Careers at FSD Africa

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Programme communications strategy and delivery

Lead the development and implementation of the AFIYA communications plan. This includes:

• Oversee communications streams including programme awareness, impact storytelling, thought leadership, youth outreach, and media engagement.
• Map and prioritise key audiences (i.e. programme participants, insurers, policymakers, partners, and development actors) and ensuring communications activities are tailored to their needs and interests.
• Develop and maintain key programme communications materials (programme overview, infographics, digital content, videos, and briefing materials).
• Manage the AFIYA programme presence on FSD Africa’s digital platforms.
• Ensure communications activities are aligned with programme milestones and implementation progress.

The role will support communications activities that help partners and stakeholders understand the programme and its objectives, particularly around agricultural insurance, climate resilience, and financial inclusion for young women. 

Impact storytelling and content development

Lead the development of compelling stories and content that document AFIYA’s work and impact.

This includes:

• Identify programme participants, partners and innovations whose stories can be documented over time.
• Produce written, visual, and multimedia content highlighting programme progress and experiences.
• Work with country teams and partners to capture stories from the field.
• Ensure stories elevate the voices and experiences of programme participants in line with Mastercard Foundation communications principles.

Knowledge capture and programme learning

Support the documentation and communication of programme lessons, working closely with colleagues in the Strategic Communications & Development Impact teams. Key activities include:

• Capture insights from programme implementation, including product development, insurance adoption, and policy engagement.
• Produce learning briefs, insights, and synthesis materials that document programme experiences.
• Translate technical findings into accessible materials for broader audiences.
• Support the development of knowledge products that share lessons with policymakers, insurers, and development partners.

 Partner communications coordination

Coordinate communications across programme partners and stakeholders. Key responsibilities include:

• Develop shared messaging frameworks and communications guidance for programme partners.
• Support partners to communicate consistently about the programme.
• Coordinate opportunities to highlight partner contributions and programme progress.
• Ensure communications outputs align with donor brand and approval processes.

Media engagement and outreach

Build relationships with media and outreach platforms to support programme visibility. This includes:

• Engage journalists covering agriculture, climate resilience, and financial inclusion.
• Coordinate media briefings, interviews, and field visits.
• Support outreach initiatives through platforms reaching youth and farmers (i.e. broadcast media and youth-focused platforms).

Events and stakeholder engagement

Support the planning and delivery of programme events and convenings. Responsibilities include:

• Organise programme-related workshops, convenings and partner events.
• Support participation in sector events and industry forums.
• Coordinate communications materials for programme engagements.

Consultant and production management

Manage external suppliers supporting programme communications. This includes:

• Writers, designers, videographers, and media producers.
• Production of digital, video, and broadcast content.
• Coordination of storytelling and media activities across programme countries.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Master’s degree and 6 years of experience or Bachelor’s Degree and 8 years of experience preferably in Communications, Journalism, Agriculture, Development Studies, or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant field is desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal skills.

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• At least 6 years professional experience in communications, storytelling, or knowledge management roles.
• Experience working in agriculture, rural development, food systems, or climate resilience programmes.
• Strong understanding of the challenges facing smallholder farmers and agrifood systems in Africa, particularly in relation to climate risk, financial access, and rural livelihoods.
• Strong writing and storytelling skills with experience producing content for diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to translate technical programme outputs, research findings, or policy work into clear and accessible communications materials.

go to method of application »

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Budgeting, Forecasting, and Analysis
Support the development, implementation, and ongoing management of the AFIYA Programme budget by providing accurate forecasts and insightful financial analysis to inform decision-making:

• Monitor monthly financial performance against approved budgets and proactively investigate and explain variances. 
• Track programme expenditure against budget allocations, ensuring timely escalation to management of any deviations, along with clear justification and recommendations. 
• Contribute to periodic forecasting exercises to enhance budget accuracy and financial planning. 

Grantee Financial Reporting
Support effective financial oversight of grants to ensure compliance with donor requirements and internal policies:

• Liaise with Procurement to maintain an accurate and up-to-date grants tracker. 
• Review grantee financial reports and supporting documentation to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance. 
• Analyse grantee audit reports and highlight key findings, risks, and areas requiring corrective action. 
• Support the extraction and consolidation of financial information required by the Risk team and Project Leads, particularly in relation to project audits. 

