Head of Programme

About Us

The AECF (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a development institution that finances early and growth-stage businesses to innovate, create jobs, and leverage investments and markets to create resilience and sustainable incomes in rural and marginalized communities in Africa.

Since 2008, we have invested over US$ 220 million in over 420 businesses across sub-Sahara Africa focusing on Agribusiness, Renewable Energy, and Climate-smart Technologies. We have impacted more than 28 million lives, created over 25,000 jobs, and leveraged over US$ 757 million in matching funds to our portfolio companies.

AECF is headquartered in Kenya, with offices in Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Kano, South Sudan and Somalia.

The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of AECF’s operations in Sudan, representing the organisation towards the government, donor partners, business community and other stakeholders. He/ she will have a specific focus on mobilizing and managing the Sudan Catalyser, a major programme offering support to SMEs in the agriculture, renewable energy and digital technologies sectors in collaboration with local Sudanese consultants.

This programme will be established in three operational centres in Kassala, el Gadarif and one other to be determined. The initial phase of the programme is an emergency financing facility that is expected to last for the next 18 months and to mobilise upwards of USD10m into up to 70 SMEs along with technical assistance.

The role holder will supervise a team of up to ten staff overseeing the implementation of a challenge fund competition to identify and recruit SMEs, design and oversee advisory support, identify and resolve risks and challenges to implementation and support fundraising to bring additional capital into the Catalyser.

The assignment will be implemented in the operational areas in the country.

The role will report to Sector Lead- 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.
• Design and implement communication strategies together with the AECF’s communications team in Nairobi and local Sudanese partners that effectively inform the SME sector, government stakeholders and donors on the details of the programme, its implementation and, in due course, 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 effective implementation of the programme.
• Understand and effectively navigate the complex political and conflict environment to ensure that the programme can proceed without undue external influence.
• Supervise the preparation of applicants for the Investment Committee by the local Sudanese consultants, including the design of persuasive investment memos in English and supporting project sponsors to navigate the selection process.
• Oversee the transparent selection of grantees for the programme, ensuring that politically compromised persons are not included in funding.
• Ensure grantee compliance with all aspects of AECF’s funding programme, including ESG, together with the Sudanese consultants recruited for programme monitoring.

Suitable candidates should possess:

• 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.
• A degree in International Development, Economics, Finance, Business, Mathematics, Communications or a related field.
• Experience working in private sector development and a deep understanding of the sector with a bias to agribusiness, renewable energy and climate adaptation and/or digital solutions, in Sudan.
• 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 the design of investment memos, taking applicants through investment committees and managing large and complex grant or investment programmes.