Fund POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT PROGRAM OFFICER

Fund

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

PROGRAM OFFICER

Investment Climate and Business Environment Research

TrustAfrica is looking for an exceptional individual to serve as Program Officer for one of TrustAfrica’s flagship projects: “The Investment Climate and Business Environment Research Fund” (ICBE Research Fund). The project is jointly funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and TrustAfrica. It uses competitive research grant mechanisms, capacity-building and peer-learning workshops, and networking convenings to improve Africa’s investment climate and business environment in ways that produce equitable development and pro-poor outcomes. The position is based at TrustAfrica headquarters in Dakar, Senegal.

Application Deadline: July 31, 2009

Duties and Responsibilities

Working closely with a program team and under the direct supervision of the Program Director, the Program Officer will have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Manage the grantmaking process, which includes: issuing calls for proposals; responding to questions from potential applicants; coordinating the peer review of grant proposals; screening proposals for eligibility; acting as secretary at jury meetings (including taking minutes, recording final scorings and comments on each proposal, and keeping track of budget recommendations and funding commitments); providing comments and feedback from adjudicators to applicants; supervising bilingual project web site; monitoring funded projects; preparing project reports and proposals for donors; responding to queries about jury decisions; keeping track of feedback from various stakeholders for continual improvement and for final program evaluation.
2. Represent the ICBE Research Fund at public events, international conferences, and meetings in order to actively attract other funders for the fund and build partnerships with like-minded institutions working to promote Africa’s investment climate and business environment.
3. Design and manage technical assistance workshops and peer-learning convenings for grantees of the fund. This includes providing technical assistance to build a functioning network of grantees and other stakeholders.
4. Work with all stakeholders to design and implement a robust communications strategy for raising the visibility of the project as well as building broad support for it.
5. Prepare and make presentations to TrustAfrica’s board of trustees as well as produce progress reports to donors of the fund on a regular basis.
6. Work with other TrustAfrica staff members to ensure smooth functioning of the ICBE Research Fund.
7. Supervise a Program Assistant who provides direct administrative and logistical support to the ICBE Research Fund.
8. This position will involve frequent travel within Africa.

Qualifications and Skills

The successful candidate will have:

1. Graduate degree (Masters/PhD) in economics, business administration, finance or related field, as well as research experience in the field of investment climate and business environment in Africa.
2. Strong public-speaking skills and fluency in English and French (oral and written), as well as an excellent knowledge of communication and advocacy strategies.
3. Strong networking skills and an ability to forge and maintain partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
4. Strong analytical and organizational skills; and an ability to balance a large number of tasks and meet deadlines, while demonstrating attention to detail. Excellent computer skills are also required.
5. Commitment to TrustAfrica’s core values of transparency, accountability and efficiency.

Salary and Benefits

Salary will be commensurate with experience and competitive with other regional non-governmental organizations. TrustAfrica will provide generous employee benefits. TrustAfrica will also pay reasonable relocation expenses to Dakar.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following application materials in English: a cover letter, a detailed CV describing the candidate’s professional experience, three writing samples, and contact information for three references. Only complete applications will be considered.

Applications can be submitted to:

Program Director
TrustAfrica
BP 45435
Dakar-Fann, Senegal

Or

info@trustafrica.org

TrustAfrica will only contact candidates selected for an interview. No phone calls, please.

TrustAfrica is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and individuals from Africa are encouraged to apply.

Lot 87, Sacré Cœur 3 Pyrotechnie x VDN BP 45435, Dakar-Fann, Senegal

Tel: 221-33-869-4687 Fax: 221-33-824-1567
E-mail: info@trustafrica.org
Website: www.trustafrica.org……..