Director, Development Finance - Africa

Main Purpose of the Role   

The Director, Development Finance - Africa will provide leadership to CIFF’s development finance function in Africa, driving the design and implementation of catalytic financing solutions that leverage CIFF’s capital to crowd in additional public and private resources, strengthen fiscal resilience, and accelerate progress towards CIFF Africa strategic missions including: 

• All Africa Girls in Quality Education 

• End preventable maternal, newborn an d child deaths in Africa 

• Break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition in Africa 

• End 7 Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa 

• End Child Pregnancy, Child Rape and Child Marriage in Africa 

• Women’s Economic Empowerment 

In this capacity, the role holder will be responsible for ensuring that Africa’s development finance agenda is firmly embedded within, and aligned to, the overall CIFF Development Finance Framework and approved global strategy. They will work closely with governments, bilateral and multilateral donors, regional bodies, DFIs, MDBs, private sector partners, and philanthropies to design and deliver innovative and scalable financing pathways that enable long-term, sustainable investment in Africa’s development priorities. By positioning CIFF as a thought leader and convenor in the development finance ecosystem, the Director will ensure CIFF’s funding is deployed in ways that not only deliver immediate impact but also catalyse systemic change and sustainable financing flows and  build partnerships across the capital continuum.  

The role will also provide mentoring to Managers and Analysts in the Africa team, embedding best-in-class financial expertise, modelling, and investment structuring into CIFF’s Africa missions. Through this, the Director will strengthen CIFF’s institutional capacity to integrate development finance into its programmes, while ensuring alignment with CIFF’s mission of unlocking transformative, African-led solutions for children.  

Role’s Responsibilities   

Strategy & Planning 

• Develop and implement the development finance agenda in Africa, ensuring full alignment with CIFF’s overall Development Finance Framework and global strategy, while tailoring delivery to Africa’s missions and localisation ambition. 

• Design and deliver financing mechanisms (e.g., blended finance structures, innovative debt instruments, social and development impact bonds, guarantees, public-private partnerships) that leverage CIFF’s catalytic capital to unlock greater resources in support of CIFF’s missions. 

• Work alongside the Deputy Executive Director, Africa to lead development finance contributions to annual and long-term business planning, distilling ambitions into pipelines, investment strategies, and measurable outcomes. 

• Collaborate across CIFF pillar teams to integrate development finance solutions into missions and investment memo’s, maximizing multiplier effects and systemic change.  

• Stay connected to relevant geopolitical trends and new developments that could impact the strategy and reflect these appropriately from convening other organisations CIFF can work with including philanthropies and bilateral donors. 

• Bring catalytic and innovative new thinking to our existing and new portfolios to scale the work and maximize the impact. 

Programme Development, Delivery & Performance 

• Lead the identification and structuring of catalytic financing opportunities that advance CIFF’s strategic priorities, with a focus on creating pathways for private sector engagement, sustainable fiscal frameworks, and blended finance solutions. 

• Guide the structuring of investment proposals, ensuring financial innovation, risk management, and alignment with CIFF’s impact objectives. 

• Provide technical development finance advice and guidance on portfolio management to pillar directors, managers and analysts, ensuring timely delivery, performance management, and compliance with governance standards. 

• Apply agreed due diligence and risk management protocols appropriately throughout the development and delivery of proposals and programmes, to ensure the interests and reputation of the Foundation are protected. 

• Conduct structured feasibility analysis on investment proposals, using an appropriate range of methodologies and techniques, to ensure they are based on logical and robust assumptions, which can withstand scrutiny from the Executive Team (ET) and CIFF Board.  

• Champion evidence generation, embedding financial modelling, ROI analysis, and cost-benefit approaches into programme design and evaluation. 

• Identify and cultivate opportunities for co-funding and leveraged partnerships, working closely with Africa pillar teams. 

 Sector Knowledge and Profile-Building 

• Act as CIFF’s subject-matter expert in development finance in Africa, providing timely insights to the Africa Leadership Team, CIFF Executive Team, and the Board, working in partnership with the Lead Economist in the CEO Office. 

• Engage in thought leadership and field-building by working alongside the Deputy Executive Director – Africa and shaping discourse on sustainable financing for development, fiscal resilience, and innovative finance in Africa. 

