Main purpose of the role
CIFF’s Africa strategy, envisages an Africa where girls have the health, economic opportunity and agency to contribute to a thriving and self-determining Africa. To do so, the strategy takes an integrated portfolio approach that layers interventions, addresses root causes and prioritizes sustainability, execution excellence and localization. The CIFF Africa structure is designed to meet the demands of this ambition and is anchored to three strategic pillars: 1) For Africa, by Africa; 2) Resilient Communities; and 3) Girl Capital (the consolidation of Girls’ Choices – SRHR, and Girls’ Opportunities – Education and Livelihoods).
The purpose of this role is to contribute to the development and execution of high impact, evidence-based strategies and plans that ensure CIFF Africa’s Girl Capital ambition is realized and delivers transformational and lasting change, in the area of girls’ education and livelihoods
And
To manage and mentor a team of Managers and Analysts, developing their capacity in effectively managing programmes, delivering quality outputs, and furthering the broader aims and goals of the CIFF Africa strategy and priorities.
Management dimensions
The role’s portfolio management will sit under the accountability of CIFF’s Director Girl Capital, Africa
This role will have direct management oversight of a Manager and Analyst with specialization in Education and/or Livelihoods, with the potential to grow this team in later years.
Role’s responsibilities
As a member of the Girl Capital Africa Senior Management Team (SMT)
- Take full and collective accountability for the development and implementation of Girl Capital Education & Livelihoods priorities and plans, ensuring they are aligned to the Girl Capital strategy.
- As a subject-matter expert, provide up-to-date, professional advice to the Africa Leadership Team, CIFF Executive Team and CIFF Board on issue related to Education & Livelihoods in Africa priority geographies and beyond, to support the development of strategies, policies and initiatives.
- Take the lead on corporate, cross-cutting initiatives and projects, as required by the Director – Girl Capital, Africa.
- Provide compelling, consistent and united leadership which creates clarity for all staff in the Girl Capital pillar and builds a sense of shared accountability for its success and that of the organisation.
- Develop and maintain excellent external relationships within the sector specialism, acting at all times as a corporate ambassador for CIFF, to help build the organisation’s reputation and profile as a professional, visionary and collaborative philanthropy.
- Deputise for the Director Girl Capital, Africa, as required.
Strategy & planning
- Build a pipeline of innovative, evidence-based and/or evidence-generating investments that further the aims and ambitions of Girl Capital Africa in transforming the design, delivery and support of girls’ education and livelihoods in CIFF Africa priority geographies.
- Proactively seek out investment opportunities that integrate education and livelihoods with other CIFF Africa pillar priorities, in support of shared higher-level outcomes.
- Collaborate with broader CIFF teams to identify intersectional, sustainable approaches to delivering educational and livelihood outcomes for girls including but not limited to gender transformation and DEI.
- Take a leadership role in coordinating the Girl Capital annual business planning process, identifying short, medium and long term ambitions, and distilling these into annual objectives, key results and investment pipelines.
Programme development, delivery & performance
- Oversee both the development of successful investment proposals and implementation of high- impact programmes by a team of Girl Capital Managers and Analysts, ensuring the quality, timeliness and strategic alignment of their work to strategic priorities and objectives.
- Allocate and monitor achievement of individual and team performance targets including but not limited to, new investment design, programme management (forecasting accuracy and disbursements), investment performance, personal development and progression.
- Conduct regular reviews of investment proposals under development and programmes in delivery, to monitor compliance with agreed due diligence and risk management protocols, ensuring the interests and reputation of the Foundation are appropriately and proportionately protected. Intervene to take corrective action where necessary.
- Ensure all investment proposals and programmes are underpinned by appropriate monitoring and evaluation processes and procedures, in accordance with the frameworks and guidance of the EME Team, to enable the development of rigorous evidence and analysis that supports CIFF’s advocacy, scaling-up and mainstreaming agendas.
- As a recognised subject-matter expert, provide casework advice, specialist guidance and mentoring support to colleagues (within and beyond the team) to deepen the skills, capability and professionalism of the organisation.
- Seek out leveraged and co-funding to support the scale up of successful programmes in collaboration with the Co-Funding and Partnerships (For Africa By Africa) pillar team.
- Identify and implement improved ways of working that increase operational effectiveness and efficiency.
Sector knowledge and profile-building
- Actively participate in and contribute to CIFF Africa field building, thought leadership and awareness raising.
- Lead the generation and consolidation of Africa Girl Capital Education & Livelihoods learning for dissemination as global goods aimed at advancing the field.
- Ensure that Girl Capital Africa’s Education & Livelihoods work is shaped by up-to-date insights and evidence by proactively maintaining extensive external networks with experts and opinion-formers within the sector and continent.
- Undertake or commission sector-relevant research and analysis to inform the effective development, delivery and evaluation of programmes and initiatives.
Stakeholder and partner management
- Build and nurture strategic and mutually beneficial relationships with key stakeholders and partners including governments and line ministries, co-funders, regional bodies to support the achievement of Africa Girl Capital as well as broader CIFF Africa goals.
- Advise and support more junior colleagues in identifying, negotiating with and managing appropriate programme partners (as required), to enable CIFF to maximise its philanthropic impact through effective collaboration.
- Proactively contribute to growing CIFF Africa’s strategic grantee and partner base with a view to growing the proportion of local grantees within the portfolio.
Leadership of the team
- Provide inspiring and motivational leadership that role models CIFF’s values and behaviours and empowers and enables staff to deliver excellence.
- As a member of the CIFF Africa Operations Leadership Team: provide high level programmatic updates; participate in troubleshooting Africa-wide portfolio challenges; contribute to decision making on improved ways of working, staff welfare and boosting and maintaining morale.