The Senior Program Officer (SPO), Development Policy and Finance, Africa will support the foundation’s engagement on development finance, fiscal policy, and public financial management (PFM) in Africa, with a focus on Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania as well as on regional/continental issues where relevant. Opportunity for other countries as fits experience.
Responsibilities:
Assist with the management of a portfolio of country finance grants covering economic growth and policy, domestic resource mobilization (DRM), public financial management (PFM), and fiscal accountability.
Serve as a guide and thought partner to grantees and partners to ensure funding is used effectively to advance fiscal policy reforms and pro-poor investment strategies.
Provide support in strategy development, measurement and evaluation, and policy impact assessment.
Design new grants that will advance the foundation’s development finance strategy for Africa.
Working closely with the Policy and Advocacy leads in the foundation’s priority countries, conduct policy analysis on public financial management (PFM), budget formulation and execution, and tax policy in priority African countries.
Produce analytical notes, policy briefs, and commentaries on DRM, debt sustainability, and fiscal space.
Track economic and political developments affecting fiscal policy and public sector financing in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Kenya.
Engage with think tanks, universities, and policy institutions to translate economic research into actionable policy recommendations.
Develop and maintain strategic relationships with ministries of finance, central banks, and economic planning bodies in key African countries.
Work with African policymakers to strengthen domestic revenue mobilization, tax policy, fiscal transparency, and public expenditure efficiency.
Represent the foundation in policy dialogues, conferences, and technical working groups related to development finance and fiscal governance in Africa.
Support advocacy efforts for global financial architecture reforms that enhance Africa’s access to concessional financing and innovative finance mechanisms.
Requirements:
Master’s degree in economics, finance, public policy, international development, or a related field.
7+ years of experience in development policy, with at least 2+ years of experience working in African countries.
Proven experience engaging with African ministries of finance, central banks, or economic planning institutions on fiscal and economic policy.
Strong understanding of domestic resource mobilization, tax policy, budget processes, and public expenditure management in Africa.
Experience working with think tanks, international donors, or regional development institutions on economic and fiscal policy and governance issues.
Strong research, analytical, writing, and public presentation skills with the ability to synthesize complex policy issues.
Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines, and collaborate effectively across teams.
