Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, February 29 2024, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Role Summary
The Lead Partnership & Business Development will lead the process of identifying and exploring potential options for funding including the private sector (Banks, Equity Funds, Institutional Investors, Insurance, pension funds, strengthen the financial sustainability of the AFS Forum and its operations through vibrant resource development effort, striking healthy financial ratios, and effective budget administration. Act as an active liaison with relevant internal stakeholders within AGRA and external stakeholders on specific thematic areas of strategic relevance for partnership both public and private and global policy development. She/ he will perform analytical work to guide the forum on the best way to catalyze private investments and technical assistance platforms to support deal rooms within AFS Forum partners. He/ She will coordinate the deal rooms competition work and ensure that healthy pipelines from all partners, countries and MSMEs are compiled and presented regularly to investors (quarterly basis) and at AFS Forum Annual Summit. In coordination with the AFS Forum head of thematic platforms and other AFS Forum Partners, He/ She will conduct regular gap assessment, investment opportunities and guide partners such as AGRA private sector and other partners on the deal pipelines to structure and deploy for investments. She/he works with the Managing Director (MD) of AGRF and other team members to ensure the AFS Forum deals rooms competitions are delivered on the multi-year strategic vision and action plans of the Forum. S/he is also responsible in supporting the MD of AGRF for ongoing communications, and resource mobilization around technical and financing platforms, innovative flagship programs namely legacy programs and to ensure it maximizes its impact and is fully funded, working in coordination with AGRA’s Development Cooperation units as appropriate.

Key Measures of Performance
The performance of this role holder will be assessed based on achievement of the following objectives:
• Promoting, Advocating and Communicating AFS Forum Priorities as per the strategic plan 2023-2027.
• Developing and implementing the forum Partnership and resource mobilization Strategy.
• Managing Strategic, Policy and Technical Expertise of Global Policy Engagements, Replenishment, Resource Mobilization and Advocacy.
• Coordination of deal rooms and financing platforms & Partnership management particularly with the private sector .
• Optimal identification of opportunities and thereafter resourcing them with intelligence, tools and instruments and organizational inputs
• Financial leverage achieved with program teams for resources into priority countries and AFS Forum partners plans.
• Maintenance of strong relationships with donors and private sector to maximize value of partnerships and ensure a strong position for future reinvestment and/or supplemental funds.
• The strategic nature and quality of AFS Forum’s advocacy, communications, and thought leadership.
• Managerial Functions.
• Establish and nurture collaboration with the 28 AGRF partners and new partners -key result being to ensure greater visibility and influence for AFS Forum in support of its mission.
• Development of a partnership strategy under the new AFS Forum strategic plan 2023-2027 and lead on its implementation.

Major Duties and Responsibilities
Purpose – Manage Integrated Processes
• Designs, implements, and coordinates an institution-wide, comprehensive donor relations and stewardship system that fosters positive and mutually rewarding relations between AFS Forum and its donors.
• Support a culture of continuous improvement, and performance optimization across all program development processes, as well as use of tools and systems that support that, in close collaboration with Program and operations teams to embed key tools and practices in the donor’s relationship management and retention.
• Driving and tracking progress on activities for the implementation of Thematic Platforms and Thematic Working Groups, support of the financing platforms.
• Develops and consolidates AFS Forum ’s knowledge management system and knowledge products.
• Work with AFS forum Communications and service providers on key communications and advocacy deliverables and routine newsletters.
• Engages and steward’s relationships with other institutions with whom AFS Forum wishes to jointly bid for funding opportunities.
• Advises and build capacity of country and regional teams on strategic engagement with donors.
• In collaboration with the Head – Thematic Platforms the Partnership Officer – Deal Rooms, and the Lead Communication Officer, will support the AFS Forum advocacy work relations with governments, financial institutions, and civil society, or vis-à-vis relations with high level committees/organizational relations.
• Perform analytical work to guide the forum on the best way to catalyze private investments and platforms to support deal rooms within AFS Forum partners.
• Coordinate the deal rooms work and ensure that healthy pipelines are compiled and presented regularly to investors (quarterly basis) and at AFS Forum Annual Summit.
• Coordinate the deal rooms competition and selection of deals to be presented at AFS Forum.
• Conduct gap assessment, investment opportunities and guide AGRA private sector and AFS forum partners on the deal pipelines to deploy for investments.
• Ensure thematic platforms are delivering on the multi-year strategic vision and action plans of the Forum
Engagement – Align
• Develop pitches and support outreach to potential AFS Forum partners and sponsors.
• Secure new partnerships that strengthen the Forum and its long-term financial sustainability.
• Leads compliance with AFS Forum Partner contracts and prepare and submit deliverables to Partners as required.
• Enables talent management and development of existing staff, acquiring of new staff as necessary and manages team dynamics to ensure high-performance and positive employee experience.
• Communicates results through presentations, written and verbal communication.
Delivery – Sustain Service
• Collaborate with the Managing Director Forum on annual work plan development, monitoring, and updates during the year.
• Collaborate with the Managing Director, AFS Forum, Finance, and the Development Cooperation Unit on overall budget forecasting and updates to Management.
• Contributes to co-creation of programs and developing scaling models, that will better position AFS Forum to development partners.
Model the IRISE Values & and Be a Culture Carrier
• Integrity: Uphold moral convictions and always do the right thing.
• Respect: Value differences and embrace diversity and inclusion.
• Innovation: Strive for excellence and embracing continuous improvement, bold creativity, and change.
• Stewardship: Be responsible for actions undertaken and resources entrusted.
• Equity: Be governed by fairness in all undertakings.

