JOB PURPOSE

The Senior Manager, Donor Relations & Global Partnerships will plan, drive, and manage strategic engagement with new partners and emerging funding institutions to advance AFI’s strategic operational objectives and financial sustainability.

ACCOUNTABILITIES / KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead strategic expansion of the funding pipeline by sourcing and attracting new likeminded funding partners resulting in sustained funding revenue for AFI and opportunities to scale operations in accordance with members’ evolving demand. Provide focal point engagement to funding partners.
• Advance strategic negotiations with perspective funders and oversee related internal coordination to secure partnership agreements that are aligned with and favourable to AFI’s unique institutional mandate and operational priorities. Spearhead consultations across AFI teams in HQ and field to develop new funding proposals, pitches, concepts.
• Direct the highly complex and multi-facetted donor reporting process by overseeing and providing quality assurance to multiple internal and external requirements. Advise project leaders, technical implementation teams, Finance, M&E, Strategic Communications, and other AFI units regarding donor reporting requirements. Oversee and provide quality assurance to all donor reports.
• Play an integral role as a member of AFI’s Project management team, in improving process efficiencies, SOPs, and coordination structures, particularly regarding fundraising and the implementation of donor funded programs.
• Lead the conceptualization and implementation of a systematic process of donor communications and outreach on highly strategic issues and messaging.
• Lead the mapping and tracking of donor issues, priorities, and engagements across the financial inclusion ecosystem, identifying and taking advantage of strategic funding engagement opportunities where feasible.
• Implement the AFI Donor Council and other current and future multi-donor platform engagements, such as the MD-PIF Steering Committee.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• A postgraduate degree in international relations, development studies, marketing/communications, business administration, or related field.
• Minimum ten (10) years of working experience in development sector or related field, including five (5) years of direct experience in fundraising with proven track record.
• Strong understanding of the current donor landscape, funding trends and priorities, engagement strategies and innovations; fundraising experience in the financial inclusion sector.
• Experience with new/emerging funding institutions, including wealthy individual philanthropists and their family foundations will be an advantage.

COMPETENCIES / SKILLS

• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English.
• Ability to develop proposal and reporting narrative in accordance with donor’s reporting structures, processes, approaches, and requirements.
• Outstanding client relationship, diplomacy, and negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of and expertise in social media and other existing and emerging modes of stakeholder engagement.
• Technical know-how of M&E terminologies, processes, approaches.
• Understanding of project financials, budgeting, and financial reporting.
• Ability to direct and leverage research and donor landscape analysis to advance institutional objectives.
• Result- and solution-oriented with good time management (deadline-sensitive).
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills in working with people from diverse cultures and across multiple teams.
• Ability to work in a flexible, changing environment and perform effectively while managing multiple projects and tasks.
• Excellent project, program, or portfolio management skills.
• Knowledge of one or more additional relevant languages, including official U.N. languages, is an advantage.

KEY CHALLENGES

• Identifying, developing, directing, and sustaining strategic funding partnerships in highly competitive landscape of financial inclusion stakeholders, and limited sources of donor funding. The position is required to deploy skills in leadership, strategic thinking, diplomacy, and negotiation to ensure financial sustainability of AFI’s operations to effectively fulfill its objectives, in short, medium, and longer term.
• Ensuring effective implementation of highly complex and multi-façade deliverables of the seven distinct donor funded projects. Effectively monitor progress and provide strategic guidance to project leads and other relevant units, identify risks, challenges and opportunities related to donor funded projects at early stage and effectively address those accordingly. The position needs to have the ability to perceive and respond to highly technical aspects of the project delivery, effective communication, and negotiation skills to maximize the value added for AFI members through donor funding and technical cooperation.
• Analyzing, identifying, developing, and implementing strategic engagement with current and prospective funders which support AFI’s evolving short- and longer-term objectives. The position needs to apply in depth knowledge and insights of financial inclusion landscape, strategic thinking, negotiation and influencing skills to effectively conceptualize and implement AFI’s donor engagement strategy, which will benefit both the AFI members and donors in a unique way.

Interested candidates are invited to apply together with the latest CV and cover letter in English.