Donor Financial Reporting
Facilitate accurate and timely financial reporting to donors in line with contractual obligations:

• Prepare periodic donor spend reports in accordance with agreed reporting formats and timelines. 
• Support the preparation and submission of disbursement requests to donors, ensuring completeness and adherence to reporting requirements. 

Commitments Tracking
Ensure effective tracking and management of contractual financial obligations against approved budgets:

• Maintain an accurate commitments tracker reflecting contract values, payments made, and outstanding balances. 
• Reconcile procurement contract listings with the commitments tracker to ensure completeness and accuracy. 

Financial Analysis
Provide analytical support to strengthen financial reporting and integrity:

• Collaborate with the Assistant Accountant to reconcile Budget vs Actual (BvA) reports with ledger postings, ensuring accuracy and consistency of financial data. 

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Minimum of Bachelor's degree with 1 year of experience or High Diploma with 2 years in Commerce, Finance or Business related discipline.
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English.

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• At least one year’s administration work experience; a focus on preferably working in the finance environment of a donor funded organisation. 
• Proven, strong organisational skills, including the ability to self-start, prioritise and proactively respond to evolving/ unfolding demands.
• Experience in managing processes and analysing information.
• Demonstrably strong customer focus

go to method of application »

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

User Support and Service Management

• Provide Level 1 (L1) and Level 2 (L2) technical support to staff through tickets, email, phone calls, Teams chats, and in-person assistance, ensuring timely and effective resolution.
• Log, track, and resolve incidents in accordance with defined service level agreements (SLAs) for both first response and full resolution.
• Escalate complex systems, security, or network issues to Level 3 (L3) support or third-party vendors when necessary.
• Respond to general service information requests, maintaining clear and timely communication with users.
• Execute IT onboarding tasks including account creation, device setup, orientation, and access provisioning, following the procedures outlined in the IT Manual.
• Manage IT offboarding processes, including account deactivation, device recovery, and access revocation, ensuring completion within mandated timelines.

Systems and Infrastructure Administration

• Support the day-to-day maintenance and monitoring of IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, storage, and service applications.
• Perform software installations, configurations, updates, and system rollouts according to planned schedules.
• Ensure IT systems operate efficiently, securely, and reliably to support organisational operations.

 IT Asset Management

• Maintain an accurate inventory of IT assets, including laptops, peripherals, network equipment, software licenses, and other hardware.
• Support IT procurement by preparing requirements, processing departmental IT requests, and coordinating with Procurement teams and vendors.
• Act as liaison with vendors for warranty claims, repairs, service-level agreements (SLAs), and third-party support to ensure timely resolution of issues. IT Projects Support and Training
• Deliver user training and digital productivity coaching on request, enhancing staff competency and effective use of IT systems.
• Develop and maintain support guides, FAQs, and training materials to facilitate user self-service and knowledge sharing.
• Support planning and execution of IT projects, including system upgrades, rollouts, and process improvements, in line with project plans.
• Collaborate with Programme Delivery teams to provide IT input and support for project execution, ensuring seamless integration of technology solutions.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Minimum of Bachelor's degree with 2 years of experience or High Diploma with 3 years in  Technology, Computer Science, or related field.
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English.

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• At least 2 year’s technical support, systems administration or IT operations experience.
• Proven, strong organisational skills, including the ability to self-start, prioritise and proactively respond to evolving/ unfolding demands.
• Demonstrates a strong interest in emerging technologies and a general curiosity about the evolving IT landscape. 
• Exercises personal initiative and shows commitment to delivering high-quality IT support. 
• Possesses strong technical troubleshooting skills across hardware, software, networks, and cloud-based productivity suites. 

go to method of application »

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Programme Implementation Support

Provide logistical and administrative support to the delivery of the programme; acting as part of the team in ensuring the results articulated in project plans are achieved:

