Associate Director – Energy Portfolio

About us

The AECF (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a development institution that finances early and growth-stage businesses to innovate, create jobs, and leverage investments and markets to create resilience and sustainable incomes in rural and marginalized communities in Africa.

Since 2008, we have invested over US$ 300 million in over 510 businesses across sub-Sahara Africa focusing on Agribusiness, Renewable Energy, and Climate-smart Technologies. We have impacted more than 33 million lives, created over 35,000 jobs, and leveraged over US$ 838 million in matching funds to our portfolio companies.

AECF is headquartered in Kenya, with offices in Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Sudan, Benin, and Somalia.

Job Summary

The role holder is responsible for technical programme development and overall management of AECF REACT programs across Africa. The tole holder provides the strategic vision and technical direction for the portfolio to promote rural development and foster more equitable and sustainable economic growth in Africa, within the quickly evolving framework of the economic program.

The Associate Director, Energy Portfolio consults regularly with the Director, donors and engages with senior government officials, other donors and international organizations. The role holder is also responsible for building and leading a team of Portfolio and Programme Managers/Officers that will provide technical and relationship support to managing, monitoring and reporting renewable energy and climate technologies portfolio activities including performance assessments.

As a team lead, the prospective candidate must demonstrate excellent technical skills, subject matter expertise and serve as a coach to the team. They must ensure overall employee satisfaction and productivity, in order to deliver strategic and operational business excellence.

The role will report to the Director of Programs.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategic Direction

• Develop and coordinate the overall AECF strategies and implementation approaches to achieve results for the renewable energy portfolio.
• Lead development of renewable energy Investment Portfolio, aligning it to the AECF strategy and continental sector priorities, development and growth agenda.
• Coordinate efforts and strategies with other departments, multilateral and bilateral donor agencies, and international NGOs working in the sector.
• Design, develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures for operations within the renewable energy portfolio.
• Provide guidance and support to team members on portfolio leadership and relationship management.
• Support the review and implementation of AECF’s strategy and technical operations.
• Develop overall operating plans, management plans, work plans and budgets for the renewable energy and climate technologies (REACT) portfolio.
• Actively solicit input from team members and key stakeholders, recognize and acknowledge the contributions of team members.
• Ensure that activities achieve their intended results. Provides technical and organizational leadership on the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities.
• Ensure that investees meet their obligations in accordance with agreements and relevant regulations; Prepare briefing papers for senior management on technical outlook and delivery of the programs within the portfolio.
• Relay feedback from AECF’s partners, especially the government and development partners to other parts of the organization.

Relationship Management & Business Development

• Establish and maintain productive working relationships and linkages with donors, and other development partner organizations, government departments, private sector partners etc. Establishes close links to sector leaders, international organizations, associations or businesses.
• Provide leadership for resource mobilization and guide teams towards achievement of resource mobilization targets.
• Capitalize on opportunities to demonstrate superior customer service during communication with investees, donors and other partners.
• Participate in external meetings and events to raise awareness about AECF programmes and ensure institutional visibility.
• Participate in the dissemination of AECF periodic progress and impact reports.
• Leverage expertise and networks to support fundraising and business development efforts of AECF. This includes contributing to proposal development and pitches to donors.
• Develop and maintain relevant and useful networks within the renewable energy and climate change sectors.

Sector Management

• Provide technical expertise to assure alignment of the renewable energy portfolio with evolving sector development policies, government development objectives, other donor programs, and foreign policy priorities.
• Provide support for the companies participating in the AECF carbon aggregation platform.
• Provide technical leadership for the marketing, application review and selection of renewable energy projects.
• Responsible for the overall planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of renewable energy portfolio, including multiple contracts, cooperative agreements, interagency agreements, and host country contracts.
• Coordinate and manage effective competition design and implementation.
• Contribute to planning and achieving quality growth of renewable energy portfolio.
• Develop effective strategies to enable recovery of outstanding repayable grants as due from portfolio investees.
• Provide periodic reports on renewable energy portfolio, information trends and other relevant information as requested.
• Lead development and implementation of portfolio risk framework, in line with the overall AECF Risk and Compliance Management Framework.
• Provide oversight to planning and execution of portfolio activities on a periodic basis to ensure that: implementation is on track; performance targets are being met; progress reporting is timely and accurate; and resources are utilized in an appropriate manner.
• Lead in the preparation of REACT portfolio reviews, annual reports and periodic portfolio progress updates; Facilitate and support portfolio audits and performance reviews.
• Oversee portfolio budget development and management, aligned to each programme objectives and donor guidelines.
• Custodian of REACT portfolio performance data.
• Ensure effective and efficient use of financial resources.

M & E Learning

• Contribute to development and review the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Learning strategy.
• Lead / coordinate the portfolio learning agenda in a manner that contribute to the wider learning agenda of AECF (in liaison with HQ M&E team), to further the reputation and capability positioning of the Fund, have a wider systemic impact on the relevant market systems in Africa, and promote relevant advocacy efforts.
• Ensure continuous improvement of the portfolio quality based on learning.

Team Management

• Guide teams in implementation of agreed strategy and programs, including enhancing coherence at team level.
• Participate in recruiting and managing a high – performing team of programme managers, officers and consultants.
• Responsible for the effective flow of communication within the renewable energy team, as part of the Investment Portfolio Management Team.
• Manage employee performance e.g. weekly/monthly continuous performance discussions and provision of feedback. Translate strategy into executable plans while motivating your team by setting clear goals and KPIs.
• Emulate AECF Brand values by equally rewarding good behavior and technical competence.
• Engage employees and manage diversity within the workplace by encouraging and personally participating in employee engagement activities.

Suitable candidates should

• Possess a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, Sustainable Energy, Resource Economics, Agricultural Economics, or other relevant field of study. Project Management certification (PMP or Prince 2) is desirable.
• Have a minimum of ten (10) years of experience and recognized expertise in Renewable Energy, Climate Change, Climate financing and Renewable Energy Financing.
• Have proven project management skills with the ability to work with a diverse group of clients.
• Have experience working in the development sector, managing multiple donor/ funder engagements. Proven Leadership skills with the ability to grow a team to grow and deliver progressively.
• Have a good understanding of rural and/or financial services markets in Africa.
• An understanding of the operations of donors and international development organizations.
• Possess excellent analytical and communication skills, with the ability to prepare proposals, reports and concept papers to a high level of proficiency.
• Possess good interpersonal/people skills and ability to work in cross-cultural teams.
• Be fluent in English. Language skills in French will be an added advantage.