East Africa Correspondent at Financial Times

The Financial Times is looking for an East Africa correspondent, one of the most exciting and challenging jobs in the FT’s global network. The correspondent will have a flair for writing and a passion to cover one of the most dynamic regions of Africa.

The role is based in Nairobi.

Top priority will be coverage of Ethiopia, a country of 110m people with an Asian-style development model that has produced double-digit growth for more than a decade. Under Abiy Ahmed, the prime minister, the country is now undergoing a radical political and economic shift that will test its ability to stay on course, but could result in one of the most positive stories in Africa in decades.

• Democratic Republic of Congo is a huge and troubled country whose mineral reserves, particularly coltan, puts it at the uncomfortable heart of the green revolution.
• Following the fall of Omar Bashir, forced out after 30 years by waves of youth-led protests, Sudan is another story of keen interest as it charts what is bound to be a tricky course to democracy.
• Kenya is a leading African centre of technical innovation with many of the continent’s most interesting start-ups based in Nairobi. How these companies develop will have a profound impact on the continent’s future
• Countries including Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia and South Sudan complete what must be one of the most varied beats in the FT’s foreign network.

Key Responsibilities And Duties

• Cooperate effectively with other correspondents and the World desk in London
• Tell stories whether corporate, economic, political or social
• Write for all sections of the FT from company news and capital markets to a magazine front
• Have an eye for news and a flair for writing
• Demonstrate numeracy and proficiency in handling data
• Report across all digital platforms and engage with our audience through social media

Who We Are Looking For

The successful candidate must be capable of writing economic and business stories in a fragmented environment where data is not readily available and numbers are not always large enough to excite desks in London. The correspondent should be prepared to work and flourish in a challenging environment. The ability to work in French would be useful.

All staff are welcome to apply for Editorial vacancies as part of a flexible working arrangement. If you believe this role can be managed part-time or as a job share then please provide details as part of your application. All proposals will be seriously considered. While approval will be conditional on the demands of the role and team, the FT is committed to being responsive to the needs of its staff and the different ways they may want to work.

Applications should be made via Workday by 12 November 2019.