Created in 2012, FSD Africa is a £30 million financial sector development programme or 'FSD’ based in Nairobi. It is funded by the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID). FSD Africa aims to reduce poverty across sub-Saharan Africa by building financial markets that are efficient, robust and inclusive.

Responsibilities or duties

Programme Strategy & Project Design

• Work with the Principal, Innovation for Resilience to develop a portfolio of impactful AFIYA projects in alignment with donor requirements.
• Actively contribute to the development of programme strategy, ensuring thorough understanding of and alignment with the goals of the pillar.
• Collaborate with the AFIYA team to identify and cultivate a portfolio of implementing partners and projects that collectively advance the project’s impact.
• Ensure programme designs are delivery-ready, scalable, and operationally feasible, working with technical and country leads.
• Take overall ownership of preparing programme documentation—such as concept notes, programme summaries, and proposals—for internal approvals.

Project Planning

• Conceptualise and develop a portfolio of Implementing Partners and Projects which will collectively be effective in driving impact & systemic change:
• Oversee the development of detailed implementation plans, risk management frameworks, budgets and cash-flow forecasts that will ensure AFIYA project success and address capacity gaps of partners.
• Draft terms of reference for engaging external consultants and resources to support the implementation of AFIYA projects.
• Identify, engage and build relationships with key Implementing Partners (‘IP’s) and other stakeholders who have the capacity to effectively contribute towards the success of AFIYA project.
• Support the development of IP workplans; ensuring alignment between partners’ plans and AFIYA’s Theory of Change and that the over-all portfolio of projects has the capacity to leverage systemic change
• Ensure that all staff, consultants and implementing partners involved in a project are fully briefed concerning expectations; especially on project milestone targets, quality standards, data collection/ reporting and compliance with risk management/ accountability requirements

Project Implementation

• Coordinate the roll-out of AFIYA projects so that results are achieved, risks are managed, and quality projects are delivered; ensuring that learning from projects is fully utilised to maximise impact and innovation:
• Work with implementing partners and the Programme managers to assist them in implementing their projects according to the project plan:
• Organise a regular progress meeting with the Programme Managers and the Implementing partners to ensure projects are on track.
• Address delivery shortfalls with a coaching style in the first instance
• Negotiate assertively, with the administration of consequences, in case of persistent failure to deliver
• Develop tools and approaches which will guide the team, implementing partners and stakeholders in implementing best practice in AFIYA development; ensure that IPs are provided with any other necessary capacity-building support
• Support the Principal, Innovation for Resilience, in risk management and results monitoring across the AFIYA project portfolio, ensuring alignment with the pillar’s strategic objectives.
• Review the Monthly and Quarterly impact Report and take appropriate action on the basis of results and analysis:
• If desired results have been achieved, initiate strategies for widespread awareness-raising and ‘crowding in’
• If desired results have not been achieved, either manage performance of the implementation team or adjust the strategy/ approach

Resource planning & budget management

• Ensure effective management of resources/budget for projects under management. Contribute to the management of the AFIYA financial resources; aiming to optimise the impact that is achieved with resources and ensuring compliance with FSD Africa and Donor policies:
• Liaise with the Finance Pillar to maintain oversight over budget and spend for AFIYA projects.
• Work with the Finance Pillar teams to develop resourcing plans and budgets for respective projects; including negotiating budgets with implementing partners as required.
• Liaise with the procurement team to develop and monitor procurement plans for respective projects to ensure effective management of external resources.
• Ensure programme expenditure translates into delivery progress and outcomes, working closely with Finance to flag underperformance, absorption risks, or misalignment between spend and results.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Collaborate with the Development Impact (DI) team to continuously develop broad and deep understanding of AFIYA project.
• Lead in the preparation of periodic programme updates to Mastercard on intervention outputs/milestones, including toolkits and lessons learned.
• Ensure that credible performance and learning evidence is available and actively used to inform delivery decisions, adaptation, and scaling
• Ensure that project measurement and achievement trackers are updated quarterly.
• Liaise with the DI and Strategic Communications team to ensure effective dissemination of key learnings.

Influencing & Communications

• Lead in the effective utilisation of Strategic communications strategies to drive impact and systemic change:
• Contribute towards stakeholder mapping for the Project, identifying key decision makers / power brokers and participating in developing innovative ideas for influencing them and/or transforming their mindsets
• Contribute to the project’s advocacy and communications activities, supporting thought leadership activities, co-ordinating events, forums etc. within the areas of responsibility.
• Participate in networking events and/or convene stakeholders in order build awareness and influence the thinking around specific AFIYA project areas.
• Coordinate the AFIYA knowledge management activities such as development of toolkits, research notes etc.

Team Leadership

• Lead the AFIYA team of staff and consultants in a manner that empowers them to add value to the project and deliver high standards of performance:
• Set a strong delivery culture characterised by accountability, pace, learning, and collaboration across countries and functions
• Ensure that each AFIYA team member is provided with clarity concerning goals and expectations of their personal role in achieving results, standards and behaviour
• Plan and organise the work of the AFIYA team to accomplish project strategic & project goals and targets in the most cost-effective and impactful manner possible
• Ensure delivery of an engaging leadership style that motivates team members and results in high performance

Qualifications and Education

• Master’s degree and 11 years of experience or Bachelor’s degree and 12 years of experience
• Relevant postgraduate qualifications preferred.
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English.