• Facilitate the organisation and smooth execution of training sessions, community campaigns, and advocacy events across multiple countries, ensuring effective outreach and participant engagement.
• Manage and maintain accurate records, schedules, and communication channels with partners related to agribusiness hubs and skilling programs, supporting seamless coordination and information flow.
• Support the systematic tracking and analysis of key indicators, including training participation, youth mobilization, and gender-related outcomes, to inform program improvement and impact measurement.
• Assist in the preparation of high-quality materials, reports, presentations, and briefs for donors and internal stakeholders, ensuring timely and comprehensive documentation of project progress and achievements.
• Coordinate all logistics for site visits, stakeholder meetings, and training-of-trainers events, optimizing resource allocation and participant experience.
• Monitor partner deliverables and reporting timelines, providing timely follow-up and technical support to ensure adherence to program requirements.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing events and learning sessions, and manage the dissemination of program tools, updates, and best practices.
• Assist the team in preparing presentations, reports, and other key programme documents; as well as editing and formatting documents as requested and in a way that complies with the Mastercard timelines. 
• Ensure completion of the project approval process prior to signing of contracting documentation and release of funds to implementing partner. Support the team in entering records of project progress into the project management, results tracking and knowledge management systems; alert the Lead Programmes to any delays or problems.
• Assist team members in developing and maintaining good working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders; serve as an information resource on status of project/products and respond effectively to queries from stakeholders.

Research and Analysis

Support in undertaking of research and development of relevant collateral required by the team to achieve the Project’s knowledge management objectives.

• Provide general research support by reading widely, keeping abreast of current events or news and sharing relevant information with the team.
• Assist in analysing data and preparing reports related to risk assessment, mitigation strategies, and resilience-building initiatives.
• Compile and synthesize information from various sources to support the team's decision-making processes.
• Support the maintenance of the project knowledge management database (in collaboration with the Development Impact team) and leverage data and information from the database for various operational and strategic objectives. 
• Prepare presentations and documentation as well as other analytical pieces and collateral required for stakeholder engagements.
• Support the development of the Project impact report.
• Support the development of collateral required for project events such as concept notes, agenda, registration forms etc.

Results Tracking and Impact Analysis

Ensure monitoring and evaluation of results is robust and relevant e.g., through timely data collection and active maintenance of a results tracker.

• Ensure robust and relevant monitoring and evaluation of project results, including timely data collection and proactive maintenance of a results tracker.
• Support impact analysis of project–related activities, contributing to periodic pillar reports and external reporting requirements.
• Track periodic reports submitted by implementing partners, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and timely submission.
• Maintain and regularly update the results tracker, sharing updates with the project team and relevant stakeholders, including the Development Impact team.
• Support documentation and record-keeping for project activities, including meeting minutes, project plans, and progress reports.
• Assist in the preparation of presentations and briefing materials for internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting on project activities, milestones, and outcomes.

Record Keeping

Take overall responsibility in maintenance of AFIYA records and SharePoint folder, storing data according to filing systems for physical and electronic information:

• Ensure that electronic records of all project documents are well organised and stored securely, providing support to the team in maintaining comprehensive records and organising electronic scanning where necessary.
• Manage the maintenance of the project’s paper-based record systems; ensuring that all documents required in a paper form for conformance with legal, regulatory, or contractual obligations are stored effectively for easy retrieval.
• Liaise with communication team to maintain the pillar contact database; includes frequently scanning business cards from contacts and uploading into the master database.
• Maintain records of procurements by the team to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.

Communication & Social Media

Support the Manager Adopt Programmes and team in managing strategic relationships and rolling out the project communication and advocacy plan:

• Work with the project team in the development of written pieces and reports while taking the lead in the dissemination of these reports; ensuring that high standards of written English are maintained, and that content is adjusted to cater for the audience.
• Support the project team in drafting and disseminating communications to project stakeholders.
• Follow a content plan to develop materials; personally creating, and/or editing content provided by other staff, in line with the given message framework, especially supporting a strong social media presence.
• Create and schedule content releases, uploading pre-written pieces and supporting assets.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

COMPETENCIES
Competencies describe the key behaviours that drive success in all of FSD Africa’s roles, regardless of technical specialism. They have been derived from systematic research correlating performance with personal attributes. 

Competency Levels 

• Level 1: Basic
• Level 2: Foundation   
• Level 3: Specialist
• Level 4: Senior Specialist      
• Level 5: Leading Expert          
• Level 6: Executive

This position requires competency at Foundation Level for all the competencies listed below:

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Minimum of Bachelor's degree with 2 year of experience or High Diploma with 3 years in Business Administration, Project Management, Economics, International Development, or a related field.
• Professional certification in Project Management or Programme Management (e.g., PRINCE2, PMP) would be advantageous.
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English.

