The role

The Portfolio Officer will be responsible for supporting the implementation of AECF’s operations, including the management of investees receiving non-repayable grants under the program. The incumbent will support the implementation of the challenge fund competition to identify and recruit SMEs, mobilize and manage grants, and provide support to a portfolio of SMEs in the agriculture and renewable energy sectors, in collaboration with the program team and local implementing partners. The role holder will work flexibly and collaboratively to process grants, manage relationships with investees, local implementing partners, and other stakeholders, support the implementation of investment contracts, provide regular reporting, and coordinate technical assistance. The role will include identifying risks and operational challenges throughout program implementation.

Key responsibilities

• Undertake due diligence processes and pre-contracting visits for shortlisted program applicants and support applicants to develop credible and high-quality proposals.
• Support investee contracting, adherence to grant agreements, and donor requirements through effective relationship management.
• Support the investee procurement process with the procurement officer and prepare investee disbursement requests.
• Engage with investees and local implementing partners, and provide support services to ensure the program’s effective implementation.
• Coordinate with the local implementing partner on the delivery of technical assistance to investees in collaboration with the program team and the AECF TA.
• Understand and communicate operational context updates to the program team to ensure effective program delivery.
• 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 local implementing partner to capture success stories and contribute to reporting on the details of the program, its implementation & results.
• Contribute to the portfolio learning agenda by sharing lessons learned and ad hoc learning papers produced under the program.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls and risk management in line with donor requirements, including ESG and AECF Risk and Compliance Management Framework.
• Contribute to baseline, midterm, and endline evaluations.
• Provide assessments, information trends, and other reports as requested.

Suitable candidates should:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, sustainable development, or a related field.
• Have four to five 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.
• Demonstrate strong stakeholder management, organizational, and project management skills.
• Demonstrate sound knowledge of the Sudan context, business communit,y and key stakeholders, with the ability to navigate the complex political and conflict environment to ensure effective program 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 program 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 program 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, register and apply at https://recruitment.aecfafrica.org. To be considered, your application must be received by 24th December 2025.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.