ongoing basis, and contribute to producing, packaging, and disseminating impact and change stories.
Collaborate with program investees to address any data discrepancies or inconsistencies and ensure data integrity.
Support partners in designing and disseminating research studies by providing relevant input.
Ensure accurate and timely compliance with all reporting requirements both at program level and at AECF institutional level (incl. supporting the preparation of annual AECF Impact reports, periodic donor reports, and ongoing ad hoc knowledge pieces).
Maintain a dashboard to track performance against key impact indicators and provide feedback to all relevant teams on project performance as and when needed.
Share learning from results measurement and impact analyses with the wider team.
Develop and disseminate monthly short evidence-based articles, updated project summary briefs, reports, human interest stories, and website content in English.
Any other tasks assigned by the line manager
Required qualifications, experience, and attributes:
A bachelor’s degree in economics, statistics, social sciences, or a related discipline. A master’s degree is desirable.
Minimum five (5) years of experience in a similar role.
Priority will be given to professionals with prior experience in sustainable agriculture, climate finance, women’s ewomen’s empowerment, or financial inclusion.
Understand the donor requirements for private sector-led development in relevant sectors.
Demonstrate productive drive in working with peers, partners, consultants, and others to achieve pre-targeted and measurable business results.
Experience working on KFW- or SIDA-funded projects is highly desirable, with familiarity with the relevant requirements and compliance standards.
Fluency in English and Arabic is required for effective communication.
How to apply
The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered based on merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
AECF does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or otherwise).
If you believe you meet the criteria for the role, register and apply at https://recruitment.aecfafrica.org. Interviews will be on a rolling basis and will close once a suitable candidate is identified.
The Portfolio Officer will be responsible for supporting the implementation of AECF’s operations, including managing investees that receive non-repayable grants under the program. The incumbent will support the implementation of the challenge fund competition to identify and recruit SMEs, mobilize and manage grants, and provide support to a portfolio of SMEs in the agriculture and renewable energy sectors, in collaboration with the program team and local implementing partners. The role holder will work flexibly and collaboratively to process grants, manage relationships with investees, local implementing partners, and other stakeholders, support the implementation of investment contracts, provide regular reporting, and coordinate technical assistance. The role will include identifying risks and operational challenges throughout program implementation.
Key responsibilities
Undertake due diligence processes and pre-contracting visits for shortlisted program applicants and support applicants to develop credible and high-quality proposals.
Support investee contracting, adherence to grant agreements, and donor requirements through effective relationship management.
Support the investee procurement process with the procurement officer and prepare investee disbursement requests.
Engage with investees and local implementing partners and offer support services to ensure the effective implementation of the program.
Coordinate with the local implementing partner on the delivery of technical assistance to investees in collaboration with the program team and the AECF TA.
Understand and communicate context operational updates to the program team for effective program delivery.
Conduct investee performance monitoring activities, including data verification to ensure accuracy and quality of progress reports and program results.
Ensure periodic investee site visits are conducted in accordance with the site visit schedule.
Validate the impact reported following AECF guidelines on impact measurement in collaboration with the senior impact officer.
Collaborate with the communications team and local implementing partner to capture success stories and contribute to reporting on the details of the program, its implementation & results.
Contribute to the portfolio learning agenda through lessons learned and ad hoc learning papers produced under the program.
Ensure compliance with internal controls and risk management in line with donor requirements, including ESG and AECF Risk and Compliance Management Framework.
Contribute to baseline, midterm, and endline evaluations.
Provide assessments, information trends, and other reports as requested.
Required qualifications, experience, and attributes:
Hold a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, sustainable development, or a related field.
Have four to five years of experience in portfolio or investment management, including conducting financial and operational due diligence of early-stage or growth-stage businesses.
Have experience in private sector development, sustainable finance, value chain strengthening, or economic diversification.
Hold a professional accounting qualification, such as ACCA, which will be an added advantage.
Have experience working with SMEs and/or financial intermediaries serving SMEs.
Experience in gender lens investing will be an added advantage.
Demonstrate strong stakeholder management, organizational, and project management skills.
Demonstrate sound knowledge of the Sudan context, business community, and key stakeholders, with the ability to navigate the complex political and conflict environment to ensure effective program delivery.
Understand the donor landscape and the requirements of international development partners.
Possess excellent analytical and communication skills, with the ability to prepare investment memos, proposals, and reports to a high standard.
Support the preparation and design of persuasive investment memos in English and contribute to the program team’s competition and selection process.
Demonstrate a high degree of initiative, energy, a “can-do” attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and attention to detail.
Ensure grantee compliance with all aspects of AECF’s frameworks, including ESG requirements, together with the local implementing partner engaged for program monitoring.
Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic.
How to apply
The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered based on merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
AECF does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or otherwise).
If you believe you meet the criteria for the role, register and apply at https://recruitment.aecfafrica.org. Interviews will be on a rolling basis and will close once a suitable candidate is identified.
