Jobs at Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund

AECF’s Gender Lens Investing Strategy

AECF’s investment strategy seeks to identify, nurture, and accelerate solutions that result in the full and equal participation of men and women in the value chains in which it invests.

The strategy provides a broad definition of how private sector investment can achieve impact throughout the gender equality spectrum. It promotes investments that recognize current norms and that work around barriers to help individual women participate — such as creating sustainable livelihoods and opportunities for employment.

The strategy also seeks to be gender transformative by funding interventions that challenge inequitable norms and strengthen equitable ones to disrupt the barriers in the market which impede full equality.

The Role

AECF is looking for a Gender Officer who will support the portfolio and impact teams to apply a gender lens across all investments, and shape AECF’s approach in respect to gender integration and mainstreaming.

This role supports the implementation of AECF’s current Gender Lens Investing Strategy including working closely with teams across AECF to ensure that AECF’s gender lens investing offering is fully embedded across programs and operating procedures.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide technical assistance to portfolio companies on gender integration and gender smart solutions for increased business value.
• Oversee the development, update and implementation of the gender analysis and strategy to deliver on the Gender Equality results including support to the portfolio team’s specific gender equality outcomes outlined in the results framework.
• Support gender related tools development, testing, and management – both at program and investee level– that will ensure timely and user-oriented gender related data collection and reporting.
• Analyze data to derive patterns and inform strategic objectives in AECF’s gender lens investing.
• Coordinate and guide investees in their gender equality results reporting and documentation responsibilities.
• Ensure that the reporting meets the evidence and communications needs of AECF and the donors.
• Support the design and implementation of gender smart solutions for portfolio companies, working closely with the portfolio and impact teams whilst capturing learnings.
• Working with the Gender Specialist, support the ongoing implementation of selected gender smart solutions in portfolio companies, adjusting the approach where necessary based on new insights.
• Support the development of knowledge products and organize knowledge sharing events on AECF’s gender lens investing insights.
• Review project gender equality outcome results achievements against indicator targets with a view to strengthening reporting, planning, implementation as well as decision making.
• Keep up to date project gender related data and reports for reference by the program team as well as other stakeholders.

The Candidate:

Suitable candidates should:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in in Gender Economics, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Economics, Development Finance, or other relevant fields of study.
• Have at least four (4) years of post-training experience in one or more of the following areas: gender economics, social entrepreneurship or impact investing.
• Have in-depth knowledge of gender in development settings, especially in the areas of gender equality and women’s empowerment, and gender-based violence.
• Have solid analytical, writing skills, and communication skills (including developing advocacy messages)
• Have experience working in an international team and proven ability to deliver in a complex environment with multiple, divergent
  stakeholder interests.
• Have sound knowledge and experience of report writing.
• Possess strong gender technical skills and experience.
• Possess strong data mining and analysis skills.
• Possess strong analytical and communication skills.
• Have the ability to carry out stakeholder engagements and training activities at all levels.
• Have the ability to manage the delivery of multiple projects that create significant financial and social impact whilst meeting deadlines.
• Have in-depth understanding of private sector development, including key challenges and needs especially in addressing women as a core customer segment.
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills including strong work ethic, impeccable integrity, and judgment.
• Fluency in written and oral English is essential. French is an added advantage.

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The Role

The Portfolio Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day support in the consolidation and coordination of the following Portfolio Team’s activities:

• Programme Coordination and Reporting.
• Programme Travel & Procurement.
• Programme Support.

The role-holder will also support the Portfolio team across value-added services by providing efficient and responsive programme coordination and administration services. The incumbent will act as a liaison between the Portfolio department, other AECF departments and external partners as needed. The role-holder will also act as the Executive Assistant to the Director of Investments Portfolio.

Key responsibilities:

Programme Coordination and Reporting

• Provide coordination and administrative support to manage day to day running of the offices of Director of Investment Portfolio and team to achieve operational efficiency, optimal output, excellent customer relations and service, and flawless reporting.
• Attend a variety of meetings in support of the Portfolio Team as may be required, taking minutes and diarizing for follow-up actions.
• Centralize and liaise with the Finance team to assist in tracking the budget and provide regular updates.
• Centralize and liaise information sharing and updates with the Resource Mobilization & Partnerships.
• Offer administrative support to members of the Portfolio Management Committee as required.
• Liaise with the Portfolio team members in physical and electronic filing of all departmental documents for ease of retrieval.
• Facilitate interaction with external partners through effective use of written, verbal and electronic communications.

Portfolio Travel & Procurement

• Support the Director in all matters relating to his travels and procurement.
• Plan and coordinate travels and procurement needs of the Portfolio team.
• Centralize and liaise internally to facilitate provision of travel logistics for the Portfolio team i.e. in the prompt preparation of their travel authorization requests and accountabilities.
• Monitor the travel budget and follow up with the team and finance colleagues to ensure travel accountability reports are submitted and approved in a timely manner.
• Assist in the classification of events and maintain an electronic calendar of events for the Portfolio team and help prioritize meetings and activities.
• Liaise with the Procurement teams to process, expedite and track Portfolio procurement requests.

Programme Support – Strategic Projects

• Support the Director in the execution of special projects and initiatives (e.g. coordinate AECF Investee Exchange physical meetings and AECF Investee working groups, Gender Lens Investing Knowledge Seminars, Gender Mainstreaming Awards, Innovation Prize etc.);
• Coordinate with Portfolio Team to maintain and update investee contact and investee synopsis database for easy access to information and reference.
• Support the Director in researching and preparing presentation and meeting materials, organizing schedules of multiple participants, taking minutes, and following up on action items.

Administrative Support to Directors

• Support the directors in all matters administrative whenever called upon.
• Facilitate all travel arrangements for the directors by ensuring all the necessary documentations are in place.
• Facilitate meeting requirements for the directors to ensure all the necessary materials are in good order.

The Candidate:

Suitable candidates should:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Public Administration, or other business-related fields.
• Have professional certification in the field of administration. Formal secretarial training is preferred.
• Have an excellent command of English. Fluency in French and Portuguese will be an added advantage.
• Have at least 4 years post-qualification experience in managing an executive office, preferably in a not-for-profit organization.
• Have an ability to manage budget, resources, and timelines to deliver maximum results.
• Have the ability to effectively take into account the views and perspectives of a diverse set of stakeholders.
• Have the ability to organize and facilitate meetings effectively.
• Have a high level of computer literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Have knowledge of MS Project or any project and task management tool (trello.com, outlook tasks) is an advantage.
• Have planning and organization skills: devise plans of action with explicit paths and measures of accomplishment for self and/or others and allocates suitable resources so that objectives are achieved. Strong administration skills.
• Demonstrate technical competencies for the position: demonstrate knowledge of all own work role specific issues. This encompasses the technical skills or knowledge required to perform the essential duties as described in this job description.
• Demonstrate a high level of accuracy, attention to detail, thoroughness and an ability to maintain a timely and efficient workflow.
• Demonstrate the ability to plan and use resources (people and/or finance and/or physical assets) in accordance with AECF guidelines and delegated accountability so that objectives are achieved in the most effective manner possible.
• Have exceptional communication skills and ability to represent AECF externally at high levels. Should also demonstrate an ability to maintain lasting, healthy, and effective one-to-one working relationships with colleagues, suppliers, customers, professional peers, etc.
• Demonstrate an ability to cross and bridge different racial, cultural, or business cultures. This requires and is exhibited by personal experience of international or cross-cultural business with improved achievements.
• Demonstrate a productive drive in working with peers, partners, consultants and others to achieve pre-targeted and measurable business results.