One Acre Fund is a nonprofit organization that supplies smallholder farmers in East Africa with asset-based financing and agriculture training services to reduce hunger and poverty.

The Global Safety Nets and Microinsurance Senior Associate is a high-agility role responsible for the end-to-end design, piloting, and initial setup of household microinsurance and safety net products. This role bridges the gap between high-level strategy and ground-level execution, conducting field research, managing external partners, and leading pilots during the critical innovation phase.

Responsibilities or duties

• Lead Market Entry & Opportunity Scoping
• Conduct deep-dive market assessments and farmer needs analyses to evaluate the viability of microinsurance and safety net interventions in new markets.
• Identify high-impact opportunities and define entry strategies for pre-scale programs.
• Drive Product Innovation & Design
• Lead end-to-end design of innovative financial protection products, translating complex risk and insurance concepts into simple, farmer-centric solutions.
• Rapidly prototype, test, and iterate products based on field insights and user feedback.
• Own Pilot Execution & Program Delivery
• Serve as project lead for country-level pilots, managing the full lifecycle from design to implementation and evaluation.
• Collaborate with country leadership to ensure alignment, execution excellence, and readiness for scale.
• Build Strategic Partnerships & Delivery Models
• Identify, negotiate, and manage partnerships with insurers, InsurTechs, NGOs, and other service providers.
• Design operational models and delivery structures that enable scalable, cost-effective program implementation.
• Develop Playbooks, Teams & Pathways to Scale
• Build operational playbooks, tools, and training materials to transition pilots into scalable programs.
• Manage and mentor junior team members while strengthening in-country team capability.
• Capture insights and shape global strategy for microinsurance and safety net programming.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

• Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:
• 3–5 years of professional experience in a similar role, preferably consulting, startup, or international development.
• Strong problem-solving mindset with experience building or launching new products, programs, or ventures.
• Comfortable working in ambiguity and driving progress in early-stage or unstructured environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects end-to-end and deliver results in cross-functional, global environments.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel; ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Experience managing or mentoring team members is an advantage.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Development, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Fluency in English required; French or Swahili is a strong advantage

Experience needed

3–5 years of professional experience in a similar role, preferably consulting, startup, or international development.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

• Lead Market Entry & Opportunity Scoping
• Conduct deep-dive market assessments and farmer needs analyses to evaluate the viability of microinsurance and safety net interventions in new markets.
• Identify high-impact opportunities and define entry strategies for pre-scale programs.
• Drive Product Innovation & Design
• Lead end-to-end design of innovative financial protection products, translating complex risk and insurance concepts into simple, farmer-centric solutions.
• Rapidly prototype, test, and iterate products based on field insights and user feedback.
• Own Pilot Execution & Program Delivery
• Serve as project lead for country-level pilots, managing the full lifecycle from design to implementation and evaluation.
• Collaborate with country leadership to ensure alignment, execution excellence, and readiness for scale.
• Build Strategic Partnerships & Delivery Models
• Identify, negotiate, and manage partnerships with insurers, InsurTechs, NGOs, and other service providers.
• Design operational models and delivery structures that enable scalable, cost-effective program implementation.
• Develop Playbooks, Teams & Pathways to Scale
• Build operational playbooks, tools, and training materials to transition pilots into scalable programs.
• Manage and mentor junior team members while strengthening in-country team capability.
• Capture insights and shape global strategy for microinsurance and safety net programming.

• Strong problem-solving mindset
• Experience building or launching new products, programs, or ventures
• Comfortable working in ambiguity and driving progress in early-stage or unstructured environments
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects end-to-end
• Deliver results in cross-functional, global environments
• Strong analytical skills
• Proficiency in Excel
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights
• Experience managing or mentoring team members (advantage)
• Fluency in English
• French or Swahili (strong advantage)

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Development, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).