Senior Investments Associate

Written by AECF

About the role

AECF is seeking a Senior Investments Associate to join our growing investments and advisory services team and bring Sub-Sahara Africa investment, deal structuring, investment advisory services, and fundraising expertise to the team. The Senior Investments Associate will support the portfolio team with pre-investment analysis of potential companies – driving analysis of possible investments to assess financial and impact viability as well as the growth prospects of companies during due diligence. On post-investment, the Senior Investments Associate will work with the portfolio team to identify the needs of investees towards investment readiness and provide this support and investment facilitation services, leading investor search, deal structuring, and investor negotiations towards increasing access to commercial funding by catalyzing additional capital for portfolio companies. In addition, they will be responsible for country and sector research and analysis, assisting in developing operations for new investment products, and providing support with deal origination, due diligence, investment structuring and negotiation, portfolio management, and portfolio reporting.

The role will be based in Nairobi, with occasional travel in the region.

Key responsibilities

Financial and impact analysis

  • Analyzing company accounts, financial projections, and impact potential, position these in the investment memorandum for investment consideration.
  • Provide updates on financial markets and country and sector activities to help position potential investees’ viability and potential in local and global markets.
  • Creating financial models that enhance the return on investment of projects/businesses and financial planning.
  • Preparing financial documents for presentation to the internal investment review committee and the investment committee.

Deal structuring, negotiations, and execution

  • Sourcing and origination of investments and carrying out the initial investment appraisal of potential AECF portfolio companies towards a healthy portfolio.
  • Develop a strong pipeline of good quality investment opportunities for investment products.
  • Conduct detailed due diligence on prospective investee companies and develop the requisite investment memorandum for investment decisions.
  • Structure complex investments (comprising debt and equity) according to understanding and assessing client and country risks. Negotiate terms with clients, internal and external stakeholders, and partners. Prepare client/partner presentations and support their decision-making at key transaction stages.
  • Lead transaction team through the investment process, actively handling key work and directing and coordinating the work of other team members from across multiple departments toward closing investment deals.
  • Take full responsibility and accountability for transaction-related decisions and relationships to execute transaction documentation and disburse investment capital.
  • Manage a portfolio of companies to achieve investment objectives and play a lead role in portfolio management, monitoring, and institutional investor reporting processes.

Insights and knowledge sharing

  • Build a system/technique for deriving knowledge and understanding investors’rs’ appetites relevant to AECF’sF’s portfolio, building relationships with them, and educating them about the AECF portfolio and investment opportunities.
  • Share expertise as a subject matter expert, providing advice, peer review, and contribution to knowledge products and program design across the AECF to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions.

Required qualifications, experience, and attributes:

  • Must possess a bachelor’s degree in business or commerce. master’s degree in business or finance will be an added advantage.
  • A CFA level certification or at an advanced stage of completion.
  • At least 5-7 years of experience in financial analysis, investment analysis, management consulting, corporate finance, private equity, or venture debt with a proven track record of sourcing, structuring, and closing investments.
  • Strong analytical skills to review and analyze complex financial information. Knowledge and experience in global financial markets, including expertise in emerging markets.
  • Experience in identifying, originating, and qualifying new business opportunities, developing and executing results-driven client engagements.
  • Advanced financial, credit, and risk evaluation skills, with demonstrated ability to structure and negotiate a variety of complex financial instruments (debt and equity).
  • Demonstrated strong written, presentation, and communication skills in English and ability to synthesize and present information effectively and tailor it to different audiences.
  • Excellent business judgment and problem-solving skills to identify issues, present creative, practical solutions, make and commit to sound decisions, and anticipate short and long-term implications.
  • Working knowledge of French will be 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 a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or other fees).

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 2 April 2025.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Director – West Africa

Written by AECF

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 create new business opportunities.

The Director—West Africa will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serve as a senior leadership team member. The Director will be pivotal 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  Abidjan, Abuja, Cotonou, or Dakar, with about 30% of 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 maximize 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 programmes

  • 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.

How to Apply:

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. AECF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or other fees).

If you believe you can clearly demonstrate your abilities to meet the relevant criteria for the role, please submit your application and CV to AECFrecruitment@aecfafrica.org, quoting the job title “Director—West Africa” in the subject line. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and close once a suitable candidate is identified.

 

Country Program Lead – Sudan Catalyser

Written by AECF

About the role

The role holder will oversee the implementation of AECF’s operations in Sudan, representing the organization to the government, donor partners, the business community, and other stakeholders. The incumbent will specifically focus on mobilizing and managing the Sudan Catalyser, a major program offering support to SMEs in the agriculture, renewable energy, and digital technologies sectors in collaboration with local Sudanese consultants.

This Program will be established in three operational centers in Kassala, el Gadarif, and another to be determined. The initial phase is an emergency financing facility expected to last 18 months and mobilize upwards of USD10m into up to 70 SMEs, along with technical assistance.

The role holder will supervise a team of up to ten staff members in implementing a challenge fund competition to identify and recruit SMEs, designing and overseeing advisory support, identifying and resolving risks and challenges to implementation, and supporting fundraising to bring additional capital into the Catalyser.

The role will report to the Head of Programs- Agribusiness.

Key Responsibilities

  • Identify, recruit, and manage, together with AECF’s Operations in Nairobi, a team of portfolio officers, ESG compliance staff, and other support staff.
  • Together with the AECF’s Communications team in Nairobi and local Sudanese partners, design and implement communication strategies that effectively inform the SME sector, government stakeholders, and donors on the details of the Program, its implementation, and, eventually, its results.
  • Provide effective liaison with donors to ensure collaboration with other interventions in the SME development space in Sudan.
  • Identify and engage with technical implementing partners, including financial institutions and business development service providers, to define, tender, and implement support services for the Program’s effective implementation.
  • Understand and effectively navigate the complex political and conflict environment to ensure the Program can proceed without undue external influence.
  • Supervise the preparation of applicants for the Investment Committee by the local Sudanese consultants, including designing persuasive investment memos in English and supporting project sponsors to navigate the selection process.
  • Oversee the transparent selection of grantees for the Program, ensuring that politically compromised persons are not included in funding.
  • Ensure grantee compliance with all aspects of AECF’s funding program, including ESG, and the Sudanese consultants recruited for Program monitoring.

Qualifications:

  • A minimum of ten years of full-time work experience in the design and delivery of financing mechanisms for SMEs in the sub-Saharan African context, including in Sudan.
  • Have a degree in international development, economics, finance, business, mathematics, communications, or a related field.
  • Have experience working in private sector development and a deep understanding of the sector with a bias toward agribusiness, renewable energy, and climate adaptation and/or digital solutions in Sudan.
  • Possess a comprehensive understanding of the Sudan SME sector.
  • Possess comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the Sudanese investment environment, including excellent appreciation of the political sensitivities and strategies to manage these.
  • Possess strong grant or investment management competencies with experience in designing investment memos, taking applicants through investment committees, and managing large and complex grant or investment programs.

Application

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. AECF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or other fees).

If you believe you can demonstrate your abilities to meet the relevant criteria for the role, please submit your application and CV quoting in the subject line of the Job Title “Country Program Lead – Sudan Catalyser” to AECFrecruitment@aecfafrica.org. Interviews will be on a rolling basis and will close once a suitable candidate is identified.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.