The role

The Senior Country Coordinator will oversee the implementation of AECF’s operations. The incumbent will represent the organization to the government, donor partners, business community, and other stakeholders. The role holder will supervise a team of 4 program staff and oversee the management of investees receiving non-repayable grants under the program. The Senior Country Coordinator will support the implementation of a challenge fund competition to identify and recruit SMEs, grant management support, and support a portfolio of SMEs in the agriculture and renewable energy sectors in collaboration with the program team and local implementing partners. They will act as a liaison between the program team and the Kenya team, working flexibly and collaboratively to manage relationships with investees, local implementing partners, and other stakeholders while coordinating operations in the country. The role also includes identifying and addressing risks and operational challenges throughout program implementation.

Key responsibilities

• Supervise a team of 4 program staff and coordinate day-to-day program activities to ensure effective delivery.
• Undertake due diligence processes and pre-contracting visits for shortlisted program applicants and support them to develop credible and high-quality proposals.
• Engage with investees and local implementing partners and offer support services for the effective implementation of the program.
• Navigate the complex political and conflict environment to ensure effective program delivery.
• Support the preparation and design of persuasive investment memos and contribute to the program team’s competition and selection process.
• Support investee contracting, adherence to grant agreements, and donor requirements through effective relationship management.
• Coordinate with the local implementing partner on the delivery of technical assistance to investees in collaboration with the program team and the AECF TA.
• Communicate context operational updates to the program team and provide assessments, information trends, and other reports as requested.
• Conduct investee performance monitoring activities, including data verification to ensure accuracy and quality of progress reports and program results.
• Ensure periodic investee site visits are conducted in accordance with the site visit schedule.
• Validate the impact reported following AECF guidelines on impact measurement in collaboration with the senior impact officer.
• Collaborate with the communications team and the local implementing partner to capture success stories and contribute to donor reporting on the details of the program, its implementation, and results.
• Contribute to the portfolio learning agenda through lessons learned as well as ad hoc learning papers produced under the program.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls and risk management in line with donor requirements and AECF Risk and Compliance Management Framework.
• Facilitate travel arrangements and liaise with logistics for the program team.
• Support the Country Lead in the execution of special projects and initiatives (e.g. coordinate AECF Investee Exchange physical meetings and AECF Investee working groups, Gender Lens Investing Knowledge Seminars.. etc.

Suitable candidates should:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, sustainable development or a related field.
• Have seven to eight years of experience in portfolio or investment management, including conducting financial and operational due diligence of early-stage or growth-stage businesses.
• Have experience in private sector development, sustainable finance, value chain strengthening or economic diversification.
• Hold a professional accounting qualification, such as ACCA, which will be an added advantage.
• Have experience working with SMEs and/or financial intermediaries serving SMEs.
• Experience in gender lens investing will be an added advantage.
• Line management experience.
• Demonstrate strong stakeholder management, problem solving, line management and project management skills.
• Demonstrate sound knowledge of the Sudan context, business community and key stakeholders, with the ability to navigate the complex political and conflict environment to ensure effective programme delivery.
• Understand the donor landscape and the requirements of international development partners.
• Possess excellent analytical and communication skills, with the ability to prepare investment memos, proposals and reports to a high standard.
• Support the preparation and design of persuasive investment memos in English and contribute to the programme team’s competition and selection process.
• Demonstrate a high degree of initiative, energy, a “can-do” attitude, flexibility, teamwork and attention to detail.
• Ensure grantee compliance with all aspects of AECF’s frameworks, including ESG requirements, together with the local implementing partner engaged for programme monitoring.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic.

How to apply

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered based on merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

AECF does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or otherwise).

If you believe you meet the criteria for the role, please submit your application and CV, quoting in the subject line of the Job Title “Senior Country Coordinator – Sudan” to AECFrecruitment@aecfafrica.org. To be considered, your application must be received by 24th December 2025.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.