Do you want to help build and manage an investment portfolio of high-impact civic technology projects?

Code for Africa (CfA) has an immediate vacancy for a Programme Manager in Kenya, Nigeria or South Africa to join our Business Development team (BizDev).

In order to thrive in this role, candidates must have demonstrable experience in programme management and /or project management in the media and/or technology space. 

BizDev is responsible for two portfolios, namely – New Initiatives and Investment Portfolios. New Initiatives is spearheaded by the BizDev team’s Senior Programme Manager and has a strong focus on securing new revenues/resources through fundraising and growing partnerships that advance CfA’s strategic objectives.

In tandem, the successful candidate will be responsible for managing BizDev’s Investment Portfolio, which focuses on nurturing the projects and/or initiatives that CfA has invested in. These projects range from air quality sensors to a fact-checking initiative to media development projects.  

CfA is an advocate of digital tools, processes and open-source projects championed by a diverse and highly specialised team. As a representative of the BizDev team, you’ll work with multicultural teams based in more than 10 African countries and will be expected to communicate and manage projects online and in person.

Required: minimum requirements include:

  • 3+ years of relevant programme or project management experience
  • Relevant qualification, would suit someone who studied IT or media or journalism or something similar   
  • Experience using Project Management software/tools like Trello, Slack, etc
  • Competency in Google Suite applications including Google Docs, Slides, Sheets

Preferred: candidates who are able to demonstrate the following will have an advantage:

  • Proven experience managing teams in the technology industry to deliver milestones and meet business needs
  • Experience with remote work
  • Organised and efficient in work processes
  • A willingness to grow into an effective leader with the ability to provide direction, vision and mentor team members
  • Flexible and ability to adapt to change and cultural realities
  • The ability to work across many different projects

Language and Location Requirements:

  • Location: Nairobi, Kenya ; Cape Town, South Africa ; Abuja or Lagos, Nigeria
  • Languages: English

About the Role:

Working closely with the BizDev Senior Programme Manager, you will be responsible for managing a portfolio of selected CfA donor funded projects. You will be helping project leads strengthen capacity, systems and resources to position them for improved impact. 

Responsibilities: Your daily responsibilities will include:

  • You will co-manage core teams and project teams with the Senior Business Development Programme Manager
  • Oversee project deliverables to ensure adherence to agreed quality benchmarks and budgets by facilitating regular progress/prototype reviews at appropriate milestones for stakeholders, and by proactively problem-solving where expectations are not met 
  • Where needed, manage the day-to-day implementation of projects/partners, based on their work plans and CfA strategic objectives or expectations
  • Actively monitor and evaluate both the implementation and expenses on projects to help preemptively identify challenges and opportunities. 

What We Offer:

  • A competitive salary, subject to experience, with opportunities for performance-based growth, both in terms of career path and public stature
  • A dynamic workplace, with a transnational team, occasional international travel, and generous vacation benefits
  • Ongoing opportunities to learn new cutting-edge skills and techniques/technologies to future-proof yourself in a rapidly evolving industry
  • A chance to shine on a global stage, writing for international audiences and interacting with colleagues around the world

How to apply:

Please fill in this form by 17 July 2020


About Us:

Code for Africa (CfA) is the continent’s largest network of independent civic technology and data journalism laboratories, which build digital democracy solutions that give citizens unfettered access to actionable information that empowers them to make informed decisions, and that strengthens civic engagement for improved public governance and accountability.

This includes building infrastructures like openAFRICA and sourceAFRICA, as well as incubating initiatives as diverse as the africanDRONE network, the PesaCheck fact-checking initiative and the sensors.AFRICA network.

The African Network of Centres for Investigative Reporting (ANCIR) is a CfA managed association of the continent’s best investigative newsrooms, ranging from large traditional mainstream media to smaller specialist units. ANCIR member newsrooms investigate crooked politicians, organised crime and big business. The iLAB is ANCIR’s in-house digital forensic unit, with teams in east, south and west Africa. ANCIR uses its resources to strengthen newsrooms’ own internal capacity, by providing access to the world’s best whistleblower encryption and investigative semantic analysis technologies, as well as skills development, and seed grants for cross-border collaboration.


At CfA, we don’t just accept differences – we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products and our community. CfA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. 

To all recruitment agencies: CfA does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our employment application line, CfA employees or any other CfA contact. CfA is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.