Director, Fundraising, Africa

Position description

We are seeking an accomplished and results-driven Director of Fundraising for Africa to support the Regional Head of Africa and the Global Chief Development Officer in fundraising efforts, with a target of securing $12 million in funding over the next three years.

This fundraising role is crucial to advancing Women’s World Banking’s mission of enhancing women’s economic participation and opportunities in Africa over the next decade. The Director will prioritize mobilizing funding efforts to secure $12 million within three years while cultivating strategic partnerships with grant-making institutions, financial service providers, regulators, policymakers, and other key stakeholders. By strengthening donor relationships and expanding regional collaborations, the successful candidate will ensure alignment with Africa’s strategic priorities, drive measurable impact, and support Women’s World Banking’s core initiatives.

As a member of the Africa Council, the Director will play a critical role in driving new funding to the region, contributing towards financial sustainability. The individual will also support P&L management and M&E efforts, ensuring measurable impact across the region. The successful candidate will lead and execute partnership strategies resulting in secured funding to support Women’s World Banking’s initiatives. This role requires a strategic thinker with the ability to sell; relationship-building expertise, and a deep understanding of financial services.

Roles and Responsibilities

Fundraising

• Develop and execute a regional fundraising strategy, securing funding from local, regional, and global donors, including development finance institutions, philanthropic foundations, and corporate sponsors;
• Lead the development of funding proposals, grant applications, and investment pitches, ensuring alignment with Women’s World Banking’s strategic objectives;
• Manage donor relationships, reporting, and other compliance requirements, ensuring strong donor engagement;
• Work closely with the team to identify and support business development opportunities aligned with Africa’s strategic priorities – including the expansion of partnerships with financial service providers (FSPs) and the development of high-impact programmatic offerings – while ensuring alignment with donor priorities and funding trends;
• Work closely with the global Development and program teams to ensure funding strategies support core initiatives.

Partnership Development and Relationship Management

• Identify, develop and manage high-value relationships with key donors and ecosystem partners across Africa;
• Develop and implement strategic account management processes to deepen engagement and maximize value for partners;
• Establish and maintain trusted relationships with senior executives and decision makers in partner organizations;
• Serve as the primary point of contact for partners, ensuring alignment between Women’s World Banking’s solutions and stakeholder needs.

Performance and Impact Management

• Drive the creation and execution of multi-year fundraising plans, ensuring key targets are met for engagement, funding, and partnership growth;
• Support the Regional Head in overseeing P&L management, ensuring financial sustainability and resource optimization;
• Support monitoring & evaluation (M&E) frameworks to track the impact of partnerships and programs. Maintain accurate Salesforce records, tracking opportunities and engagement progress;
• Ensure a high level of partner satisfaction by delivering high-quality, innovative financial inclusion solutions.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required; Masters degree is an advantage;
• 10+ years of professional experience in fundraising, relationship management, partnerships, and business development, preferably within financial services;
• Proven track record in securing multi-million dollar funding and managing high-value donor relationships;
• Strong experience working with a variety of philanthropic, development or impact-driven organizations;
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage with senior executives and decision-makers;
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to identify and leverage partnership opportunities;
• Proven business experience in managing P&L;
• Outstanding communication, presentation, and negotiation skills;
• Experience in CRM tools like Salesforce and data-driven account management;
• Fluency in English is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep understanding of financial inclusion programming, gender-focused finance, and impact investing;
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment;
• Strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution capabilities;
• Ability to travel within the region as needed.

Application instructions

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