• Build and maintain a strong external network of policymakers, investors, DFIs, and philanthropies, positioning CIFF as a trusted partner in development finance. 

Stakeholder and Partner Management 

• Develop and manage strategic partnerships with national governments, regional economic communities, multilateral development banks, DFIs, African philanthropies, and the private sector. 

• Collaborate with the Chief of Staff, Strategic Communication and Partnerships Director to cultivate partnerships that advance our development finance agenda.  

• Alongside other Development Finance Directors and the Deputy Executive Director – Africa, support government counterparts in designing sustainable fiscal frameworks, including domestic resource mobilisation, and debt management. 

Leadership of the Team 

• Offer inspiring and motivational leadership that role models CIFF’s values and leadership behaviours, and empowers and enables staff to deliver excellence  

• Adopt a coaching approach with colleagues which instills a culture of openness and trust, embraces diverse thinking, and encourages continuous improvement and learning 

• Provide ongoing support to all direct reports in manager and/or analyst roles ensuring high performance is enabled through objective setting, clear accountabilities and regular review. 

Skills & Experience  

• Strong experience in development finance, investment banking, blended finance, or fiscal policy, with desirable exposure to sectors such as health, education, climate, or gender in the African context. 

• Demonstrated ability to design, structure, and scale catalytic financing instruments that mobilise domestic and international resources. 

• Strong track record of working with African governments, multilateral development banks, DFIs, and philanthropies to deliver sustainable finance outcomes. 

• Detailed understanding of using cost-benefit and ROI methodologies and metrics to inform strategy and business planning – preferably within an international development or charitable setting.  

• Detailed understanding of the African macroeconomic, fiscal, and political economy context. 

• High-level financial literacy, including cost-benefit analysis, ROI methodologies, and modelling of complex transactions. 

• Exceptional relationship-building, negotiation, and influencing skills, with experience convening diverse stakeholders toward shared goals. 

• Proven people leadership experience, with the ability to inspire, develop, and hold teams accountable. 

• Excellent analytical, strategic, and communication skills, with the ability to translate technical finance concepts into compelling narratives. 

Key Working Relationships 

• CIFF Board and PIC members 

• CIFF CEO Office especially the Lead Economist and his team 

• Other CIFF Africa pillar teams  

• Other CIFF teams – particularly functional teams (e.g., legal, HR, finance)Global institutional partners/stakeholders, Funders, African Philanthropies  

• National governments, regional bodies, and local NGO partners in priority geographies 

• Multilateral development banks, DFIs, and philanthropies 

• Research and academic institutions active within sector specialism 

Management Dimensions 

Relational Dimension  

• Cultivates and maintains strong relationships in Africa with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, private sector partners, investors, and community leaders. 

• Leads and mentors a high-performing team, fostering a collaborative and results-oriented culture. 

• Represents CIFF Africa effectively in negotiations, forums, and public engagements to advance development finance initiatives. 

Strategic Dimension 

• In collaboration with any other Development Finance Directors, leads the delivery of CIFF Africa’s development finance agenda, ensuring it is fully aligned with and contributes to the implementation of CIFF’s global Development Finance Framework and approved strategy. 

• Identifies and evaluates new investment and financing opportunities that respond to Africa’s development priorities and CIFF Africa missions, ensuring they are designed and delivered in alignment with CIFF’s global Development Finance Framework.  

• Oversees the entire project lifecycle, from design to monitoring and impact assessment. 

Environmental/ Contextual Dimension  

• Possesses a deep understanding of the political, economic, and social landscape of the regions where the CIFF operates. 

• Navigates complex social political environments and adapts strategies to changing market conditions.  

• Ensures all projects and financial activities adhere to ethical standards, social safeguards, and environmental best practices. 

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package here at CIFF that includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Annual leave - 25 days per annum. Increasing by 1 day after each year of service to a maximum of 30 days.
• Bonus - CIFF currently operates a discretionary bonus scheme.
• Pension
• Private medical insurance
• Training allowance
• Wellbeing allowance
• Life insurance

The closing date for this role is on or before Tuesday, October 14, 2025; CIFF reserves the right to close the job advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.