The African Capacity Building Foundation is searching for an entrepreneurial and ambitious results-focused individual who will design and implement a strategic, result-oriented and coordinated approach to the business development and the mobilization of resources from non-traditional sources such as private sector organizations, Foundations, multi-lateral and bilateral donors, and high net worth individuals in order to enable ACBF to expand its program portfolio and impact. As the Business Development Specialist, you will manage the set of existing donor relationships and cultivate new ones, as well as contribute to proposal development process that assures ACBF is producing competitive and high-quality proposals as we move into an exciting period of implementing the foundation’s new strategy and business model. This role is a fixed term three-year contract, renewable and can be based at any of the Foundation offices in Accra, Harare, or Nairobi.

You may be the ideal candidate for this role if you thrive working within a team structure, sharing information and insights, and engaging in ongoing intellectual exchange. You must be comfortable building bridges with partners, service providers, financial institutions, government, and corporate sectors. You should have experience in resource mobilization, scouting for new/potential donors, donor liaison, partner and stakeholder management and development of attractive proposals both for their pertinent contents and cutting-hedge visuals.

The overall objective of the role is to mobilize the resources necessary to expand the programming of the thematic areas identified in the new strategy, and to creating, maintaining, and facilitating effective partnerships between ACBF and its collaborating and financing partners, including national governments, non-governmental organizations, bilateral and multilateral institutions, and foundations. In addition, the incumbent will be responsible for promoting the Foundation’s work and its achievements and be the liaison between ACBF program teams and funding and implementing partners in coordinating proposal development, partner solicitation and reporting on results.

Duties and responsibilities include the following:

1.     Design and Implement Business Development Strategies

• Develop the business development strategy to include innovative approaches and strategies for fund raising from various donor segments, which specifies achievable financial targets and pipeline, reporting and tracking system and how the team can achieve them.
• Identify grant funding opportunities and develop grant proposals in close coordination with project teams.
• Through global networks, position ACBF in front of prospective funders including key donors through donor road shows, high level face to face meeting with potential donors and advocate for ACBF proposal till funding is secured.
• Conduct donor negotiations and solicitation; demonstrating ACBF's comparative advantage and reflecting priorities of donor countries.
• Lead strategic engagement and operational liaison with donor headquarters to broaden and deepen donor base as well as manage a portfolio of relationships with these donors.
• Lead processes to identify and regularly review annual resource mobilization targets and set performance measures for improved performance.
• Develop and maintain resource mobilization database: prospective donors, key resource organizations, professionals, opportunity tracking, proposal development manuals and templates, and data/information sources as reference and useful to resource mobilization efforts.

2.     Expand and Strengthen Partnerships

• Actively develop and explore partnerships with potential donors seeking to encourage their commitment to ACBF. This includes both traditional and newly established donors and funding mechanisms (through traditional donors, the UNDP, World Bank, AfDB, donor special programs, private sector, and foundations) and analyze specific funding trends and patterns which can assist in predicting donor interest in ACBF activities.
• Manage a comprehensive database of partners to facilitate tracking of partnerships and outreach to potential partners to enhance collaborative effectiveness and a mutually beneficial engagement.

3.     Coordinate Proposal Development

• Lead and coordinate the development process of high-quality funding proposals, concept notes, responses to RFPs, and grant applications tailored to the requirements of different partners and donors in collaboration with program and finance teams to ensure that they are consistent with internal program priorities, cross-cutting issues and partner priorities and requirements.
• Work with the Communication Team to ensure a professional and attractive packaging of each submission

4.     Enhance Donor Intelligence and Engagement

• Collaborate closely with the Knowledge Management and Program teams to gather and manage knowledge and insights. Use this information to develop innovative strategies for securing and expanding funding streams. These strategies should be translated into clear, actionable messages that multidisciplinary teams can use when engaging with various partners.
• Partner with the Communications team to create communication materials and resources that effectively convey ACBF’s value proposition, tailored for staff, board members, and targeted audiences, including current and potential donors.
• Build and maintain a comprehensive database of current and prospective donors, monitor funding trends, and provide strategic advice on donor priorities and engagement opportunities.

