What You’ll Do
Conduct a comprehensive analysis of grants and results-based financing prospects tailored to Solar Panda’s target markets and product portfolio, which includes off-grid solar solutions, energy access initiatives, and rural electrification projects.
Develop and sustain a robust pipeline of grant opportunities, prioritizing programs aligned with off-grid solar and energy access initiatives. This pipeline should encompass the World Bank’s Ascent initiative and extend to comparable sector-focused granting institutions, including GIG/Ended, KfW, FCDO, BFA, as well as other bilateral and multilateral programs.
Develop and sustain strong connections with program officers and advisors at pivotal institutions, ensuring a deep understanding of strategic objectives, anticipated program timelines, and funding patterns by actively engaging in conferences, professional networks, and continuous institutional collaborations.
Spearhead the comprehensive creation of top-tier grant applications, collaborating closely with Solar Panda’s operations, finance, and technical teams to compile all necessary inputs.
Collaborate with internal Solar Panda teams to ensure adherence to post-award compliance standards, fulfill reporting obligations, and maintain strong, ongoing relationships with funders.
Senior Solar Panda leadership receives consistent updates on pipeline progress, newly identified opportunities, and strategic positioning to ensure alignment and informed decision-making.
Who You Are
Seasoned professional with a minimum of seven years of expertise in crafting grant strategies, driving development finance initiatives, or mobilizing funding across African markets.
Professionals must possess comprehensive expertise regarding key funders engaged in energy access or rural development initiatives, ensuring alignment with their strategic priorities and funding criteria.
Professional experience with the World Bank, United Nations, or a prominent bilateral agency is highly advantageous.
Proven success in obtaining highly competitive grants, particularly within the domains of off-grid energy, climate initiatives, or last-mile service delivery.
Exceptional proficiency in written English is essential, with fluency in French being a distinct advantage due to frequent interactions with our Francophone markets, notably Senegal and Benin.
Capable of working autonomously within a dynamic, remote startup setting with minimal supervision.
Compensation and organizational framework are determined based on individual performance, market benchmarks, and company-wide goals. The role entails a fixed base salary with variable bonuses tied to KPIs, along with comprehensive benefits including health, retirement, and professional development opportunities. Equity incentives may also be available contingent on tenure and contributions. This structure ensures alignment with business objectives while motivating sustained high performance.
This role may be offered as either a full-time position or a consulting assignment, with final details determined during the interview process. The primary work location will be one of our regional headquarters in Benin, Kenya, Senegal, or Zambia, or the position may be fully remote.
We anticipate the project will unfold in three distinct stages, each building upon the prior to ensure seamless progression and comprehensive completion.
The initial four to six weeks of integration include conducting landscape mapping, establishing Solar Panda’s grant pipeline tracker, analyzing existing grant history, and aligning initial strategies.
Upon completion of the onboarding process, the role will emphasize the ongoing development and oversight of the pipeline, the cultivation of relationships, the identification of opportunities, and the provision of consistent updates.
Crafting proposals in response to current grant opportunities is required.
Send your CV along with a concise statement (limited to 500 words) outlining a grant you strategically pursued—not one received passively but identified proactively, cultivated through relationship-building, and successfully secured. Detail how you anticipated the opportunity, positioned your organization to capitalize on it, and identified the key stakeholders whose support was essential. Submit your application to recruitmentKE@solarpanda.com no later than June 30, 2026.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
7 years
