Due Date: November 30, 2026
Fixed-term three-year contract, renewable

Location: Nairobi, Kenya, with occasional travel within Africa

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) seeks a highly organised, responsive and service-oriented Programme Associate to provide comprehensive administrative, financial and logistical support to the Africa Growth Fellowship program implemented in partnership with African Economic Research Consortium (AERC). The position is central to ensuring that fellows are mobilized efficiently, receive timely contractual and welfare support, and can focus on delivering their assignments in host institutions.

Working closely with the Program team within ACBF and AERC, host institutions and ACBF’s Finance, Human Resources and Procurement teams, the Programme Associate will coordinate fellows’ practical arrangements, maintain reliable programme records and payment trackers, support events and missions, and help ensure that programme administration complies with ACBF procedures and applicable requirements. The role requires sound judgement, confidentiality, attention to detail and a strong commitment to service quality.

The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, on a fixed-term three-year contract, renewable. The Program Officer will report to the Head of Economic and Social Governance Unit and work closely with the programme team and other ACBF departments.

Key roles and responsibilities

1. Fellow Mobilization and Placement Support

  • Serve as the primary administrative point of contact for fellows from selection and onboarding through placement completion, responding promptly to enquiries and referring technical or sensitive matters to the appropriate programme lead.
  • Coordinate onboarding and deployment arrangements, including contractual documentation, visa and work-permit processes, travel, relocation, accommodation and host-institution requirements, in consultation with relevant ACBF units.
  • Administer and track fellows’ contractual entitlements and benefits, including medical and evacuation insurance, approved leave, relocation and repatriation support, and assigned equipment.
  • Maintain regular communication with fellows to identify practical, welfare and security concerns, document follow-up actions, and promptly escalate issues in accordance with duty-of-care, safeguarding and security procedures.
  • Coordinate placement extensions, transitions and end-of-assignment arrangements, including clearance, repatriation, handover of equipment and completion of administrative records.

2. Programme Financial Administration and Compliance

  • Prepare, verify and follow up on fellows’ monthly payments, allowances, reimbursements and other approved entitlements, ensuring accuracy, supporting documentation and timely processing through ACBF Finance.
  • Coordinate payment requests for Advisory Panel members, consultants, service providers and other authorised programme-related expenses, consistent with contracts and approved procedures.
  • Maintain up-to-date budget monitoring sheets, expenditure and commitment trackers, payment schedules and supporting records; flag variances, potential delays or discrepancies for timely resolution.
  • Provide accurate financial and administrative input to periodic programme reports, budget reviews and donor reporting, in collaboration with Finance and the programme team.
  • Compile and organise the supporting documentation required for financial reconciliations, management reviews, internal and external audits, and follow-up on outstanding actions.

3. Programme Operations, Procurement and Event Logistics

  • Plan and coordinate operational arrangements for fellowship induction, Advisory Panel meetings, learning events, programme launches, technical meetings and country missions, including travel, venues, accommodation, perdiems and participant communications.
  • Prepare event and mission checklists, schedules, logistics briefs and cost estimates; track bookings and supplier deliverables to ensure efficient and cost-conscious execution.
  • Initiate and follow up on procurement and contracting requests in coordination with the relevant corporate teams, ensuring completeness of requisitions, documentation and approvals.
  • Provide administrative support to programme meetings, including scheduling, correspondence, participant lists, minutes or action trackers, and timely follow-up on agreed actions.
  • Anticipate operational bottlenecks and recommend practical improvements to administrative workflows and service delivery.

4. Records, Coordination and Programme Reporting

  • Maintain accurate, secure and regularly updated records for fellows and placements, including contracts, emergency contacts, dependants, insurance, benefits, travel, payment status and placement history, in accordance with applicable confidentiality and data-protection requirements.
  • Maintain centralized administrative trackers and an orderly electronic filing system for agreements, correspondence, payment requests, events, missions and supporting programme documentation.
  • Provide timely administrative updates, flag upcoming contractual milestones and support preparation of operational dashboards, management briefs and programme progress reports.
  • Facilitate effective coordination among fellows, host institutions, programme colleagues and corporate services to resolve administrative issues and maintain continuity of programme operations.
  • Support the Economic and Social Governance Unit and undertake other related administrative assignments as directed by the Head of Economic and Social Governance.

Qualifications and experience

  • A bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Programme Management or another relevant field; a professional accounting qualification (such as CPA or ACCA) is an advantage.
  • At least four (4) years of relevant professional experience in programme administration, finance, human resources or operational support, preferably in donor-funded programmes or international organizations.
  • Practical experience processing payments, tracking budgets, maintaining financial records and supporting procurement or compliance procedures.
  • Experience supporting international relocation, travel, visas, work permits, insurance and staff or participant welfare is a strong advantage.
  • Familiarity with duty-of-care, safeguarding, confidentiality and data-protection practices.
  • Strong competence in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word and Outlook; experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP), accounting or programme tracking systems is an asset.
  • Excellent written and spoken English; working knowledge of French is an advantage.
  • Proven organisational, interpersonal and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and work constructively across teams and institutions.

Core competencies and personal attributes

  • Service-oriented, empathetic and responsive to the needs of fellows and programme partners.
  • Highly organized, dependable and meticulous in handling payments, records and contractual details.
  • Discreet and trustworthy when managing personal, financial and sensitive information.
  • Proactive, adaptable and calm under pressure, with sound judgement and effective follow-through.
  • Collaborative, culturally sensitive and committed to professionalism, integrity and accountability.

About ACBF

For more than 30 years, the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) has supported human capital and institutional capacity development for Africa’s sustainable development. With membership from 40 African countries, the African Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the African Union and the World Bank, ACBF is a leading institution for capacity development in Africa.

ACBF works with public-sector institutions at local, national, regional and continental levels to strengthen their capacity to serve as effective systems integrators and catalysts of sustainable and transformative change. Since its creation in 1991, ACBF has trained more than 50,000 civil servants, many of whom hold key positions in ministries of finance, planning or economic development and central banks across the continent. The Foundation has also established a network of more than 50 think tanks that support evidence-based policymaking across Africa.

ACBF’s strategy focuses on needs identified by member states, including climate change and productive energy use, agribusiness and food sovereignty, trade as an engine of economic development, and economic and social governance. The Foundation has offices in Accra, Addis Ababa, Harare and Nairobi.

To apply for this position, please submit in confidence a resume and a cover letter that details why you are a good fit for this career position to with the subject Programme Associate – Kenya by 30 November 2026.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The African Capacity Building Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.