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• At least 2 year’s administration work experience; a focus on project administration will be an added advantage.
• Proven, strong organisational skills, including the ability to self-start, prioritise and proactively respond to evolving/ unfolding demands.
• Experience in managing processes and analysing information.
• Demonstrably strong customer focus.

go to method of application »

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Results, Learning, and Performance Management 

Support results tracking, learning, and performance management, ensuring evidence is generated and used to inform decision-making and programme adaptation:

• Support development and management of intervention Theories of Change, results frameworks, indicators, and tracking tools that are aligned with programme-level outcomes and provide consistent, credible performance information.
• Ensure the quality and integrity of results data by embedding appropriate assurance processes, working with delivery partners to reflect implementation realities, and reviewing systems periodically to maintain relevance and usefulness.
• Support ongoing results tracking to provide timely insight into delivery progress, emerging challenges, and performance trends, supporting effective programme oversight and management.
• Contribute to learning and reflection processes that enable teams and partners to interpret results, generate practical insights, and apply learning to improve programme design and delivery.
• Support the effective use of Development Impact systems and learning approaches by providing guidance, tools, and practical support that strengthen results use and adaptive management across both programmes.

Support Data Quality Assurance

Support impact monitoring and management, ensuring it is conducted according to FSD Africa, FSD Africa’s donors, and other international regulations and guidelines to meet decision makers’ evidence needs while considering risks, ethics and safeguarding:

• Support the integration of gender, equity, social inclusion, climate change and utility considerations in all AFIYA project and program activities.
• Support tracking of recommendations from monitoring reports, reviews and evaluations to ensure that follow-up actions are taken as required.
• Commission scheduled and ad hoc Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) for FSD Africa priority programmes.
• Monitor the data management process and carry out corrective action to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of data management operations.
• Ensure that FSD Africa and implementing partners’ data and data collection activities comply with FSD Africa and donor standards as well as regulatory, legal, data protection and ethical standards of the financial markets system and the country where projects take place.

Support Impactful and Quality Implementation

Contribute to the development and implementation of the programme reviews, project completion reviews, and any other evaluations that focus on learning, ensuring that valuable insights are generated and stakeholder requirements are met:

• Work with DI and AFIYA teams to develop the programme of programme reviews, project completion reviews, and any other evaluations that focus on learning; work collaboratively with colleagues to develop a schedule that minimises disruption to project teams and implementing partners.
• In collaboration with DI team colleagues, support the implementation of robust studies, e.g., baseline/mid/endline reviews, annual survey studies, completion reviews; provide supervision and support to ensure studies are completed on time and to standard.
• Ensure that team members and consultants understand the requirements of the various recipients of the research, and that studies and analytical frameworks are designed to deliver relevant insights; supervise reporting to ensure audience satisfaction
• Design effective strategies that will enable FSD Africa staff, implementing partners, development partners and other stakeholders to understand and utilise study findings; ensure that results are disseminated in time to feed into decision-making.
• Support evidence generation of important insight papers or other significant opinion pieces for AFIYA programme.

Qualifications and Education

• A bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Development Studies, Operations Research, Statistics, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of relevant professional experience, including research experience in financial market systems development; alternatively, a Higher Diploma with a minimum of 3 years’ relevant experience.
• Professional training in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning from a recognised institution is an added advantage.

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• At least 2 years’ post-graduation experience in Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning of donor-funded programs. 
• Technical experience in development impact management, including theory of change design, results tracking, and adaptive learning.
• Experience supporting the design and performance oversight of complex, multi-stakeholder programmes - preferably in areas related to agriculture, financial inclusion, or private sector development.
• Knowledge of data visualisation, results tracking systems, or digital tools for performance and learning. 
• Experience supporting MEL capacity building or technical assistance to partners or implementing organisations.
• Ability to produce high-quality written reports/outputs in English, and present monitoring and evaluation findings effectively with high-quality graphics and visuals

go to method of application »

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Strategy and Programming 

Work with the Principal, Innovation for Resilience within the context of FSD Africa’s strategy and the Adaptation & Resilience Pillar’s focus, ensuring that the programme results in meaningful real-sector outcomes:

• Lead in scoping research market studies, and user research in each country to inform value chain prioritisation and programme targeting.
• Design and implement strategies to map, access, and optimize national agricultural, climate, and demographic datasets relevant to AFIYA.
• Share learnings associated with strategy development and programming with the broader FSD Africa organisation and partners.
• Work collaboratively with the Development Impact team to devise and manage results measurement and learning frameworks that will yield important insights.
• Participate actively in strategy formulation sessions, contributing technical expertise and innovative solutions.
• Responsible for translating ecosystem gaps into actionable research programs and data partnerships.
• Identify and prioritise research agendas aligned to insurance innovation, climate resilience, and agricultural risk transfer.

