Africa Coordinator

Position description

This role is offered on a freelance contractual basis and is part time.

From 2020 – 2025, One Family Foundation incubated a growing network of social entrepreneurs and innovators, Catalyst Now, which has evolved into its own independent organisation. Moving into this new phase, we wish to grow support for social innovation through engaging with communities and governments. We are thus looking to strengthen our small, dedicated team with the addition of an Africa Coordinator.

The Africa Coordinator will lead strategic engagement across African countries, working closely with governments, regional bodies, and ecosystem partners to co-create policy environments conducive to innovation and social entrepreneurship. This senior role will help bridge public-private efforts, influence policy agendas, and ensure our efforts reflect the unique regional needs and opportunities within Africa.

Key Responsibilities:

• • Government & Policy Engagement
  • Cultivate and maintain high-level relationships with government stakeholders, policy makers, and regulatory bodies across the African continent.
  • Lead the development of policy recommendations and advocacy strategies aligned with our mission.
  • Represent the organization in key policy and multilateral forums, coalitions, and government consultations.
  • Regional Strategy & Coordination
  • Develop and implement a regional strategy for engagement, including identifying priority countries and policy themes.
  • Monitor regional policy trends affecting social entrepreneurship and social innovation.
  • Facilitate cross-country learning and alignment among national governments, regional institutions (e.g., AU, ECOWAS, EAC), and ecosystem partners.
  • Program Design & Support
  • Advise colleagues on policy-related components of our initiatives in Africa.
  • Coordinate with global teams to ensure Africa-focused insights inform broader strategy.
  • Partnership & Ecosystem Building
  • Build partnerships with think tanks, NGOs, donors, and social innovators to expand impact and scale.
  • Identify funding and collaboration opportunities to support public-private innovation efforts.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of progressively senior experience in public policy, government affairs, or international development.
• Deep familiarity with African public sector landscapes, particularly in economic development, innovation, or entrepreneurship policy.
• Strong track record of engaging with governments, multilateral institutions, and cross-sectoral partners.
• Excellent strategic thinking, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Master’s degree in public policy, international relations, development studies, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• French, Arabic, or Portuguese language skills a plus.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on geopolist.com