Africa Conference & Regional Platform Coordinator at Help Age International

About the Job

• The Africa conference & Regional PlatformCoordinator role provides dedicated coordination capacity for the co-creation and delivery of the Africa Ageing Conference and agreed coordination and implementation support to the Africa Coordination Mechanism as a regional platform. The postholder will translate strategic direction and partner decisions into clear plans, well-managed processes, effective meetings and timely follow-through.
• It will connect conference delivery with year-round regional platform coordination, ensuring that network member priorities, evidence and learning inform continental dialogue and action, and that commitments arising from convenings are captured and progressed.

Purpose of the role

• To lead the day-to-day coordination of the Africa Ageing Conference and provide coordination and implementation support to the operation and development of the Africa Coordination Mechanism, under the leadership of the Regional Advisor, Africa. The postholder will bring structure to complex multi-stakeholder processes, maintain high-quality information and partner-management systems, coordinate events and working groups, and ensure decisions, dependencies, risks and commitments are actively managed and followed through.
• Additionally, the postholder will work closely with the Africa Resource Mobilisation & Partnerships Manager, ensuring that Conference plans, priorities and resource requirements inform fundraising, sponsorship and partner engagement.

Key areas for impact/influence and responsibilities

Africa Ageing Conference co-coordination and delivery

• Lead the day-to-day coordination and delivery of the Africa Ageing Conference, working with the Regional Advisor, Africa, the Conference Planning and Coordination Team, network members and partners.
• Coordinate implementation of the Conference workplan, milestones, dependencies and delivery schedule.
• Support Conference governance and working arrangements, including planning groups and technical workstreams.
• Monitor progress, risks, issues and resource requirements, escalating and supporting resolution as required.
• Coordinate partner engagement, Conference meetings and consultations, ensuring effective preparation, documentation and follow-up.
• Support post-Conference follow-up, accountability and implementation of agreed commitments and actions.

Africa Coordination Mechanism and sub-regional platform coordination

• Support the operation and development of the Africa Coordination Mechanism as a platform for collective leadership, collaboration and action.
• Coordinate meetings, consultations, learning exchanges and working sessions linked to the Mechanism.
• Support engagement by network members, national and sub-regional platforms, older people's organisations and strategic regional partners.
• Coordinate follow-up on agreed priorities, decisions and commitments, ensuring clear ownership and accountability.
• Facilitate connections between Network priorities, regional platforms, Conference planning and wider influencing opportunities.

Knowledge management, reporting and partner follow-up

• Maintain systems for tracking key decisions, actions, commitments, learning and implementation progress arising from the Conference and Africa Coordination Mechanism.
• Coordinate regular reporting on progress against agreed priorities, milestones and commitments.
• Capture and synthesise emerging learning, good practice and recommendations to inform future planning and collective action.
• Support development of reports, briefings, knowledge products and partner communications relating to implementation of the Africa Plan.

Skills and experience required

Essential

• Degree in International Development, Public Policy, International Relations, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Event or Conference Management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Substantial experience coordinating complex regional, multi-country or multi-stakeholder programmes, networks, partnerships or convenings with demonstrated responsibility for translating plans and decisions into delivery.
• Demonstrable experience coordinating the planning and delivery of regional or international conferences, major events, policy forums or multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Strong project coordination skills, including workplanning, action tracking, meeting coordination, stakeholder follow-up and risk or issue escalation.
• Experience working with civil society networks, membership organisations, regional platforms or multi-partner coalitions.
• Excellent written communication skills, including preparation of agendas, minutes, briefings, reports, trackers and concise partner-facing materials.
• Excellent information-management skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records across multiple workstreams.
• Confidence coordinating senior stakeholders and partners across institutions, countries and cultures.
• Ability to coordinate multiple workstreams simultaneously and work effectively across time zones.
• Fluency in English.

Desirable

• Knowledge of African Union, Regional Economic Community or UN coordination structures.
• Experience working with African regional institutions, government stakeholders, UN agencies, development partners or international organisations.
• Knowledge of ageing, demographic change, health and care, social protection, human rights, gender, climate resilience, humanitarian action or inclusive development.
• Experience coordinating technical working groups, regional platforms, conference programmes, partner roundtables or high-level event logistics.
• Experience supporting sponsorship or donor-engagement processes in collaboration with fundraising colleagues.
• French, Portuguese or Arabic language skills.