About Us

The AECF (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a development institution that finances early and growth-stage businesses to innovate, create jobs, and leverage investments and markets to create resilience and sustainable incomes in rural and marginalized communities in Africa.

Since 2008, we have invested over US$ 300 million in over 510 businesses across sub-Sahara Africa focusing on Agribusiness, Renewable Energy, and Climate-smart Technologies. We have impacted more than 33 million lives, created over 35,000 jobs, and leveraged over US$ 838 million in matching funds to our portfolio companies.

AECF is headquartered in Kenya, with offices in Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Sudan, Benin, and Somalia.

About Nigeria Energy Transition Challenge Fund (ETCF)

Nigeria’s Net Zero ambition is based on a transition to full electrification of the economy by 2060 – 250 GW of installed capacity (90% renewable), 80% of the fleet from EV, and clean cooking for 80% of the population. Reaching such targets requires innovative financing and first-loss investments (such as catalytic grants) in technological improvements, productive energy and fuel switching in priority sectors, business model iteration, and scaling for universal access, skills, and job creation in Energy Transition priority sectors.

In the context of the Financial Cooperation with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, KfW, on behalf of BMZ, intends to set up a new Challenge Fund mechanism to contribute to the implementation of Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP). The mechanism will form part of the broader set of development cooperation activities between Nigeria and Germany in the energy space. The “Energy Transition Challenge Fund” (ETCF) is a EUR 20 million facility which will co-finance projects from the public and private sectors to promote the uptake of renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency-enhancing investments, and the expansion of vocational training opportunities in renewable energy and energy efficiency. A demand-driven, competitive application mechanism will be used to systematically select the projects with the highest impact potential in relation to the requested grant funds. AECF is the Project Executing Agency (PEA) of the ETCF facility.

Purpose of the Role

The Lead– Nigeria ETCF is responsible for the overall management, accountability, and implementation of the ETCF Programme. The role holder is responsible for building and leading a team that will implement ETCF. This includes planning, budgeting and execution of activities, monitoring and reporting, relationship management with key stakeholders, and stakeholder engagement. As the team leader, the role holder will provide technical backstopping to the team to ensure overall productivity, operational excellence, and quality delivery of ETCF.

The Nigeria ETCF Lead will oversee strategic direction and support for ETCF implementation, manage and supervise human resources, foster relationships with KfW and the Nigerian government, and ensure the quality and timely delivery of all required deliverables.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead the execution of the Nigeria Energy Transition Challenge Fund (ETCF), overseeing all aspects of its development and implementation, ensuring it meets donor and government requirements.
2. Foster stakeholder collaboration in Nigeria by developing and implementing strategies to engage stakeholders and ensure all parties work effectively together for the delivery of the program.
3. Manage the pre-implementation activities of ETCF leading to the successful launch of the initiative. This will include a review of the market assessment, oversight of the operations manual, and alignment on communications materials with the rest of the stakeholders of the project.
4. Portfolio Construction: Develop and coordinate the construction of an ETCF portfolio that will best deliver the required impact.
5. Oversee the ETCF budget and ensure responsible financial management and compliance with donor guidelines.
6. Monitor and evaluate program performance to ensure effective performance in line with the performance management framework of the program.
7. Integrate ETCF portfolio M&E learnings into AECF’s wider strategy to improve portfolio quality, enhance the initiative’s reputation, and promote systemic change in African markets.
8. Provide leadership and direction to the team responsible for the ETCF’s success in Nigeria.
9. Provide technical leadership in Business Development (partnerships) efforts of AECF in the Renewable energy sector in Nigeria.
10. Ensure that the ETCF program is fully compliant with the funding partner guidelines as outlined in the funding agreement.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Energy, Economics, Rural Development, Project Management, Business Management, Development Studies, or any related studies. Certification in project management is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 10 years experience in program management with 5 years at a senior level in the Renewable Energy and Climate Technologies sector or similar/related role.
• A broad network amongst public and private sector players in the energy access, renewable energy, and energy efficiency sectors.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing stakeholder engagement strategies, particularly within the Nigerian context.
• Strong understanding and practical experience in project cycle management, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting at a high level.
• Experience in implementing Results Based Financing (RBF) projects for the private sector, preferably in the energy sector.
• A deep understanding of the clean energy sector including knowledge of the complex renewable energy landscape (regulatory, legal, technical, financial, social) in Nigeria.
• Experience and/or good understanding of productive uses of energy solutions, captive use of energy in commercial and industrial space and institutions, and energy efficiency within the Nigerian context.
• Experience and/or a good understanding of German Development Cooperation with the Nigerian Government is desirable, particularly in the renewable energy and energy efficiency space.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams and with high-level stakeholders.