Manager - Girl Capital, Africa at Childrens Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)

Main purpose of the role

As a recognized leader in your field, to contribute to the development of cutting edge and evidence-based strategies and plans that ensure CIFF’s work across the Girl Capital sector achieves transformational and lasting change; and to develop and manage a high quality portfolio of investment proposals and active programmes, that contribute to the delivery of the Girl Capital pillar of the CIFF Africa strategy and meet the corporate objectives of the CIFF Board.

This role will serve as a key education expert on the CIFF Africa team, guiding CIFF’s Girl Capital Africa strategy goal of keeping all adolescent girls in school and learning, as well as contributing towards the related Girl Capital Africa strategy goals relating to transition to the workforce, expanding youth friendly SRHR, shifting negative social norms, and driving accountability for girls’ outcomes. Specific domains will include (but are not limited to):

• Robust portfolio management – designing and managing a growing and complex portfolio
• Working to improve the impact of government efforts in Africa on Girl Capital programming, finding solutions to address the gaps and bottlenecks in the system, with a focus on where the government systems fail.
• Understanding political economy of girls’ education and related sectors in CIFF Africa focus countries
• Approaches that place girls at the center of decisions being taken that impact them on their education and sexual and reproductive health and rights, and to generate greater agency and accountability.

• Build a resilient response for governments and private sector to take affirmative action through strategic engagement and communication.
• Integrate investment approaches with the goals of the Girl Capital Africa team, seeking opportunities to collaborate and leverage broader portfolio including improving the health and nutrition of women and children as well as, reducing harmful gender norms. and so much more.

Role’s responsibilities

Strategy & planning

• Provide thought leadership to support the Girl Capital Africa pillar in determining future strategic priorities and setting operational plans.
• Influence strategy development and lead strategy execution and Business Planning under the guidance of Girl Capital Africa leadership, and support other CIFF sectors to develop and execute strategy (as required)
• Working to improve the impact of government efforts in CIFF Africa focus groups on Girl Capital, finding solutions to address the gaps and bottlenecks in the system, with a focus on where the government systems fail.
• Conduct analysis and research on projects, innovations, emerging and best practices, as inputs into strategic priorities and planning.
• Provide support across broader Africa team strategies as needed.

Programme development, delivery & performance

• Understanding the political economy of education, life skills and social norms with a focus on girls and young women in CIFF Africa priority countries, particularly with an aim to be catalytic and apply cutting edge approaches to ensure -
  • Girls enroll and complete secondary school leading to reducing gender gap in secondary schools
  • Girls have life skills to make informed choices about their future including sexual and reproductive health, age of marriage and overcoming gender-based socio-cultural barriers around education and employment.
  • Social norms change to shift perceptions and behaviours of parents and societies towards girls and women
• Personally manage a portfolio of live programmes with a value c. $30M of and an active pipeline of potential investments of c. $25M, in accordance with the sector priorities and plan.
• Conduct regular reviews of the progress and performance of programmes under delivery to identify problems and delays, and work with partners to develop effective solutions (escalating to more senior colleagues for support and intervention, where required).
• Against key corporate and sector team indicators and targets, monitor and report internally on the performance of assigned caseload.
• 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 ET and CIFF Board.
• With the advice and guidance of the Girl Capital Africa Evidence, Measurement and Evaluation (EME) Business Partner, identify and embed appropriate monitoring and evaluation processes to all proposals and programmes.
• Work as part of the Girl Capital team, alongside other pillars within the wider Africa team and senior colleagues, to shape and implement plans for scaling up, replicating or leveraging additional support for successful programmes and initiatives, in accordance with Foundation priorities.
• Identify opportunities and options for improving processes, procedures and programme management approaches within (and beyond) the team, to support increased organisational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Integrate investment approaches with the goals of the Girl Capital Africa Team, seeking opportunities to collaborate and leverage broader portfolio including improving the health and nutrition of women and children as well as, reducing the prevalence of trafficking, reducing gender violence and discrimination and so much more.

Sector knowledge and profile-building

• Keep abreast of developments within the education, wider gender empowerment, and international development sectors, establishing appropriate information gathering networks and channels to deepen professional knowledge and skills.
• As required, contribute to the development of thought leadership, PR, marketing and advocacy materials, to support CIFF’s ambitions to scale-up, mainstream and leverage additional support for its initiatives.
• Develop mutually beneficial, peer-level relationships with priority country governments, NGOs, other foundations, local civil society and beneficiary-led organisations.
• Actively maintain CIFF’s reputation as a valued partner for achieving transformational and sustainable change in education and livelihoods.

Stakeholder and partner management

• Conduct rigorous research and evaluation of potential partners, using agreed corporate protocols and techniques, to assess their suitability and credentials for collaborating on CIFF initiatives.
• Apply CIFF’s agreed account management disciplines and approaches in all dealings with programme partners and stakeholders, to ensure productive and professional relationships are maintained in a coordinated and strategic manner.
• Working alongside senior colleagues, help to develop strategic partnerships to support adoption, replication, co-funding or scaling-up of CIFF programmes.
• With a variety of external audiences, develop and maintain strong partnerships and act as a knowledgeable resource about CIFF’s programmes and priority areas.

Membership and leadership of the team

• Be a role model to less experienced team members, demonstrating CIFF’s leadership behaviours and providing mentorship to aid their growth.
• Adopt a coaching approach with colleagues which instills a culture of openness and trust, embraces diverse thinking, and encourages continuous improvement and learning.
• We operate a matrix structure so reporting lines can vary between specific aspects of the role.
• This role may have line management responsibility for an analyst.

Requirements

Skills & experience

• Experience working in the public education system in Kenya and/or other CIFF Africa focus countries (Ethiopia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso) and strong understanding of education-related data and trends.
• Experience working within government systems and/or experience influencing the policies of government agencies, private sector organizations or donor organisations
• Experience designing initiatives that improve education outcomes (especially attendance, retention, learning for children at the system level.
• Demonstrable experience in analysis and due diligence; policy, planning and programme delivery, including field experience, all within the development sector
• Knowledge of the evidence bases pertaining to programme design and implementation, and belief in the importance of evidence-based decision making
• Strong working knowledge of impact measurement and programme monitoring and evaluation
• An innovative thinker with a pragmatic and solution-oriented mindset
• Ability to analyse an organisation’s strength of management, vision and adaptive capacity. Ability to recruit, guide, influence and/or advise management teams to effectively implement programmes
• Effectively champions and promotes causes – credible and professional, they always present the Foundation’s programmes in a compelling way to engage the audience
• Skilled in relationship building and strengthening; able to influence others and work collaboratively, uniting groups with a shared purpose
• English is CIFF’s business language – we expect all of our people to display outstanding verbal and written communication skills across all aspects of their role
• 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
• IT proficiency (most specifically in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• A proven self-starter, who works with pace and resilience