AECF (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a leading non-profit development organization supporting innovative agribusiness and renewable energy enterprises to reduce rural poverty, promote resilient communities, and create jobs.

We catalyze the private sector by surfacing and commercializing new ideas, business models, and technologies designed to increase agricultural productivity, improve farmer incomes, expand clean energy access, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve resilience to the effects of climate change. We finance high-risk businesses that struggle to access commercial funding. We are committed to working in frontier markets, fragile contexts, and high-risk economies where few mainstream financing institutions dare to go.

Over 17 years, we have supported 536 businesses in 27 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, impacted more than 36 million lives, created over 35,000 direct jobs, and leveraged US$840 million in matching funds.

Purpose of Role

The role holder will be responsible for overseeing the assessment, measurement, and management of the development impact AECF seeks to achieve through its activities. As the Head of Impact Results and Measurement, the incumbent will be required to provide strategic directions on impact strategy through the understanding of current and future institutional needs and by delivering powerful, game-changing, relevant insights that drive better organizational and portfolio companies’ decisions toward reaching impact targets.

The Head of Impact Results and Measurement will be responsible for ongoing updating of the impact framework for the institution as well as our current and future programs including the identification, development, and integration of new metrics. The role will work closely with program teams, partners, and external evaluators to measure the effectiveness, outcomes, and impact of our work.

This role will report to the Director of Programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Continue to develop and implement the managing for impact strategy and accompanying systems and tools that will identify and maximize the depth and breadth of impact on the lives of the poor from investments made by AECF.
• Craft measurement frameworks that can be used for impact evaluations of our programs specifically for both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis(experience in using web analytics software and survey tools is a plus)
• Manage, coordinate, and execute the collection of impact data(past and present from AECF’s program teams, partner organizations, and stakeholders, providing support for timely, accurate, and consistent reporting.
• Analyse, synthesize, and produce key insights that can easily inform multiple audiences across the institution(from management to the AECF Board Members) via storytelling media and platforms to strengthen evidence to inspire storytelling efforts, and cultivate relationships with key partners,
• Engage with program teams to help them envision and embed creative methods for impact measurement into the solutions they’re delivering for our partners at the concept note, design, competition, and implementation phases.
• Build capabilities in AECF teams regarding storytelling, impact depth and breadth, and different impact measurement approaches.
• Influence the field’s understanding of how to integrate measurement and evaluation into a design-led approach through storytelling and by building practical tools that others can use in their work.
• Serve as the main point of contact to shape external evaluations and ensure alignment on impact metrics and methods used for gathering data.
• Drive experimentation around data collection and analysis through new methodologies and tools.
• Quality control over all impact-related activities of AECF’s portfolio.
• Manage a team of impact officers and experts operating from diverse offices across the continent, in our various programs.

Suitable candidates should:

• Possess a minimum of 10 years of full-time work experience in research, impact measurement, and evaluation, preferably in the private sector development context and applying DCED standards.
• Have a master’s degree in International Development, Economics, Mathematics, Communications, or a related field.
• Have experience working in international development and a deep understanding of the sector with a bias towards agribusiness, renewable energy, and climate adaptation, in Africa.
• Possess strong analytical, evaluation design, and methodological skills, and utilizes “right-fit” methods for a broad range of quantitative and qualitative approaches to communicate a rigorous, yet compelling story about AECF’s impact.
• Experience in survey methodology and monitoring social or environmental outcomes in a development context for private sector development.
• Experience working with or reporting to large bilateral funders or private foundations and is comfortable speaking their language.
• Excellent communication and writing skills, with a keen ability to synthesize and present complex data in a simple, compelling, meaningful way (the ability to produce beautiful and top-notch data visualization is a plus).
• Demonstrates a zeal for design thinking and utilizes multiple practices and mindsets of human-centered design, such as prototyping solutions and embracing ambiguity.
• Brings a positive mindset and attitude that continuously pushes the organization to accomplish its mission.
• Demonstrates a collaborative approach to decision-making and problem-solving, challenging and supporting colleagues, to influence and inspire others to act.
• Ability to work with and lead cross-cultural teams.
• Be fluent in English. Knowledge of French is an added advantage.

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 a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or any other fees).

If you believe you can clearly demonstrate your abilities to meet the relevant criteria, register and apply for the Head of Impact role on: https://recruitment.aecfafrica.org . To be considered, your application must be received by: 27th February 2025.

For more information, please visit our careers page on www.aecfafrica.org

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.