Director of Programs

Background

Operating from ACBF’s regional office for West and Central Africa in Accra, Ghana, the Director of Programs will be responsible for overseeing program operations at ACBF which includes the identification, development, delivery, quality control and evaluation of all projects, programs and knowledge and learning activities. The Director of Programs will also be responsible for managing the operations of ACBF in the West and Central African region and managing internal and external processes that seek to enhance the objectives of ACBF.

In this role, the Director of Programs will manage a contingent of program staff to consolidate, expand and innovate on investments in capacity development services in line with the Foundation’s vision and strategy. The Director of Programs will report to the ACBF Executive Secretary.

Duties and Responsibilities

The specific responsibilities of the Director of Programs include:

Leadership and management

i. Provide overall leadership, guidance, and management of the Programs department in line with the Foundation’s strategic plan, including development of plans, budgets, policies, rules and procedures that guide overall implementation of program activities.

ii. Provide input into the Foundation’s strategic planning process, annual business planning, project implementation status report and annual reports.

iii. Oversee all phases of program operations and grant processes in close coordination with the other departments: identification, preparation, appraisal, negotiation and signing of grants, project monitoring and evaluation and disbursement of funds as well as provision of capacity development and advisory services.

iv. Oversee the knowledge and learning activities, products and services of the Foundation, including knowledge production and dissemination, learning and training, management of knowledge networks and practice communities.

iv. Manage staff performance providing the overall supervision and coordination of the work of the department ensuring compliance and providing guidance to staff to ensure that objectives are met.

Program Management

1. Capacity development investment and Results Management

i. Lead the Foundation’s work in continental, regional and national development efforts through its main capacity development areas of intervention and service lines, including skills development, institutional and organizational development, knowledge generation and sharing, technical assistance and advisory services, project management, and fund administration.

ii. Closely collaborate with the African Union and its organs, RECs, Member States and other pan-African organizations in supporting implementation of Agenda 2063 and SDGs and effectively support African countries in translating these into domestic policies and programs.

iii. Oversee the process of conducting country capacity needs assessments and program development, advocating and engaging stakeholders for dialogue and negotiation of country programs, assisting in implementing and monitoring country programs, supporting program impact assessments and documenting lessons and providing other services as pertinent.

iv. Manage the projects portfolio and disbursements and investments for projects with a view to optimize policy impact together with the respective grantees and partners.

v. Lead the monitoring and evaluation initiatives and reviews of the portfolio and reports on an ongoing basis and ensure that relevant findings are synthesized and leveraged for corporate decision-making and guidance.

vi. Ensure ACBF’s timely delivery on its accountability and reporting obligations to external parties.

2. Integrated knowledge management and learning function

i. Maintain ACBF’s status as a learning organization and the ‘go-to-place’ for capacity development that systematically draws lessons from practice, codifies promising approaches and applies lessons and innovations in operations.

ii. Integrate and promote knowledge sharing for capacity development, through the Foundation’s operational business processes and disseminate promising innovations from ACBF support initiatives, or from any other source that can inspire emulation and up-scaling of promising practice.

iii. Establish, manage and ensure overall building and coordination of Knowledge Networks on the continent including Strategic Studies Group (SSGs), Africa Think Tanks Network (ATTN), Policy Institute Committees (PICs) and African Community of Practice on Managing for Development Results, (AfCoP).

iv. Collaborate with the Information and Communication Technology Unit in the development of knowledge infrastructure and selection of knowledge and learning instruments, ranging from the application of advanced state-of-the art electronic/digital systems and online virtual knowledge networks and platforms to support learning, knowledge dissemination and information sharing.

v. Lead and coordinate operations-related quantitative and qualitative research and thematic/development-oriented research relating to capacity development and management issues aligned to the Foundation’s key areas on intervention to capture and share key lessons learned.

vi. Serve as Task Leader/Coordinator of ACBF’s key knowledge products and services, including the flagship Africa Capacity Report (ACR); Occasional and Working papers, policy briefs, African Capacity Development Forum, seminars/webinars, and High-Level Forums (HLFs).

vii. Lead and coordinate the preparation and production of knowledge database and research activities.

viii. Lead and coordinate the Foundation’s learning and training activities.

3. Resource Mobilization, Business Development and Advisory Services

i. Support ACBF’s management in anticipating, evaluating, and leveraging opportunities for strategic collaboration and building synergies with pan-African, country and other partners.

ii. Mobilize resources for identified projects and programs.

iii. Build a portfolio of fee-for-service technical assistance and advisory services that address specific capacity needs and support requests from countries, pan-African institutions, and other entities.

4. Representation and Management of the West and Central Africa Office in Accra, Ghana

i. Provide overall leadership, guidance, and management of the Regional Office in line with ACBF’s policies, rules and procedures that guide overall implementation of all activities.

ii. Represent ACBF and its Executive Secretary in the region through participation in key events and anticipating, evaluating, and leveraging opportunities for strategic collaboration and synergies with pan-African, country and other partners.

iii. Lead in building and maintaining partnerships with national stakeholders including government officials, regional and continental organizations, international organizations, civil society and other strategic partners within the region and elsewhere in Africa.

5. Perform any other duties as assigned by the Executive Secretary.

Required Qualifications, Experience and Competencies

Selection will be competitive based on the following candidate profile:

Advanced degree (doctorate or masters) in a field related to international development or a business-related discipline.

Minimum of 15 years of demonstrated and progressive experience in capacity development, program management, strategic planning and advisory services, business development, policy-oriented research and analytical activities, knowledge management, resource mobilization, advocacy, and partnership building.

A good understanding of the capacity building discourse, solid understanding of ACBF’s niche and motivation to promote its services.

A deep understanding or Africa’s development challenges and prospects as well as the continental development landscape, including the key continental and regional institutions and flagship programs and initiatives.

Excellent relationship-building skills with external and internal clients and ability to network and interact with high-level officials in government, civil society, international organizations and the private sector.

Excellent communication and presentation skills, both oral and written; proven ability to prepare clearly and concisely, present, discuss and defend issues, findings and recommendations; and strong interpersonal skills including team building.
Proven leadership experience and analytical skills and ability to make sound judgment, exercising highest responsibility to handle confidential and sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.
English and French are the working languages of ACBF. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Good working knowledge of French is an added advantage.

Strong organizing, work planning and scheduling skills, capable of handling large volumes of logistical details accurately and thoroughly while balancing several complex agendas under pressure.

Demonstrated ability to design and conduct qualitative and quantitative research and studies; experience in using recognized statistical packages will be an added advantage.

Ability to effectively use software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Outlook. Experience with project management in ERP systems would be an asset.

Core Competencies