Main purpose of the role

CIFF’s Africa Strategy envisions a future where girls enjoy health, economic opportunities, and agency to help shape a thriving, self-determined Africa, free from child marriage. This strategy layers interventions, tackles root causes, and emphasizes sustainability, execution excellence, and localization. Anchored in three pillars—1) For Africa, By Africa (FABA); 2) Resilient Communities; and 3) Girl Capital (covering child marriage, Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR), child protection and wellbeing, education, economic empowerment, and livelihoods)—CIFF Africa’s structure is purpose-built to realize this vision.

The Manager - Girl Capital, Africa will be central to driving CIFF Africa’s goals, developing evidence-based, high-impact strategies for transformational change. This role calls for expertise in supporting systemic shifts across Lower- and Middle-Income Countries systems, with a focus on equity, reach, financing, cost-effectiveness and alignment with national strategies.

Core responsibilities include managing complex data, designing continuous improvement frameworks, conducting cost-efficiency analysis, and fostering partnerships that attract co-investments from domestic funding, health finance and donor co-funding. Overseeing a multi-year multi-million-dollar portfolio, the role requires collaboration with CIFF’s SRHR, Equity Gender & Youth, Evidence Measurement and Evaluation, For Africa by Africa, Resilient Communities, Finance, and Legal teams, along with external partners, funders, and other key stakeholders.

Role’s responsibilities

Strategy & planning

Prepare and present high-quality analysis and research, as required, to support the sector in determining future strategic priorities and setting operational plans.
Contribute to the production of programme strategy and the associated evidence base, alongside other team members, prior to a proposal’s submission for approval.
Lead on the development of strategies related to adolescent girl-centred programming on SRHR, Education and Livelihoods.
Align with Girl Capital Missions (Education, Ending Child Marriage, Sexual Violence and Pregnancies), offering country-specific insights and collaborating with the relevant internal teams.
Conduct analysis and research on projects, innovations, emerging and best practices, as inputs into strategic priorities and planning.
Organize, coordinate, document and professionally present from strategy and planning processes, including leading these processes when required.
Provide support across broader Africa team strategies as needed.
Support the implementation and development of pipeline investments responsive to the Africa strategy and its priorities.

Programme Development, Delivery & Performance

Lead delivery of the existing programme portfolio , focusing on countries across Africa and manage a pipeline of potential investments aligned with country-driven plans and broader priorities
Forge robust partnerships to leverage sector investments toward impactful, cost-effective interventions.
Monitor portfolio performance against corporate and sector targets, preparing summary reports, board reports, and portfolio investment updates to a high standard.
Ensure due diligence and risk management throughout programme development and delivery, including safeguarding risks to protect programme stakeholders and CIFF’s interests and reputation.
Conduct feasibility analyses on investment proposals, applying rigorous methodologies to ensure robust assumptions that withstand executive and board scrutiny.
Coordinate grant management including agreements, payments, and reporting to facilitate effective grant oversight.
Embed monitoring and evaluation processes in all proposals and programmes in consultation with the EME Business Partner.
Regularly review programme performance, working with partners to address issues and escalating for senior support when necessary.

Sector Knowledge & Profile Building

Keep abreast of developments within the SRHR, Education and Livelihoods and international development sectors, establishing appropriate information gathering networks and channels to deepen professional knowledge and skills.
As required, contribute to the development of thought leadership, PR, marketing and advocacy materials, to support CIFF’s ambitions to scale-up, mainstream and leverage additional support for its initiatives.
Develop mutually beneficial, peer-level relationships with the Ethiopian and other priority country governments, NGOs, other foundations, local civil society and beneficiary-led organisations.
Uphold CIFF’s reputation as a key partner in achieving sustainable Girl Capital issues, influencing national and donor programmes for gender-transformative, cost-effective outcomes.
Engage with Girl Capital, maintaining networks that enhance knowledge in client-centred design, implementation science, and research.

Stakeholder & Partner Management

Manage CIFF’s investments as the relationship lead focus countries, covering equitable access and financing.
Represent CIFF externally on advisory boards, steering committees, or donor collaborations as required.
Support internal initiatives, such as the Employee Forum and Anti-Racism & DEI Working Groups.
Evaluate potential partners, conducting due diligence to assess suitability for CIFF’s initiatives.
Develop strategic partnerships alongside senior colleagues to support scaling, co-funding, and adoption of CIFF programmes.
With a variety of external audiences, develop and maintain strong partnerships and act as a knowledgeable resource about CIFF’s programmes and priority areas.

Team Membership & Leadership

Be a role model to less experienced team members, demonstrating CIFF’s leadership behaviours and providing mentorship to aid their growth.
Adopt a coaching approach with colleagues which instils a culture of openness and trust, embraces diverse thinking, and encourages continuous improvement and learning.
We operate a matrix structure so reporting lines can vary between specific aspects of the role.
This role may have line management responsibility for an analyst.

Skills & Experience

Demonstrable experience in analysis and due diligence; policy, planning and programme delivery, including field experience, all within the development sector.
Knowledge of the evidence bases pertaining to programme design and implementation, and belief in the importance of evidence-based decision making.
Strong working knowledge of impact measurement and programme monitoring and evaluation.
An innovative thinker with a pragmatic and solution-oriented mindset
Ability to analyse an organisation’s strength of management, vision and adaptive capacity. Ability to recruit, guide, influence and/or advise management teams to effectively implement programmes.
Experience working within government systems and/or experience influencing the policies of government agencies, private sector organizations or donor organisations.
Effectively champions and promotes causes – credible and professional, they always present the Foundation’s programmes in a compelling way to engage the audience.
Skilled in relationship building and strengthening; able to influence others and work collaboratively, uniting groups with a shared purpose.
English is CIFF’s business language – we expect all of our people to display outstanding verbal and written communication skills across all aspects of their role.
Capacity to work in a range of cultural and socio-economic contexts, adapting style and approach appropriately and in a culturally sensitive manner to maximise effectiveness.
IT proficiency (most specifically in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
A proven self-starter, who works with pace and resilience.
Demonstrated expertise in SRHR, education, cash transfers livelihoods or adolescent-focused girl capital initiatives. Familiarity with strategic planning and execution of complex projects, including comprehensive budgeting and detailed activity planning.

The salary for the role is USD 71,400

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package here at CIFF that includes, but is not limited to the following:

Annual leave - 25 days per annum. Increasing by 1 day after each year of service, to a maximum of 30 days.
Bonus - CIFF currently operates a discretionary bonus scheme.
Training allowance
Wellbeing allowance
Life insurance
Medical insurance

Systems Change jobs

Manager - Girl Capital, Africa