Requirements
Academic and Professional Qualifications
• Master’s degree in international development, Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Public Finance, Public Administration, Rural Development, Social Sciences, or any other relevant field.
• Fluency in English; Knowledge of French will be an advantage.
Required Skills/Abilities
• Experienced donor development and resource mobilization, funding proposal designing expert with a superior track record of success serving international development organizations and or the private sector .
• Results-oriented, accountable, proactive, and able to work on behalf of AGRA with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Optimistic and persuasive on AGRA’s strategic approach to solving challenges impeding agriculture transformation.
• Ability to translate program-based concepts into practical realities
Relevant Experience
• High-level experience in international development with demonstrable success in resource mobilization with large multilateral or bilateral agencies or trusts and foundations or private sector donors.
• Proven experienced resource mobilization and donor management expert with a superior track record of success serving international development organizations.

Key Competencies
• Strategic Orientation: focus on the big picture and overall Strategic Framework. Ability to identify and pursue strategic initiatives which provide the greatest value and sustainable impact; balances long and short-term trade-offs; communicates clearly and precisely the strategic goals and the strategies for achieving them.
• Leadership: Demonstrates ability to mobilize, focus, align, and build effective groups to enable them to conceptualize and achieve collective objectives. Inspires trust and passion in the AGRA Mission: Ability to show great drive and commitment to AGRA mission; help others understand how their daily work contributes to the AGRA's mission and inspires others to proactively meet the AGRA's strategic objectives in partnership with key partners, grantees, and Country Governments. Maintains high standards of personal integrity and provides support for professional development efforts linked to business objectives.
• Driving Results: Demonstrates drive for improvement of business results, based on well-rounded understanding of general business principles and own activities’ commercial and financial implications.
• Planning and Organizing: Devises plans of action with explicit paths and measures of accomplishment for self and/or others and allocates suitable resources so that objectives are achieved. Strong administration skills.
• Technical Competencies for the position: Demonstrates knowledge of all own work role specific issues. This encompasses the technical skills or knowledge required to perform the essential duties as described in this Job Description. Specific technical competencies: quantitative analytical skills including use of appropriate software, results-based management systems, designing tools and strategies for data collection, analysis, and production of reports
• Accuracy and attention to detail: High level of accuracy, attention to detail and thoroughness. Ability to maintain a timely and efficient workflow.
• Managing Resources: Demonstrates the ability to plan and use resources (people and/or finance and/or physical assets) in accordance with AGRA guidelines and delegated accountability so that objectives are achieved in the most effective manner possible.
• Coaching and Developing Staff: A demonstrated capacity for working effectively within multi-disciplinary teams for collective success and provide effective coaching and encourage appropriate development activities in order to support staff in identifying and meeting their training and development needs.
• Communication and Interpersonal relations: Exceptional communication skills and ability to represent AGRA externally at high levels. Demonstrates ability to maintain lasting, healthy, and effective one-to-one working relationships with colleagues, suppliers, customers, professional peers, etc.
• Intercultural Sensitivity and Effectiveness: Demonstrates ability to cross and bridge different racial, cultural, gender or business cultures. This requires and is exhibited by personal experience of international or cross-cultural business with improved achievements.
• Teamwork: Demonstrates productive drive in working with peers, partners, consultants, and others to achieve pre-targeted and measurable business results

Other Job Requirements
Key contacts: Internal & External
• Partners
• AFS Forum Secretariat
• Institutions supporting the Forum
Terms of Appointment
3 Years Fixed Term (Consideration for renewal will be made subject to AGRA’s needs, available funding, and performance).
Location
Based in Kigali, Rwanda, with frequent travel in Africa and at the international level, approximately 30% per month/year.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 36

Level of Education: Associate Degree

Job application procedure
• To apply for this position, please ensure you complete the Application Form provided below by 15 March 2024 (23:59 hrs, GMT +2). It is essential that you submit your CV in English, specifically in Microsoft Word format (.doc/.docx).
• Applications in other languages or formats will not be considered.
• Rest assured, all information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.
• SRI Executive is exclusively retained by AGRA to undertake this assignment.
• Interested and qualified? Click here to apply

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