About the role

As Programme Associate, you are the operational backbone of the country team. You will play a critical role in ensuring the successful delivery of programmes by coordinating logistics, managing data, supporting participants, and overseeing the day-to-day operational details that keep everything running smoothly. You will ensure that all moving parts come together effectively to achieve programme objectives and deliver an exceptional participant experience.

This role is more than administration. You are curious, well-read and connected. You follow what is happening in the startup and entrepreneurship space in your country and across the continent. You know how to find people, through research, networks and initiative, and you apply that instinct to helping identify the right women entrepreneurs in communities that are easy to overlook. You notice things and act on them without being asked.

This is an early-career role with a real development pathway. You will learn fast, be stretched and grow alongside a programme that is doing important work across four countries.

Key responsibilities

• Provide logistical and administrative support for all country programme activities, including event and workshop logistics, travel and accommodation, venue booking, materials preparation and participant communication.
• Support the identification and mapping of women entrepreneurs in rural and peri-urban areas through active online research, network engagement and a strong knowledge of what is happening in the local ecosystem.
• Support participant outreach, registration and application management for all programme cohorts incountry.
• Coordinate data collection from participants and field activities, ensuring data is captured accurately and submitted on time in support of monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements.
• Act as the country safeguarding focal point for participant-facing activities, referring concerns promptly to the designated safeguarding lead in line with programme policy.
• Manage in-country petty cash, expense claims and activity retirement documentation in coordination with the finance team.
• Maintain organised country activity files, participant databases and partner contact records, ensuring information is always current and accessible.
• Support the Programme Lead in preparing country activity plans, updates and reports, and step in to support the wider delivery team during peak periods.

Qualifications and requirements

• You have 2 to 4 years of experience in programme administration, project coordination or operational support within an NGO, development organisation or entrepreneurship programme.
• You hold a degree or diploma in Business Administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies or a related field.
• You have strong organisational skills with a high level of attention to detail and an ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously without things falling through the cracks.
• You are genuinely curious about the world around you. You read sector publications, follow what is happening in the startup and innovation space and you stay informed.
• You are a networker and relationship builder. You are comfortable reaching out to new people and finding your way into new communities and spaces.
• You have strong online research skills. You know how to use what you find to open doors and surface opportunities.
• You are comfortable with data collection tools, digital and paper-based, and proficiency in Google Workspace or Microsoft Office. You learn new systems quickly.
• You have a proactive, self-starting attitude. You notice what needs doing and you do it without waiting to be asked.
• You have empathy and interpersonal skills to engage respectfully with diverse youth participants, including safeguarding awareness.
• You are ready for pace. This programme moves fast and the team needs someone who can keep up, stay sharp and deliver under pressure.
• You must be based in your country of application with valid right to work documentation.

• Provide logistical and administrative support for all country programme activities, including event and workshop logistics, travel and accommodation, venue booking, materials preparation and participant communication.
• Support the identification and mapping of women entrepreneurs in rural and peri-urban areas through active online research, network engagement and a strong knowledge of what is happening in the local ecosystem.
• Support participant outreach, registration and application management for all programme cohorts incountry.
• Coordinate data collection from participants and field activities, ensuring data is captured accurately and submitted on time in support of monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements.
• Act as the country safeguarding focal point for participant-facing activities, referring concerns promptly to the designated safeguarding lead in line with programme policy.
• Manage in-country petty cash, expense claims and activity retirement documentation in coordination with the finance team.
• Maintain organised country activity files, participant databases and partner contact records, ensuring information is always current and accessible.
• Support the Programme Lead in preparing country activity plans, updates and reports, and step in to support the wider delivery team during peak periods.

• Strong organisational skills with a high level of attention to detail and an ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously without things falling through the cracks.
• Genuinely curious about the world around you.
• Networker and relationship builder.
• Strong online research skills.
• Comfortable with data collection tools, digital and paper-based, and proficiency in Google Workspace or Microsoft Office.
• Proactive, self-starting attitude.
• Empathy and interpersonal skills to engage respectfully with diverse youth participants, including safeguarding awareness.
• Ability to keep up, stay sharp and deliver under pressure.

• 2 to 4 years of experience in programme administration, project coordination or operational support within an NGO, development organisation or entrepreneurship programme.
• Degree or diploma in Business Administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies or a related field.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace or Microsoft Office.
• Must be based in your country of application with valid right to work documentation.