Director, Africa Climate at Childrens Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)

Main purpose of the role

• As a recognised subject-matter expert, to focus on building an impactful portfolio in Africa with a focus on Southern and East Africa, across power sector and industry decarbonisation, climate finance, air quality, and climate resilience, among others.
• This influential role will also represent CIFF with NGOs, business, finance, government and other key stakeholders in order to deliver long-term impact on several climate-related programs.

Role’s responsibilities

As a member of the Climate Sector Senior Management Team (SMT)

• Take full and collective accountability for the development and implementation of Climate priorities and plans, ensuring they are aligned to the Foundation Strategy.
• As a recognised subject-matter expert in Climate, provide up-to-date, professional advice to the Executive Team and CIFF Board on related issues, to support the development of Foundation strategies, policies and initiatives.
• Take the lead on corporate, cross-cutting initiatives and projects, as required by the Executive Team.
• Provide compelling, consistent and united leadership which creates clarity for all staff in the Sector Team and builds a sense of shared accountability for its success and that of the organisation.
• Develop and maintain excellent external relationships within the sector specialism, acting at all times as a corporate ambassador for CIFF, to help build the organisation’s reputation and profile as a professional, visionary and collaborative philanthropy.

Strategy & planning

• Develop and implement a Climate strategy for Africa with a focus on Southern and East Africa. The strategy will be closely aligned to the Africa strategy as a whole and incorporate CIFF’s objectives from the Business Plan.
• Contribute to the development and lead implementation of the relevant aspect of the annual Climate Operational Plan, with a strong focus on Africa and other key regional areas, to ensure the effective in-year prioritisation of resources and activities.

Programme development, delivery & performance

• Oversee and develop CIFF’s existing portfolio in South Africa, supporting a new regranting organisation set up by CIFF to become the first climate-focused regranting organisation in the continent.
• Identify new opportunities in Africa to enhance CIFF’s wider climate portfolio.
• Oversee both the development of successful investment proposals and implementation of high-impact programmes by the team, ensuring the quality, timeliness and strategic alignment of their work to Foundation priorities and objectives.
• Allocate and monitor achievement of individual targets for pipeline, new investments & grant draw-down for all relevant team members, to ensure the Climate Team meets its objectives for programme development and delivery.
• Conduct regular reviews of investment proposals under development and programmes in delivery, to monitor compliance with agreed due diligence and risk management protocols, ensuring the interests and reputation of the Foundation are appropriately and proportionately protected. Intervene to take corrective action where necessary.
• Ensure all investment proposals and programmes are underpinned by appropriate monitoring and evaluation processes and procedures, in accordance with the frameworks and guidance of the EME Team, to enable the development of rigorous evidence and analysis that supports CIFF’s advocacy, scaling-up and mainstreaming agendas.
• As a recognised subject-matter expert, provide casework advice, specialist guidance and mentoring support to colleagues (within and beyond the team) to deepen the skills, capability and professionalism of the organisation.

Sector knowledge and profile-building

• Proactively maintain extensive external networks with experts and opinion- formers within climate and energy sector, with specific geographical knowledge in Africa, in order to ensure our work is shaped by the most up-to-date insights and research.
• Personally, contribute to the development and promotion of high-quality thought leadership, PR and marketing materials to raise awareness about CIFF’s work within the Climate Sector, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s Communications & Advocacy Strategies.

Stakeholder and partner management

• In accordance with agreed account management principles and plans, identify, cultivate and manage relationships with nominated key partners/stakeholders, to support the achievement of Foundation and Sector Team objectives in a coordinated manner.
• Engage with other funders to increase funding and impact.
• Advise and support more junior colleagues in identifying, negotiating with and managing appropriate programme partners (as required), to enable CIFF to maximise its philanthropic impact through effective collaboration.

Leadership of the team

• Set and monitor achievement of performance and personal development objectives for all direct reports, so that a culture of continuous improvement and learning is embedded within the Climate Team.
• Provide inspiring and motivational leadership that role models CIFF’s values and behaviours and empowers and enables staff to deliver excellence.

Requirements

Skills & Experience

• Recognised as a subject-matter expert in an area relevant to Africa – Climate Sector’s strategy focus (as evidenced via publications and/or previous programme delivery), with a track record of working successfully in one of CIFF’s priority geographies.
• A deep understanding of climate change issues, including energy, climate finance, land use, and other climate change policy and political strategy as it relates to Africa.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the international development sector.
• Detailed understanding of using cost-benefit and ROI methodologies and metrics to inform strategy and business planning.
• Excellent people leadership skills and proven ability to motivate, develop and hold to account a small- to medium-sized teams of professionals.
• Effectively champions and promotes causes – credible and professional, they always present the foundation’s programmes in a compelling way to engage the audience.
• Proven success in building and maintaining strategic relationships and working in partnership; has highly developed influencing and negotiation skills, and effectively collaborates to deliver maximum impact.
• Capacity to work in a range of cultural and socio-economic contexts, adapting style and approach appropriately and in a culturally sensitive manner to maximise effectiveness.
• Able to think critically and analytically to draw sound conclusions on the basis of complex data.
• Experience of identifying and delivering business process improvements.
• High-level of financial literacy.
• Fluent English and other regionally relevant languages an asset.