Director, Partnerships and Strategic Communications, Africa

Requirements

Skills & Experience

• Significant senior‑level experience in partnership development, external relations, and/or strategic communications in Africa
  
• Proven track record of building and managing high‑value partnerships across philanthropy, government, and multilateral systems.
  
• Strong experience leading strategic communications, thought leadership, or advocacy in complex and sensitive contexts.
  
• Demonstrated ability to operate credibly with senior stakeholders, including government officials, funders, and institutional leaders.
  
• Experience managing reputational risk and crisis communications.
  
• Strong political, institutional, and contextual understanding of African development landscapes.
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex issues clearly and persuasively.
  
• Strategic, judgement‑driven thinker with a pragmatic and solutions‑oriented mindset.
  
• High levels of integrity, discretion, and professionalism.
  

Strategic Partnerships & External Engagement

• Lead and deliver CIFF Africa’s partnerships strategic communications strategy aligned with CIFF’s Africa priorities and global objectives.
  
• Build, steward, and deepen relationships with philanthropic partners, peer foundations, donor collaboratives, and high‑value networks.
  
• Identify, assess, and pursue new partnership opportunities that unlock scale, sustainability, and systems‑level impact.
  
• Support the Executive Director, Africa and Africa Directors in cultivating and managing senior‑level external relationships.
  
• Represent CIFF Africa in relevant funder collaboratives, multi‑donor platforms, and partnership forums, ensuring clear value‑add and outcomes.
  
• Engage strategically with priority governments, regional bodies (e.g. African Union, AUDA‑NEPAD, WHO AFRO), and multilateral institutions in partnership with programme teams.
  
• Track policy, geopolitical, and regulatory developments relevant to philanthropy and partnerships in Africa, advising leadership on risks and opportunities.
  
• Institutionalise best practices in partnership development, contributing to organisational learning and capability‑building across the Africa team.
  

Strategic Communications & Thought Leadership

• Set and lead CIFF Africa’s strategic communications agenda to strengthen visibility, influence, and coherence across countries and missions.
  
• Develop integrated communications and positioning strategies aligned with CIFF’s values, priorities, and risk appetite.
  
• Lead the creation of high‑quality external communications including speeches, talking points, briefs, op‑eds, reports, and presentations.
  
• Shape and deliver CIFF Africa’s thought leadership and advocacy approach, in close collaboration with programme and policy teams.
  
• Oversee digital and media engagement for CIFF Africa, coordinating with central communications teams on social media, media relations, and performance tracking.
  
• Ensure consistency of messaging across external engagements, governance materials, and public‑facing platforms.
  

Reputation and Crisis Communications

• Develop and maintain crisis communications and reputation management plans for CIFF Africa
  
• Monitor emerging reputational risks and sensitive issues, preparing proactive messaging and escalation pathways.
  
• Advise the Executive Director and senior leadership on reputational risk mitigation and response strategies.
  
• Coordinate external advisors and communications consultants during high‑risk or crisis situations.
  

Leadership & Management

• Provide strategic leadership to any staff or consultants working on partnerships and communications portfolios.
  
• Work collaboratively with Africa Directors, programme teams, and global support functions (Communications, Legal, Finance, HR) to deliver integrated external engagement.
  
• Contribute as a senior member of the Africa leadership cohort, modelling CIFF’s values and ways of working.