JOBS

Two (2) exciting roles for qualified and passionate individuals to join the African Institute for Development Policy: Apply Now!

Ednah Carrick April 8, 2026

0 917 3 minutes read

Closing Date: 17 April 2026

Two (2) exciting roles for qualified and passionate individuals to join the African Institute for Development Policy: Apply Now!

The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) is hiring!

AFIDEP is looking for qualified and passionate individuals to join our team in the following roles:

1. Executive Assistant to the Executive Director
2. Communications & Policy Engagement Manager

If you are ready to contribute to impactful work that strengthens policy and development in Africa, AFIDEP encourages you to apply.

About

The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) is a regional non-profit research and policy Institute established in 2010 to help bridge the gaps between research, policy and practice in development efforts in Africa. AFIDEP primary purpose is to contribute to sustainable development through the use of evidence and advocacy to strengthen political commitment and resource allocation for development issues; informing the design and implementation of effective interventions; and strengthening governance and accountability structures for tracking development challenges in Africa.

Executive Assistant to the Executive Director Role

AFIDEP seeks to recruit a highly capable Executive Assistant to serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Director. The role is responsible for ensuring the smooth, efficient, and well-coordinated functioning of the Executive Director’s Office, enabling effective leadership, decision-making, and institutional performance.

The Executive Assistant to the Executive Director will manage executive priorities, coordinate high-level engagements, support governance and senior management processes, and ensure timely flow of information across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategically manage the Executive Director’s schedule, correspondence, meetings, and travel to optimise time and institutional priorities.
Act as a central coordination point for the Executive Director’s Office, ensuring follow-through on delegated actions and strategic commitments.
Prepare, review, and manage confidential briefs, reports, presentations, and correspondence for the Executive Director.
Coordinate Senior Management Team (SMT) meetings, including agenda setting, documentation, minute-taking, and tracking of strategic action points.
Provide governance support to the Board of Directors, including coordination of meetings, documentation, minutes, and follow-up on action points.
Support the Executive Director’s internal and external engagements through high-quality communications and briefing materials.
Support the Resource Mobilization Manager in coordinating resource mobilization efforts
Maintain robust information management systems for executive and governance records.
Uphold the highest standards of confidentiality, professionalism, and stakeholder management.
Provide limited office and administrative support as required to ensure seamless executive operations.

Qualifications and Experience

Master’s degree in Business Administration, Communications, Strategic Management, Project Management, or a related field.
At least five (5) years’ experience supporting senior executives in complex, fast-paced environments.
Strong strategic coordination, writing, reporting, and organisational skills.
Excellent judgment, time management, communication, and travel coordination skills.
Proven ability to manage competing priorities and anticipate executive needs.
Experience working in multicultural and multi-stakeholder environments.

Communications & Policy Engagement Manager

The Communications and Policy Engagement Manager will lead the work of AFIDEP’s communications and policy engagement department, overseeing the design and implementation of an innovative communication and policy-influencing strategy that will raise AFIDEP’s profile as a regional development policy institute and enhance the role of research evidence in development processes in Africa.

Key Responsibilities

Communications, Visibility, and Profiling

Design and oversee the implementation of AFIDEP’s communications and policy-influencing strategy.
Oversee the development of a recognisable AFIDEP brand as a leading policy institute in promoting and enabling evidence uptake in development efforts in all sectors.
Les the writing and publication of the Institute’s institutional reports, including the annual report, newsletters, website postings, social media content, and the African Development perspectives
Support evidence synthesis, packaging and use in six areas, namely: population dynamics and the demographic dividend; health and wellbeing; transformative education and skills development; environment and climate change; governance and accountability; and economic wellbeing.
Identify and develop relationships with key media outlets to stimulate increased use of evidence in public policy debates.
Disseminate evidence and encourage critical debate on development issues based on evidence.

Requirements

Master’s degree in communications, media, international relations, or related field.
At least 10 years’ experience in science and development communications in the development sector or a related field, including at least three years at an international level.
Excellent writing and technical editing skills, especially in policy-oriented publications and media products.
Excellent presentation and public speaking skills.
Technical skills in publications design, website management, and social media management.
Ability to dialogue effectively with a wide range of audiences/constituencies and to represent the organisation with authority and credibility.
Excellent understanding of public policymaking and legislative processes, and the role of research in these processes.
Proven skill in translating research and evidence into effective advocacy strategies that have achieved policy change at a national or international level.
Proven success in developing and delivering effective country, regional, or international policy engagement and influencing strategies.
Proven understanding of African socio-political contexts and global developments, and how this influences decision-making in the areas of health, population, and development.
Competency in facilitating national and international advocacy activities.