The African Climate Foundation

Country Manager

The African Climate Foundation

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Remote

Location: Remote • 🇲🇼 Malawi

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Job Level

SeniorLead

About the role

  • Lead the development and periodic review of ACF’s approach to supporting the Malawian government in achieving their climate change goals, including establishing their country-led adaptation and resilience investment platform.
  • Lead the development and periodic review of ACF’s overall Malawi Strategy, including sectoral strategies.
  • Translate relevant strategies into actionable, budgeted implementation plans with measurable outcomes.
  • Oversee key research and analytical work to inform programming and decision-making.
  • Ensure integration with other ACF regional and thematic strategies and foster cross-programme and cross-country learning.
  • Ensure that proper Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) frameworks for the country programme and various projects are in place and effectively used.
  • Identify and map key partners and stakeholders at national and local levels in Malawi.
  • Build and manage strategic relationships with government institutions, civil society, financial institutions, donors, and the private sector.
  • Represent ACF in high-level platforms, dialogues, and forums in Malawi and the broader Southern Africa region.
  • Develop a country strategy, and guide the design, review, and implementation of a pipeline of grants aligned with the Malawi strategy.
  • Work with the grants and MEL teams to ensure quality control, compliance, learning, and adaptive management across the grant portfolio.
  • Provide oversight to project implementation and technical support to grantees and partners.
  • Manage or supervise flagship projects and initiatives under the Malawi portfolio.
  • Ensure coordination with ACF’s ARIP Programme team (and the broader Programmes Team), MEL, Grants, and Communications teams to deliver on strategic goals.
  • Support ACF’s fundraising team and the ACF’s broader ARIP programme team in identifying and pursuing funding opportunities for Malawi and regional initiatives.
  • Contribute to donor proposals and lead donor engagement.
  • Ensure high-quality and timely reporting to donors and internal governance bodies.
  • Provide insights on the political economy of climate and development in Malawi.
  • Contribute to ACF’s research, advocacy, and communication efforts, positioning the Foundation as a key thought leader in Malawi.
  • Advise the Senior Management Team and the ACF ARIP team on key developments and opportunities in-country and across the region.

Requirements

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in economics, environmental sciences, development studies, public policy, or a related field.
  • At least 10 years of professional experience across all or several of the following areas: climate change, project finance, project preparation, climate adaptation and resilience, or development finance.
  • Minimum 8-10 years in a managerial or supervisory capacity.
  • Demonstrated experience working on or supporting government institutions, donors, or private sector actors in policy or programme development.
  • Proven track record of strategy design, grant management, and partnership development.
  • Familiarity with climate policy, sustainable development, and climate finance in the Malawian context.
  • Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (verbal and written).
  • Fluency in English; additional local or regional languages are an advantage.
  • High levels of professionalism, integrity, and diplomatic acumen.
  • Ability to work independently while engaging with cross-functional teams and managing stakeholder relationships.
Benefits
  • Professional development opportunities

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard skills
climate changeproject financeproject preparationclimate adaptationresiliencedevelopment financestrategy designgrant managementpartnership developmentmonitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL)
Soft skills
leadershipstrategic thinkingproblem-solvingcommunicationinterpersonal skillsprofessionalismintegritydiplomatic acumenindependent workstakeholder management
Certifications
Master’s degree in economicsMaster’s degree in environmental sciencesMaster’s degree in development studiesMaster’s degree in public policy