• Work with the Principal, Innovation for Resilience to develop a portfolio of impactful AFIYA projects in alignment with donor requirements.
• Actively contribute to the development of programme strategy, ensuring thorough understanding of and alignment with the goals of the pillar.
• Collaborate with the AFIYA team to identify and cultivate a portfolio of implementing partners and projects that collectively advance the project’s impact.
• Ensure programme designs are delivery-ready, scalable, and operationally feasible, working with technical and country leads.
• Take overall ownership of preparing programme documentation—such as concept notes, programme summaries, and proposals—for internal approvals.
• Conceptualise and develop a portfolio of Implementing Partners and Projects which will collectively be effective in driving impact & systemic change:
• Oversee the development of detailed implementation plans, risk management frameworks, budgets and cash-flow forecasts that will ensure AFIYA project success and address capacity gaps of partners.
• Draft terms of reference for engaging external consultants and resources to support the implementation of AFIYA projects.
• Identify, engage and build relationships with key Implementing Partners (‘IP’s) and other stakeholders who have the capacity to effectively contribute towards the success of AFIYA project.
• Support the development of IP workplans; ensuring alignment between partners’ plans and AFIYA’s Theory of Change and that the over-all portfolio of projects has the capacity to leverage systemic change
• Ensure that all staff, consultants and implementing partners involved in a project are fully briefed concerning expectations; especially on project milestone targets, quality standards, data collection/ reporting and compliance with risk management/ accountability requirements
• Coordinate the roll-out of AFIYA projects so that results are achieved, risks are managed, and quality projects are delivered; ensuring that learning from projects is fully utilised to maximise impact and innovation:
• Work with implementing partners and the Programme managers to assist them in implementing their projects according to the project plan:
• Organise a regular progress meeting with the Programme Managers and the Implementing partners to ensure projects are on track.
• Address delivery shortfalls with a coaching style in the first instance
• Negotiate assertively, with the administration of consequences, in case of persistent failure to deliver
• Develop tools and approaches which will guide the team, implementing partners and stakeholders in implementing best practice in AFIYA development; ensure that IPs are provided with any other necessary capacity-building support
• Support the Principal, Innovation for Resilience, in risk management and results monitoring across the AFIYA project portfolio, ensuring alignment with the pillar’s strategic objectives.
• Review the Monthly and Quarterly impact Report and take appropriate action on the basis of results and analysis:
• If desired results have been achieved, initiate strategies for widespread awareness-raising and ‘crowding in’
• If desired results have not been achieved, either manage performance of the implementation team or adjust the strategy/ approach
• Ensure effective management of resources/budget for projects under management. Contribute to the management of the AFIYA financial resources; aiming to optimise the impact that is achieved with resources and ensuring compliance with FSD Africa and Donor policies:
• Liaise with the Finance Pillar to maintain oversight over budget and spend for AFIYA projects.
• Work with the Finance Pillar teams to develop resourcing plans and budgets for respective projects; including negotiating budgets with implementing partners as required.
• Liaise with the procurement team to develop and monitor procurement plans for respective projects to ensure effective management of external resources.
• Ensure programme expenditure translates into delivery progress and outcomes, working closely with Finance to flag underperformance, absorption risks, or misalignment between spend and results.
• Collaborate with the Development Impact (DI) team to continuously develop broad and deep understanding of AFIYA project.
• Lead in the preparation of periodic programme updates to Mastercard on intervention outputs/milestones, including toolkits and lessons learned.
• Ensure that credible performance and learning evidence is available and actively used to inform delivery decisions, adaptation, and scaling
• Ensure that project measurement and achievement trackers are updated quarterly.
• Liaise with the DI and Strategic Communications team to ensure effective dissemination of key learnings.
• Lead in the effective utilisation of Strategic communications strategies to drive impact and systemic change:
• Contribute towards stakeholder mapping for the Project, identifying key decision makers / power brokers and participating in developing innovative ideas for influencing them and/or transforming their mindsets
• Contribute to the project’s advocacy and communications activities, supporting thought leadership activities, co-ordinating events, forums etc. within the areas of responsibility.
• Participate in networking events and/or convene stakeholders in order build awareness and influence the thinking around specific AFIYA project areas.
• Coordinate the AFIYA knowledge management activities such as development of toolkits, research notes etc.
• Lead the AFIYA team of staff and consultants in a manner that empowers them to add value to the project and deliver high standards of performance:
• Set a strong delivery culture characterised by accountability, pace, learning, and collaboration across countries and functions
• Ensure that each AFIYA team member is provided with clarity concerning goals and expectations of their personal role in achieving results, standards and behaviour
• Plan and organise the work of the AFIYA team to accomplish project strategic & project goals and targets in the most cost-effective and impactful manner possible
• Ensure delivery of an engaging leadership style that motivates team members and results in high performance

• Excellent skills in written and spoken English.

• Master’s degree and 11 years of experience or Bachelor’s degree and 12 years of experience
• Relevant postgraduate qualifications preferred.