Research Management 

• Coordinate development of data sharing agreements, APIs, and batch repositories with government data owners and implementing partners.
• Identify and prioritise use cases for data-driven product design, risk pricing, and regulatory reporting.
• Work with technical teams to strengthen sex-disaggregated data collection, access, and sustainability through partner capacity-building. 
• Develop results measurement frameworks to track research and data ecosystem progress and influence.
• Contribute to organisational learning by synthesizing research outcomes and translating them into strategic recommendation.
• Prepare partner reports, internal briefs, and presentations for board or external stakeholders.
• Prepare briefing documents and data-driven reports for leadership and key stakeholders.
• Identify trends, capture lessons learned and recommend course corrections to optimise implementation outcomes.

 Influencing and Communicating for Impact

Actively participate in development, and lead implementation, of advocacy and communications plans on research.

• Map stakeholders and devise strategic communication plans to influence key actors and advance project goals.
• Create visualisations (e.g., dashboards, charts, graphs) to clearly communicate key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Partner with the Communications team to integrate advocacy into project plans, driving stakeholder engagement effectively.
• Develop impactful content and materials for advocacy efforts, supporting visibility and strategic communication objectives.
• Represent FSD Africa professionally in public forums, enhancing its credibility and influence among stakeholders.
• Monitor communication efforts, adjusting strategies based on effectiveness and stakeholder responses.

Relationship Management

Take initiative to build relationships and ensure effective collaboration with and between all project stakeholders and FSD Africa colleagues; includes managing any consultants deployed to the projects being managed:

• Manage multi-stakeholder workshops and stakeholder consultations to synthesize insights across insurers, regulators, fintechs, aggregators, and young women Smallholder Farmers (SHFs).
• Foster collaboration across organisational pillars, identifying opportunities for synergy and coordinated actions.
• Respond effectively to stakeholder information needs, organising targeted capacity-building events or knowledge dissemination.
• Manage consultants and teams through motivational leadership, ensuring high performance and effective project outcomes.
• Engage continuously with stakeholders to nurture relationships, ensuring ongoing collaboration and support for projects.

Risks & Resources Management 

Ensure effective management of resources/budget for projects under management, aiming to optimise the impact that is achieved with resources and ensuring compliance with FSD Africa and partner policies:

• Develop project plans, budgets, and forecasts to ensure optimal resource utilisation and compliance with organisational policies.
• Ensure rigorous due diligence and risk assessments are conducted, ensuring thorough analysis without impeding partner operations.
• Liaise internally to manage financial resources effectively, ensuring compliance with statutory and partner regulations.
• Regularly analyse portfolio performance for value-for-money, adjusting strategies to enhance development impact.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Master’s degree and 6 years of experience or Bachelor’s Degree and 8 years of experience in Actuarial Science, Data Science, Research, Statistics, Computer Science.
• Relevant postgraduate qualifications preferred.
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English.

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• At least 6 years of professional experience in leading research-driven ecosystem development initiatives to promote sustainable finance and climate resilience across multiple countries and financial institutions in Africa.
• Experience working in a complex and pioneering environment.
• Track record of managing relationships and influencing stakeholders in the financial sector in Africa; good influencing/ interpersonal skills.
• Excellent grasp of key principles of Project Cycle Management; proven track record of adaptive management.
• Track record of effectively managing people; including ability to motivate and coordinate teams.
• Ability to engage & influence convincingly at a senior management level. 

go to method of application »

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Gender-Intentional Product Design (Develop) 

Serve as the gender lead embedded in AFIYA's product development workstreams, working directly alongside the insurtechs, insurers, and reinsurer partners engaged in AFIYA to design and refine agricultural insurance solutions for young women smallholder farmers and agri-preneurs.

