Regional Program Officer, Digital & Creative Economies (Africa) at Finn Church Aid (FCA)

The Regional Program Officer will play a critical role in supporting programmatic innovation, operationalizing innovative strategies, fostering ecosystem development, building partnerships, and supporting business development within FCA’s programmatic work in Digital & Creative Economies across Africa. This position will ensure the cross-regional identification, scaling and integration of cutting-edge practices, nurture relationships with key stakeholders, and enhance FCA's visibility in the region, with a particular focus on advancing initiatives in the digital and creative economies, working closely with the Head of DICE Program. The position is local with a regional scope in Eastern and Horn of Africa, based in FCA Kenya Country Office.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Programmatic Innovation

• Support the development of innovative program models aligned with FCA's strategic priorities.
• Support the piloting and scale up of projects that introduce new methodologies, digital solutions, or creative approaches to FCA’s programmatic work.
• Identify and leverage emerging trends in the region to ensure the Digital & Creative Economies (DICE) Program remains relevant and impactful.
• Provide project/field-support to country project teams implementing projects related to the Digital & Creative Economies (DICE) Program.

Ecosystem Development

• Help in building and maintaining relationships with relevant ecosystem actors, including private sector, government, NGOs, accelerators, and academic institutions.
• Foster ecosystem-building initiatives that connect entrepreneurs, youth, and communities with opportunities for learning, earning, and growth.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration within FCA and with partners and stakeholders across the region.

Partnership Development

• Help identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with international and regional organizations to expand the Digital & Creative Economies (DICE) program portfolio and impact.
• Contribute to negotiations and help manage relationships with donors, technology providers, and other stakeholders to secure resources for program expansion.
• Represent FCA in relevant regional forums to advocate for creative economy, digital inclusion, and youth employment.

Communications & Business Development

• Collaborate with the communications team to increase visibility of FCA’s work in the Digital & Creative Economies (DICE) across the region through success stories, social media, and publications.
• Support business development efforts by identifying funding opportunities, contributing to proposal writing, and engaging with donors.
• Develop and maintain a database of regional partnerships and business opportunities to support program expansion.

Participation in the DICE Coordination Group

• Serve as the Vice Chair of FCA’s Digital & Creative Economy (DICE) Coordination Group.
• Help to provide strategic guidance within the DICE Coordination Group, facilitating collaboration among stakeholders and contributing to decision-making on key digital and creative economy initiatives.
• Ensure alignment between regional program activities and the goals of the DICE Coordination Group, with a focus on fostering innovation and advancing employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the digital and creative sectors.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Help generate periodic internal portfolio-wide progress updates and reports on FCA’s work in the Digital & Creative Economies (DICE).
• Support the development of annual work plans and budgets for regional activities.

Qualifications, Experience & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, business, social sciences, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Strong understanding of digital and creative economies, particularly as they relate to youth employment, livelihoods, or education.
• At least 5 years of experience working in program development, partnerships, or ecosystem-building roles in Africa, preferably within the NGO or development sector.
• Proven ability to manage complex multi-stakeholder partnerships and initiatives.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Experience in business development, proposal writing, and managing donor relationships.
• Ability to work in a multicultural and fast-paced environment, with strong leadership and problem-solving skills.