Closing Date: 18 December 2025
Work Remotely as a Director at the Africa Youth Climate Fund (AYCF): Apply Now
AYCF is seeking a strategic, entrepreneurial, and relationship-driven leader who excels in building new institutions to represent the AYCF to global partners while fostering its deep roots in African youth leadership and movements.
About the Africa Youth Climate Fund (AYCF)
The Africa Youth Climate Fund (AYCF) is a flagship initiative of the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), established to redistribute power, resources, and decision-making to Africa’s youth climate movements. Born out of the recognition that young African changemakers are driving some of the continent’s most transformative climate solutions, yet remain underfunded and undervalued, the AYCF exists to close this equity gap and accelerate systemic change.
Anchored in a participatory grantmaking model, the Fund champions a youth-for-youth approach that empowers emerging leaders and organizations to design, implement, and scale context-driven climate interventions. AYCF provides catalytic support across three pillars: entrepreneurship and innovation, movement building, and research, while nurturing ecosystems of transparency, accountability, and collaboration across Africa.
By strengthening local ownership, fostering strategic partnerships, and aligning with global climate finance priorities, the climate finance serves as both a funding mechanism and a movement-building platform, driving a future where African youth lead the continent’s transition toward climate justice, resilience, and sustainable development.
Position Description
The Director will serve as the founding leader of the Africa Youth Climate Fund, responsible for building the Fund from the ground up, securing and stewarding partnerships, establishing governance and operational systems, and ensuring AYCF’s long-term sustainability and impact. This role requires a strategic, entrepreneurial, and relationship-driven leader who thrives in building new institutions. The Director will represent the Fund to global partners while nurturing its deep roots in African youth leadership and movements.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Fund Establishment – 25%
- Lead the design and implementation of AYCF’s vision, strategy, and operating model, in alignment with GAYO’s mission and the AYCF Advisory Circle’s guidance.
- Establish governance structures, policies, and accountability systems to ensure transparent and inclusive leadership.
- Develop annual priorities and multi-year strategic frameworks connecting fundraising, grantmaking, and capacity-building goals.
- Serve as the main link between the GAYO Secretariat, the AYCF Advisory Circle, and broader stakeholders.
Fundraising, Partnerships, and Philanthropy – 30%
- Design and execute AYCF’s fundraising and partnership strategy to mobilize core, flexible, and long-term financial resources.
- Build strategic relationships with philanthropic foundations, climate and development partners, and high-net-worth donors.
- Develop compelling investment cases, donor briefs, and co-funding opportunities to support practical fundraising efforts.
- Represent AYCF in regional and global fora to elevate its visibility and influence as Africa’s youth-led climate fund.
- Collaborate closely with GAYO’s leadership to ensure alignment with organizational fundraising and reporting systems.
Program and Grantmaking Oversight – 15%
- Provide strategic oversight for the design and rollout of participatory grantmaking windows, ensuring alignment with AYCF’s principles and values.
- Guide the setup of fair, transparent, and eicient grantmaking systems, with appropriate due diligence and monitoring tools.
- Establish clear metrics for grantee accountability, learning, and impact, supported by participatory feedback mechanisms that foster ongoing learning and evaluation.
- Supervise pilot funding rounds and refine processes based on the lessons learned
Qualification and Experience [Ideal Profile]
- Minimum of 8 years of experience in philanthropy, climate, or social impact funding, including at least 5 years in senior leadership.
- Demonstrated success in fundraising and partnership development with foundations, bilateral donors, or development partners.
- Strong experience in institution-building or organizational startup phases.
- Deep understanding of participatory or community-led approaches, ideally within youth or climate movements.
- Strategic thinker and relationship builder with excellent communication, storytelling, and negotiation skills.
- Familiarity with African civil society, global philanthropic ecosystems, and youth organizing.
- Commitment to feminist, decolonial, and justice-centered leadership principles
Click Here To Apply
Follow Opportunities For Everyone on Social Media