• Support in defining gender-intentional product design criteria for AFIYA insurance solutions, interrogating how premium structures, claims processes, policy terms, and distribution channel requirements include or exclude young women.
• Conduct gender analysis of agricultural insurance product prototypes at the design stage, identifying structural barriers relating to land tenure, income seasonality, mobile money access, and household-level financial decision-making that determine whether products reach and serve young women before they go to market.
• Work with country teams and cross-functional partners to ensure integration of gender considerations into program design, implementation, and monitoring.
• Ensure gender considerations are embedded in reinsurance and lending partners programmes.

 Adoption and Capacity Building (Adopt) 

Lead the gender dimensions of AFIYA's adoption and capacity building strategy, ensuring that financial literacy programming, climate-smart agriculture skilling, and community engagement are designed and delivered in ways that build young women's capacity to access, understand, and retain insurance and credit products;

• Design targeting frameworks and segmentation approaches that enable implementing partners to identify and reach young women smallholder farmers and agri-SME owners across AFIYA's countries of operation. 
• Support development of financial literacy and capability-building curricula grounded in how young women in agrifood systems make financial decisions, manage seasonal cash flows, and engage financial institutions.
• Equip implementing partners and country teams with practical tools and guidance to apply gender-intentional approaches in product distribution, client engagement, and beneficiary targeting.
• Oversee the integration of social norm change approaches into client-facing programming, ensuring interventions address household-level barriers.
• Monitor and report on adoption rates, retention, and product utilisation disaggregated by gender, and use this evidence to continuously refine targeting and capability-building approaches.

Evidence Generation and Regulatory Engagement (Enable)

Own the gender-disaggregated evidence base that AFIYA requires to drive its regulatory engagement through R3Lab and inform policy dialogue for gender-intentional agricultural insurance at scale: 

• Design the gender data architecture across AFIYA's monitoring and results measurement system, establishing what sex-disaggregated and gender-specific indicators are collected at intervention and country programme levels.
• Manage research and learning activities — including rapid gender assessments, barrier studies, and periodic outcome reviews that generate evidence on how young women in agrifood systems engage with insurance and credit products, and what product design, distribution, or regulatory adjustments would improve outcomes.
• Translate programme-level gender evidence into policy-relevant outputs — briefs, regulatory submissions, data insights, and stakeholder presentations — that support AFIYA's engagement with insurance regulators, central banks, and development finance institutions across programme countries.
• Support R3Lab's engagement with policymakers and regulators to advocate for gender-intentional regulatory frameworks, using AFIYA's evidence base to identify specific regulatory barriers and data gaps that prevent young women from accessing and benefiting from agricultural insurance.
• Ensure all gender evidence feeds back into programme adaptation, establishing a learning loop between the Enable, Develop, and Adopt workstreams that keeps AFIYA's gender-intentionality responsive to what the data shows.

Programme Integration and Stakeholder Management 

Take initiative to build relationships and ensure effective collaboration with and between all project stakeholders and FSD Africa colleagues; includes managing any consultants deployed to the projects being managed:

• Maintain embedded working relationships with the programme leads participating in design sessions, technical reviews, and implementation planning meetings as an integrated programme contributor.
• Foster collaboration across organisational pillars, identifying opportunities for synergy and coordinated actions.
• Respond effectively to stakeholder information needs, organising targeted capacity-building events or knowledge dissemination.
• Manage consultants and teams through motivational leadership, ensuring high performance and effective project outcomes.
• Engage continuously with stakeholders to nurture relationships, ensuring ongoing collaboration and support for projects.

Risks & Resources Management 

Ensure effective management of resources/budget for projects under management, aiming to optimise the impact that is achieved with resources and ensuring compliance with Mastercard regulations:

• Develop project plans, budgets, and forecasts to ensure optimal resource utilisation and compliance with organisational policies.
• Ensure rigorous due diligence and risk assessments are conducted, ensuring thorough analysis without impeding project operations.
• Liaise internally to manage financial resources effectively, ensuring compliance with statutory and donor regulations.
• Regularly analyse portfolio performance for value-for-money, adjusting strategies to enhance development impact.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Master’s degree and 6 years of experience or bachelor’s degree and 8 years of experience.
• Relevant postgraduate qualifications preferred.
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English.

