Country Program Lead – Sudan Catalyser

About the role

The role holder will oversee the implementation of AECF’s operations in Sudan, representing the organization to the government, donor partners, the business community, and other stakeholders. The incumbent will specifically focus on mobilizing and managing the Sudan Catalyser, a major program offering support to SMEs in the agriculture, renewable energy, and digital technologies sectors in collaboration with local Sudanese consultants.

This Program will be established in three operational centers in Kassala, el Gadarif, and another to be determined. The initial phase is an emergency financing facility expected to last 18 months and mobilize upwards of USD10m into up to 70 SMEs, along with technical assistance.

The role holder will supervise a team of up to ten staff members in implementing a challenge fund competition to identify and recruit SMEs, designing and overseeing advisory support, identifying and resolving risks and challenges to implementation, and supporting fundraising to bring additional capital into the Catalyser.

The role will report to the Head of Programs- Agribusiness.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, recruit, and manage, together with AECF’s Operations in Nairobi, a team of portfolio officers, ESG compliance staff, and other support staff.
• Together with the AECF’s Communications team in Nairobi and local Sudanese partners, design and implement communication strategies that effectively inform the SME sector, government stakeholders, and donors on the details of the Program, its implementation, and, eventually, its results.
• Provide effective liaison with donors to ensure collaboration with other interventions in the SME development space in Sudan.
• Identify and engage with technical implementing partners, including financial institutions and business development service providers, to define, tender, and implement support services for the Program’s effective implementation.
• Understand and effectively navigate the complex political and conflict environment to ensure the Program can proceed without undue external influence.
• Supervise the preparation of applicants for the Investment Committee by the local Sudanese consultants, including designing persuasive investment memos in English and supporting project sponsors to navigate the selection process.
• Oversee the transparent selection of grantees for the Program, ensuring that politically compromised persons are not included in funding.
• Ensure grantee compliance with all aspects of AECF’s funding program, including ESG, and the Sudanese consultants recruited for Program monitoring.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of ten years of full-time work experience in the design and delivery of financing mechanisms for SMEs in the sub-Saharan African context, including in Sudan.
• Have a degree in international development, economics, finance, business, mathematics, communications, or a related field.
• Have experience working in private sector development and a deep understanding of the sector with a bias toward agribusiness, renewable energy, and climate adaptation and/or digital solutions in Sudan.
• Possess a comprehensive understanding of the Sudan SME sector.
• Possess comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the Sudanese investment environment, including excellent appreciation of the political sensitivities and strategies to manage these.
• Possess strong grant or investment management competencies with experience in designing investment memos, taking applicants through investment committees, and managing large and complex grant or investment programs.

Application

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. AECF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or other fees).

If you believe you can demonstrate your abilities to meet the relevant criteria for the role, please submit your application and CV quoting in the subject line of the Job Title “Country Program Lead – Sudan Catalyser” to AECFrecruitment@aecfafrica.org. Interviews will be on a rolling basis and will close once a suitable candidate is identified.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.