About the position

The Partnerships Officer for Africa works with the Africa Managing Director, scientific community, and the Partnerships and Communications team to Identify and foster opportunities for resource mobilization at the regional and country level. This role contributes to maintaining excellent relationships with national governments and regional bodies, as well as maintaining a robust regional fundraising pipeline resources for implementation of the Alliance’s research-for-development agenda. The Partnerships Officer for Africa is co-supervised by the Managing Director for Africa and the Global Director of Partnerships and Communication. Although regionally focused, the role contributes to the Alliance’s overall resource mobilization and partnerships objectives, working closely with the global Partnerships team.

Key duties & responsibilities

• Develop, nurture, and facilitate coordination of strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in Sub Sharan Africa to facilitate implementation of the Alliance’s agenda in the region.
•  Oversee development and implementation of Government Relationship Strategies in targeted countries to build and maintain strong partnerships with public authorities.
• Work with the Managing Director on developing strong and trustworthy relationships with the donors and partners to position the Alliance as strategic, effective, and impactful implementing partners.
• Negotiate partnership agreements and MOUs to formalize collaborations, including relationships to establish relevant consortia for proposal development.
• Identify and gather intelligence on funding prospects at country and regional level with an affinity for research, development, and policy change aligned with the Alliance’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Co-design with the Alliance’s scientific community and senior leadership, funder engagement strategies (cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, campaigns) that lead to financial and in-kind contributions.
• Plan, design and ensure the Alliance’s participation in key regional and national events and policy dialogues related to the Alliances’ mission to build and maintain funder and partner networks and generates funding opportunities.
• Plan and oversee funder prospective funder visits to Alliance offices and research sites to stimulate meaningful long-term relationships, including preparation of briefs and taking points.
• Coordinate development and submission of high quality, strategic, competitive, and timely proposals to funders, and follow through until approval. Act as a strategic and technical support.
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders.

Requirements

Required qualifications and experience.

• Master’s degree in related field (International Development, Political Science, Business Administration, Agriculture, Environment) etc.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral, French will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 5 years working in international research-for-development organizations.
• Excellent skills in teamwork, negotiation, communication, and diplomacy, with the ability to interact courteously and effectively with people at all levels in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment, including external stakeholders.
• Excellent eye for detail, critical thinking, high standards of excellence, personal organization, prioritization and time management skills, flexibility, and the ability to deliver on agreed deadlines.
• Ability to work with a considerable amount of autonomy in fast-moving environment.
• Must be able to work independently, but also participate as a team member in the accomplishment of duties.
• Strong ability to coordinate, prioritize and organize workload; take initiative and work under pressure.
• Willingness to travel within Africa and beyond.
• Experience working with CGIAR or other international organizations and experience working in Sub-Sahara Africa.