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• At least 6 years of progressively senior experience in gender programming, with significant exposure to financial inclusion, insurance markets, or financial product design.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate gender analysis into financial sector interventions — whether in product design, distribution channel development, or regulatory engagement.
• Substantive understanding of how insurance markets, lending facilities, and regulatory frameworks function in sub-Saharan African contexts.

go to method of application »

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Strategic Influence & Positioning Support

Contribute substantively to the development of Communications & Engagement strategy, bringing evidence-based insight that strengthens delivery of FSD Africa’s strategic goals.

• Work with the Director and Communications team to analyse programme portfolios and identify priority audiences and spheres of influence across pillars.
• Collaborate with Development Impact colleagues to gather relevant evidence, data and insights that inform positioning and influence priorities.
• Support the definition of influencing goals linked to policy / strategy windows and programme outcomes.
• Contribute to the development of influence strategies and messaging frameworks aligned to agreed objectives.
• Develop structured content plans aligned to agreed strategic and influencing priorities. 

 Institutional Learning & Evidence Synthesis

Translate organisational experience and Development Impact evidence into clear, credible insight that directly supports delivery of FSD Africa’s strategic goals.

• Establish regular engagement with pillar teams and Development Impact to capture emerging lessons, including practitioner and ‘voices from the field’ insights.
• Review research outputs, evaluations and programme documentation to extract transferable learning.
• Distil complex technical material into concise insight briefs and thematic summaries suitable for different audiences.
• Identify recurring cross-cutting themes relevant to market systems development.
• Ensure synthesised insights are structured and shared in ways that inform decision-making and communications planning.

Content Development & Editorial

Produce clear, credible content and apply FSD Africa’s editorial standards to ensure consistency and quality across communications.

• Draft and structurally edit substantive materials including case studies, briefing notes and core knowledge products.
• Commission and manage external writers or editors where specialist input is required.
• Develop and uphold editorial standards, templates and style and branding guidelines across knowledge products.
• Review content produced across the organisation to ensure clarity, analytical coherence and consistency of voice.

Knowledge Systems & Asset Stewardship

Design and sustain knowledge systems and practices that protect institutional memory and enable efficient retrieval and utilisation of evidence and insight.

• Design structured workflows for capturing, curating and archiving lessons and evidence from programmes and reviews.
• Develop and maintain repositories of insight, proof points and knowledge assets.
• Create clear filing, tagging and referencing practices to support ease of retrieval.
• Work with Communications & Engagement colleagues to ensure knowledge materials are stored, updated and maintained within agreed systems.
• Promote consistent use of knowledge systems and practices across pillars and teams.

Senior Support & Strategic Enablement

Support the Director and Senior Communications Manager in equipping senior leaders and pillar teams with persuasive, evidence-based narratives for purposeful engagement in policy / strategy and market forums.

• Prepare tailored briefing materials and insight summaries for senior leadership engagement.
• Work with leaders to clarify key messages ahead of policy / strategy and market engagements.
• Develop narrative summaries that link programme evidence to agreed strategic positioning.
• Coordinate with Outreach & Campaigns to align substantive content with engagement priorities.
• Provide timely, high-quality drafting support for priority external moments.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

COMPETENCIES
Competencies describe the key behaviours that drive success in all of FSD Africa’s roles, regardless of technical specialism. They have been derived from systematic research correlating performance with personal attributes. 

Competency Levels 

• Level 1: Basic
• Level 2: Foundation   
• Level 3: Specialist
• Level 4: Senior Specialist      
• Level 5: Leading Expert          
• Level 6: Executive

This position requires competency at Specialist Level for all the competencies listed below:

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Master’s degree and 6 years of experience or Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of experience in Communications, Journalism, Development Studies, Public Policy or a related field
• Professional training or proven experience in editorial practice, publishing, knowledge management or communications for development is an added advantage

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Demonstrated experience using communications as a tool to support systemic change, policy influence or market systems development
• Significant experience shaping complex technical or analytical material into high-quality, audience-appropriate knowledge products
• Advanced writing and structural editing skills, with the ability to clarify arguments, strengthen analytical framing and improve coherence
• Experience developing and applying editorial standards, templates and style guidelines across an organisation
• Proven ability to design and implement structured workflows for knowledge capture, curation, archiving and retrieval