Senior Programme Officer – Seed for Impact Programme at Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF)

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of the Seed for Impact program (SIP), assuring the delivery of set program objectives.
• Ensure the performance of the SIP program portfolio in respect of key result areas including disbursements to investees, and impact targets.
• Lead the planning and execution of investees’ performance monitoring activities, including data verification exercises to ensure the quality of programme results.
• Develop and implement effective strategies that enable recovery of outstanding repayable grants due from investees.
• Ensure all investee site visits are conducted as per the agreed site visit schedule and documentation is done to the standard required.
• Coordinate identification of investees who require technical assistance and investment advisory services and work with the Investments Advisory Services team to deliver on agreed advisory interventions.
• Prepare narrative and financial reports as required by the donors, assuring the quality of output and adherence to due process and standards.
• Prepare periodic portfolio status reports (performance, risks, and opportunities) for presentation to the management team.
• Lead/ coordinate the SIP portfolio learning agenda in a manner that contributes to the wider learning agenda of AECF (in liaison with the Knowledge and Insights teams) and the wider seeds ecosystem.
• Effectively manage the relationship with the investee companies, providing the necessary coaching and expert support for them to realize their growth objectives.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls and risk management of the portfolio in accordance with AECF’s Risk and Compliance Management Framework.
• Working with the Head of Programmes, Agribusiness, engage with stakeholders on best practices for supporting Africa’s seed companies in respect to access to finance and technical advisory support.

The Candidate

Suitable candidates should:

• Hold a university degree in Agronomy, Agriculture, Seed Science, Agricultural Economics, or a related field. An advanced degree would be an added advantage.
• Have a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in the seed sector including work related to the financing of seed companies, seed production, and quality control.
• Experience working with donors and the international development context would be an added advantage.
• Have proven leadership and project management skills, and demonstrate an ability to work with a diverse group of portfolio companies and teams.
• Have good analytical and communication skills with the ability to prepare proposals, reports, and concept papers to a high level of proficiency.
• Be resourceful and take initiative even when given minimal direction.
• Be curious about industry trends and eager to learn.
• Have great interpersonal skills and a strong work ethic.