Director, Development Finance at Childrens Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)

Role’s Responsibilities   

Strategy & Planning 

• Develop and implement the development finance agenda in Africa, ensuring full alignment with CIFF’s overall Development Finance Framework and global strategy, while tailoring delivery to Africa’s missions and localisation ambition. 
• Design and deliver financing mechanisms (e.g., blended finance structures, innovative debt instruments, social and development impact bonds, guarantees, public-private partnerships) that leverage CIFF’s catalytic capital to unlock greater resources in support of CIFF’s missions. 
• Work alongside the Deputy Executive Director, Africa to lead development finance contributions to annual and long-term business planning, distilling ambitions into pipelines, investment strategies, and measurable outcomes. 
• Collaborate across CIFF pillar teams to integrate development finance solutions into missions and investment memo’s, maximizing multiplier effects and systemic change.  
• Stay connected to relevant geopolitical trends and new developments that could impact the strategy and reflect these appropriately from convening other organisations CIFF can work with including philanthropies and bilateral donors. 
• Bring catalytic and innovative new thinking to our existing and new portfolios to scale the work and maximize the impact. 

Programme Development, Delivery & Performance 

• Lead the identification and structuring of catalytic financing opportunities that advance CIFF’s strategic priorities, with a focus on creating pathways for private sector engagement, sustainable fiscal frameworks, and blended finance solutions. 
• Guide the structuring of investment proposals, ensuring financial innovation, risk management, and alignment with CIFF’s impact objectives. 
• Provide technical development finance advice and guidance on portfolio management to pillar directors, managers and analysts, ensuring timely delivery, performance management, and compliance with governance standards. 
• Apply agreed due diligence and risk management protocols appropriately throughout the development and delivery of proposals and programmes, to ensure the interests and reputation of the Foundation are protected. 
• Conduct structured feasibility analysis on investment proposals, using an appropriate range of methodologies and techniques, to ensure they are based on logical and robust assumptions, which can withstand scrutiny from the Executive Team (ET) and CIFF Board.  
• Champion evidence generation, embedding financial modelling, ROI analysis, and cost-benefit approaches into programme design and evaluation. 
• Identify and cultivate opportunities for co-funding and leveraged partnerships, working closely with Africa pillar teams. 

 Sector Knowledge and Profile-Building 

• Act as CIFF’s subject-matter expert in development finance in Africa, providing timely insights to the Africa Leadership Team, CIFF Executive Team, and the Board, working in partnership with the Lead Economist in the CEO Office. 
• Engage in thought leadership and field-building by working alongside the Deputy Executive Director – Africa and shaping discourse on sustainable financing for development, fiscal resilience, and innovative finance in Africa. 
• Build and maintain a strong external network of policymakers, investors, DFIs, and philanthropies, positioning CIFF as a trusted partner in development finance. 

Stakeholder and Partner Management 

• Develop and manage strategic partnerships with national governments, regional economic communities, multilateral development banks, DFIs, African philanthropies, and the private sector. 
• Collaborate with the Chief of Staff, Strategic Communication and Partnerships Director to cultivate partnerships that advance our development finance agenda.  
• Alongside other Development Finance Directors and the Deputy Executive Director – Africa, support government counterparts in designing sustainable fiscal frameworks, including domestic resource mobilisation, and debt management. 

Leadership of the Team 

• Offer inspiring and motivational leadership that role models CIFF’s values and leadership behaviours, and empowers and enables staff to deliver excellence  
• Adopt a coaching approach with colleagues which instills a culture of openness and trust, embraces diverse thinking, and encourages continuous improvement and learning 
• Provide ongoing support to all direct reports in manager and/or analyst roles ensuring high performance is enabled through objective setting, clear accountabilities and regular review. 

Requirements

Skills & Experience  

• Strong experience in development finance, investment banking, blended finance, or fiscal policy, with desirable exposure to sectors such as health, education, climate, or gender in the African context. 
• Demonstrated ability to design, structure, and scale catalytic financing instruments that mobilise domestic and international resources. 
• Strong track record of working with African governments, multilateral development banks, DFIs, and philanthropies to deliver sustainable finance outcomes. 
• Detailed understanding of using cost-benefit and ROI methodologies and metrics to inform strategy and business planning – preferably within an international development or charitable setting.  
• Detailed understanding of the African macroeconomic, fiscal, and political economy context. 
• High-level financial literacy, including cost-benefit analysis, ROI methodologies, and modelling of complex transactions. 
• Exceptional relationship-building, negotiation, and influencing skills, with experience convening diverse stakeholders toward shared goals. 
• Proven people leadership experience, with the ability to inspire, develop, and hold teams accountable. 
• Excellent analytical, strategic, and communication skills, with the ability to translate technical finance concepts into compelling narratives.