5.     Support Institutional Sustainability

• Contribute to efforts to diversify ACBF’s funding base beyond traditional donors, including innovative financing mechanisms, business development for fee-based services, and partnerships with the private sector.
• Develop, support, mentor and enhance fundraising skills throughout the foundation.

6.     Promote Internal Capacity for Resource Mobilization

• Strengthen internal resource mobilization capacities by providing technical support, tools, and training to ACBF staff and partners to align resource mobilization efforts across the organization.
• Support the programs team in exploring the potential of building or strengthening partnerships with pan-African organizations, RECs, policy institutes and think tanks, based on common interest and purpose.
• Provide support to the project teams in the development of donor proposals and in the preparation of progress reports and review the existing various Concept Notes.

7.     Ensure compliance with Donor Reporting

• Oversee the fulfillment of donor requirements related to reporting, visibility, and accountability, thereby enhancing ACBF’s reputation as a credible and trustworthy partner.

Desired Competencies and Experience

• Master’s degree in development studies, marketing, communications, business administration, Development economics.
• At least 7 years professional experience, with significant experience in successful resource mobilization or partnership building, proposal development and working in development context at international level.
• Demonstrable experience and success in engaging with bilateral and multilateral donors.
• Proven ability to identify new business opportunities and partnerships.
• Strong networking, representational, and negotiation skills.
• Experience working with a wide diverse technical team to deliver highly attractive proposals on tight deadlines.
• Good awareness and understanding of development issues in Africa
• Ability to analyse, synthesise and present complex issues and concepts clearly, both verbally and on paper.
• Computer literacy, preferably knowledge of Microsoft Office and common financial and project management systems.
• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills and a proven ability to be flexible in demanding situations.
• Bilingual in English and French. Ability to travel occasionally, particularly within Africa

Personal Characteristics

• An intellectually curious but humble individual with a high degree of compassion, able to engage, enable and inspire.
• A hands-on approach to all activities with real passion and high levels of energy. Agile and comfortable adapting to different environments.
• Creative and resourceful in overcoming barriers and unexpected roadblocks. Courageous in spirit, driving change through innovation.
• An authentic individual who intuitively engenders an inclusive environment, enabling program to reach its ambitious goals.
• Possesses high personal standards of ethics and integrity towards employees, stakeholders, and partners.
• Diversity of thought and experience. Continually seeks new perspectives and feedback, takes an inclusive approach,
• High levels of learning-agility with a real interest in the capacity building ecosystem.
• Entrepreneurial and comfortable with ambiguous and change-led environments; self-confident with an authentic style that gravitates to championing change.
• Eager to seek challenges and expand frontiers; brings a visionary approach. Sets and meets a high bar of goals and principles.
• Servant leadership mentality, deeply committed to serving and listening to others. Natural ability to build strong relationships and enable collaboration through empathy and authenticity.
• Committed to building a community through ACBF’s principles.

Compensation

The African Capacity Building Foundation offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience. The Foundation provides a generous package of benefits, including international medical cover, retirement benefit, mobility allowance, among others.

About the African Capacity Building Foundation

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) is the African Union’s specialized agency for capacity development. Since 1991, ACBF has empowered over 100,000 professionals across the public and private sectors, civil society, and academia, while building institutions in more than 40 member states. Through strategic partnerships and impactful programs, the Foundation builds human and institutional capacity, and generates and disseminates knowledge to advance Africa’s sustainable development in line with Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

ACBF’s current strategic plan focuses on key impact areas such as Climate Change and Energy for productive use, Agribusiness and Food Sovereignty, Trade as an engine for economic development, and Economic and Social Governance. The Foundation is headquartered in Harare, with regional offices in Accra and Nairobi and a Liaison Office at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa.

To apply for this position please submit in confidence a resume and a cover letter that details why you are a good fit for this career position to recruitment@theacbf.org with the subject Business Development Specialist by 30 August 2025.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The African Capacity Building Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer