As a key member of our team, you will be responsible for executing critical tasks that directly contribute to our organizational objectives. This position requires a proactive approach, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic work environment. You will collaborate cross-functionally with stakeholders to ensure seamless project delivery while adhering to established timelines and quality standards. The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of three years of relevant experience, strong analytical skills, and proficiency in industry-specific tools. Additionally, excellent communication abilities and a commitment to continuous improvement are essential for success in this role. Your contributions will play a vital role in driving efficiency, innovation, and growth within the company.
The Senior Officer, Africa, within Global Partnership Development, is responsible for shaping and executing the foundation’s strategic approach to philanthropy in Africa. In this pivotal role, the incumbent cultivates and nurtures high-value partnerships with ultra-high-net-worth individuals (Unwise), family offices, corporations, and both private and institutional foundations across Africa and its diaspora. These partnerships are designed to advance the foundation’s critical health and development priorities throughout the continent. This senior-level position demands a professional who combines visionary thinking, innovative strategies, and established relationship capital to successfully negotiate and finalize large-scale, multifaceted partnerships with diverse donors. The ideal candidate will excel at building and leading meaningful engagements with leading philanthropists, their teams, family offices, and foundations—both within Africa and among the diaspora—to secure co-funding, supplementary contributions, and cultivate influential advocates for the foundation’s mission. A comprehensive understanding of how philanthropy, business, and civil society intersect across Sub-Saharan Africa is essential, along with a proven track record in designing and implementing ambitious, cross-issue and cross-regional partnership strategies.
This position will operate at the convergence of the foundation’s philanthropic, programmatic, and advocacy objectives, tasked with cultivating and overseeing a dynamic network of African philanthropic partnerships while advancing the organization’s strategic vision for expanding charitable contributions across the continent. The Senior Officer will collaborate closely with the institutional philanthropy lead to design and implement engagement strategies aimed at other foundations and corporate entities, serving as a pivotal liaison with senior leadership, including in relation to the Giving Pledge.
This position operates under the supervision of the Director of the African Regional Office within Global Policy and Advocacy, while maintaining a secondary reporting line to the Deputy Director of Global Partnership Development on the Philanthropic Partnerships Team. The position is not responsible for overseeing or managing staff.
This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya. Candidates must possess the legal authorization to work in Kenya without requiring visa sponsorship.
What You’ll Do
You will spearhead the foundation’s strategy for African philanthropy, leveraging a focused approach to engage ultra-high-net-worth individuals (Unwise) based in or with origins on the continent in global health and development initiatives. Your responsibilities will encompass identifying, evaluating, and fostering relationships with potential partners; overseeing a dynamic portfolio of high-value connections; and advancing ambitious annual commitments to align with the foundation’s global health and development objectives.
You will leverage extensive knowledge of deal and partnership structuring within Africa’s varied philanthropic, corporate, and civic sectors to craft strategies that harmonize local relevance with global coherence. In collaboration with PPT, program teams, and the Africa Regional Office and Country Offices, you will formulate persuasive cases for support and design innovative partnership frameworks, which may include philanthropic donations, co-investment models, blended finance solutions, and alternative capital mechanisms.
This position involves developing and overseeing intricate collaborations that connect diverse partners, programs, and regions, necessitating exceptional organizational, negotiation, and strategic deal-making skills. You will pinpoint prospects to unite multiple stakeholders around common objectives, craft partnership structures for multifaceted engagements involving numerous parties, and ensure African viewpoints are embedded within international philanthropic approaches. Based on the specific portfolio and the intricacy of agreements, you will assume a leadership, support, or advisory function in designated partnerships.
Institutional philanthropy efforts require strategic cross-sector engagement and seamless coordination to maximize impact and foster collaborative partnerships. This role involves facilitating meaningful interactions between diverse stakeholders, including foundations, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies, to align resources and initiatives effectively. Responsibilities include developing and maintaining relationships with key decision-makers, identifying synergistic opportunities for joint funding and program development, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals and philanthropic priorities. Strong interpersonal skills, a deep understanding of philanthropic landscapes, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder dynamics are essential for success in this position.
You will serve as the foundation’s liaison within African philanthropic networks, sector forums, and peer communities. Key responsibilities may involve representing the foundation at high-level engagements, fostering strategic partnerships, and actively participating in discussions that shape the philanthropic landscape across the continent.
Cultivating strong connections with and driving impactful engagement among leaders spanning African business, civil society, and philanthropic sectors.
Collaborating closely with communications and advocacy teams, we aim to develop narratives that resonate culturally and inspire philanthropic support across diverse African contexts.
Identifying and cultivating influential donors to serve as spokespeople, strategic collaborators, and advocates for GH&D across Africa and within the African diaspora.
In collaboration with the foundation’s institutional philanthropy lead, you will develop and implement strategies to engage African foundations and corporate foundations effectively.
Foundation leadership and philanthropic pledge engagement are essential components of our strategic initiatives. This role requires a deep understanding of nonprofit management, donor cultivation, and grant making to advance the foundation’s mission. Key responsibilities include overseeing foundation programs, fostering relationships with high-net-worth donors, and ensuring adherence to the giving pledge commitments. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in nonprofit leadership, strategic fundraising, and compliance with ethical standards to drive impactful philanthropic outcomes.
As a strategic partner to foundation leadership, you will cultivate and strengthen relationships with prominent African philanthropists and partners, ensuring that executive engagements are meticulously prepared, purpose-driven, and thoroughly followed up. Your role will involve delivering insightful briefings, developing targeted relationship strategies, and coordinating follow-up actions to amplify the impact of leadership interactions.
You will assume a key role in cultivating and strengthening relationships tied to the Giving Pledge, with a focus on identifying new signatories from Africa and fostering sustained engagement with current African signatories. This work will be conducted in accordance with PPT’s overarching Giving Pledge strategy.
We are seeking an experienced professional to oversee internal alignment and manage our portfolio effectively. This role requires a strategic approach to ensure all initiatives are aligned with organizational goals and that resources are allocated efficiently. Key responsibilities include coordinating cross-functional efforts, monitoring portfolio performance, and making data-driven decisions to maximize impact. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in portfolio management, strong analytical skills, and the ability to collaborate with diverse teams. A minimum of five years in a related field is required, along with expertise in project management tools and methodologies.
As a pivotal internal relationship manager, you will collaborate with PPT, the Global Partnership Development team, the Africa Regional Office, program strategy teams, and the Global Policy & Advocacy division to align partner engagement efforts. This coordination ensures timely and consistent interactions that balance donor interests with the foundation’s strategic priorities. Additionally, the role involves direct collaboration with Africa country offices—especially in Nigeria and Ethiopia—while maintaining close partnerships with regional leads across Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa.
This role involves playing a key part in the creation of innovative philanthropic offerings, engaging in strategic content planning and cultivation efforts for events such as Goalkeepers, Proponent Labs, and other Africa-focused gatherings, as well as partnering with PPT’s Shared Services team to enhance communications, audience outreach, and data-driven insights.
You will oversee meticulous portfolio and pipeline tracking using Salesforce, encompassing forecasting, performance reporting, and the regular updating of partner intelligence.
Your Experience
A relevant bachelor’s degree or higher, or commensurate professional experience, is required.
With a minimum of seven years of experience in areas such as complex partnership development, major gifts fundraising, business development, resource mobilization, investment, or strategic relationship management, you must have a proven ability to secure substantial financial commitments or finalize high-value partnerships.
We seek a candidate with extensive expertise in African philanthropy, business, and civil society, along with a deep understanding of how partnerships and transactions are structured across Sub-Saharan Africa. Applicants from diverse professional backgrounds—including business, finance, investment, international development, or NGOs—are encouraged to apply; however, priority will be given to those with demonstrated proficiency in the African market, a strong network of relationships, and a proven history in business development or resource mobilization.
Skilled in cultivating and overseeing relationships with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional partners, with a proven history of securing substantial multi-year commitments.
We seek a professional with a proven track record in developing and overseeing intricate collaborations involving diverse partners, varied issue domains, and wide-ranging geographical regions.
A solid grasp of global health and development priorities, particularly in relation to African development agendas, is essential. While specialized expertise in this field is not mandatory, strong intellectual curiosity, rapid learning capabilities, and a sincere dedication to the mission are critical.
Skilled in fostering teamwork and partnership among internal departments to deliver unified results.
Demonstrates proficiency in a range of technical and interpersonal skills, including effective communication, problem-solving capabilities, and collaborative teamwork. Exhibits strong organizational and time management abilities to meet deadlines and prioritize tasks efficiently. Possesses analytical thinking to assess situations, identify solutions, and implement improvements. Displays adaptability in dynamic environments and a commitment to continuous learning. Maintains attention to detail while managing multiple responsibilities and adheres to industry standards and best practices.
An accomplished professional with a talent for fostering meaningful connections and earning trust, adept at cultivating relationships across diverse organizational levels—from senior leadership and executives to program teams—to drive targeted results.
A strategic professional with a deep understanding of African philanthropy trends, donor motivations, and the broader giving landscape across the continent.
The role requires strong capabilities in deal structuring and partnership formation, with a solid understanding of blended finance, co-investment strategies, and alternative philanthropic funding mechanisms.
Proven ability to transform intricate global issues into engaging stories that effectively connect with a wide range of African audiences.
Demonstrates a solid grasp of cultivating influence, fostering advocacy, and empowering individuals to become champions.
Proven ability to communicate with clarity and impact in English, both verbally and in writing, particularly when engaging with ultra-high-net-worth individuals and key decision-makers.
Proficient in collaborating effectively across a broad spectrum of cultural settings, including Sub-Saharan Africa and global contexts, demonstrating a profound appreciation for local customs, power structures, and established relationship frameworks.
Skilled in evaluating the outcomes and effectiveness of partnerships through a data-centric approach.
Preferred Attributes
Established relationships within philanthropic, corporate, and civil society networks across Africa, with a particular emphasis on engaging ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and corporate and institutional foundations.
Fluency in one or more African languages—or other languages widely spoken in key markets—is essential.
Proven track record collaborating effectively with senior leadership, key decision-makers, and board members to drive strategic initiatives and foster impactful relationships.
Familiarity with the Giving Pledge or similar philanthropic networks is preferred.
Candidates should possess a proven track record in blended finance initiatives, impact investing strategies, or the cultivation of cross-sector partnerships.
Skilled in mobilizing resources for gender, Human Development, and related development initiatives, with a proven track record in this domain.
Proficiency in traveling, with a requirement to cover up to 40% of the time commitment, including domestic and regional destinations within Sub-Saharan Africa.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
7 years
