CAFOD is hiring a Senior Business Development Lead (Africa) for a full-time, two-year fixed-term position based in Abuja, Harare, Kinshasa, or Nairobi.
The role is focused on strengthening institutional funding, developing major programme proposals, managing donor relationships, and supporting complex projects across Africa.
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This position may suit experienced development and fundraising professionals who have worked with NGOs, institutional donors, and large or multi-country programmes.
It is particularly relevant for candidates with a strong background in resource mobilisation, proposal development, contract management, and donor engagement.
Applicants should also note that they must have the legal right to work in one of the four listed locations. The employment terms vary according to the country where the successful candidate is registered.
About CAFOD
CAFOD is an organisation working through international development programmes and partnerships to support lasting change for communities facing poverty and other challenges. The Senior Business Development Lead will work with CAFOD’s Africa programme teams, funding colleagues, partners, and other internal teams to strengthen institutional income and support programme delivery.
The role also involves engagement with donors and organisations within the wider development sector, including partners connected to the Caritas Internationalis confederation.
Position Overview
The Senior Business Development Lead is part of CAFOD’s Integrated Funding & Business Innovation (IFBI) team and reports to the International Development Funding Team Leader. The position works closely with programme and funding colleagues to develop strong programmes and funding proposals that can attract institutional donor support.
A major part of the job involves supporting large, complex, and sometimes multi-country programmes. The successful candidate may lead proposal development, manage donor relationships, support contracts, identify new funding opportunities, and help teams improve their institutional fundraising capacity.
International travel may also be required to support country teams and partners, meet donors, and work with international NGO and Caritas partners.
Key Responsibilities
The role is divided across three main areas of work.
Donor engagement, proposals and contracts
The largest part of the position involves institutional funding. The Senior Business Development Lead may lead or support major funding opportunities, including complex programmes involving several countries. This includes helping shape proposals, coordinating internal contributors, and ensuring that bids meet donor expectations.
The role also includes responsibility for selected donor relationships. This can involve developing engagement plans, providing donor-specific guidance, representing CAFOD in external discussions, and helping manage donor registration and due diligence requirements.
Where required, the post holder will also oversee elements of contract management, including financial and narrative reporting, evaluations, compliance, and coordination with finance and operations teams.
New funding and shared learning
Another important part of the position is finding new funding possibilities. The successful candidate will research potential donors, develop a pipeline of opportunities, and help prioritise prospects.
They will also keep colleagues informed about changes in donor policies, funding trends, and relevant sector developments. Sharing lessons through CAFOD’s Institutional Funding Community of Practice is part of this responsibility.
The role can also involve helping programme colleagues and partners strengthen their capabilities in areas such as proposal development, programme design, monitoring and evaluation, and project cycle management.
Strategy, planning and reporting
The position contributes to CAFOD’s institutional funding strategy and wider funding approach. It also supports planning activities, including donor-related analysis, income projections, cost recovery targets, and country resource development planning.
The successful candidate will be expected to maintain accurate project information within CAFOD’s institutional funding systems and contribute to analysis of funded contracts and donor performance.
Eligibility & Qualifications
CAFOD has listed several specific areas of experience for this position.
Candidates need excellent written and spoken English, along with experience in project and process management. The employer also requires experience with planning, monitoring and evaluation, programme cycle management, and budget development for institutionally funded programmes.
Significant cross-organisational experience is required, including the ability to develop effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Candidates should also have substantial NGO resource mobilisation experience and a demonstrated record of securing large, seven-figure contracts.
The role further requires experience with the Humanitarian/Development/Peace Building Nexus, large multi-country bids, donor engagement at embassy or mission level, distance management, successful institutional donor proposals and reports, and leading bid development teams.
Experience managing staff and building colleagues’ capacity in theories of change and project cycle management is also listed.
Desirable experience includes commercial contracting with institutional donors, working in large consortia, partnership-based overseas development or humanitarian work, and proficiency in French.
Skills Needed
This is a senior position, so applicants should be prepared to demonstrate more than technical fundraising knowledge.
Strong communication is important because the role involves presenting complex issues clearly, preparing proposals and reports, and working with donors and colleagues across different parts of the organisation.
Relationship management is another major requirement. The position involves influencing people without direct authority, working across locations, supporting colleagues remotely, and developing professional relationships with donors and partners.
The employer also highlights initiative, adaptability, problem-solving, attention to detail, risk management, leadership, and the ability to achieve results through collaborative working structures.
Applicants should also understand international development funding and be able to demonstrate an understanding of CAFOD’s context, values, and Catholic identity, including the role of the Catholic Church in development.
Salary & Benefits
CAFOD has publicly provided starting salaries for each location:
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa): USD 52,141
- Zimbabwe (Harare): USD 55,706
- Kenya (Nairobi): KES 7,621,509
- Nigeria (Abuja): NGN 32,760,664
The position is full-time and offered on a two-year fixed-term contract. CAFOD also states that it is committed to a supportive and inclusive workplace and will make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment for candidates with disabilities or individual needs.
Additional staff benefits are provided by CAFOD through its staff benefits information, but the vacancy document itself does not list those benefits individually.
How to Apply
Candidates should review the official CAFOD vacancy carefully before submitting an application. In particular, check that you have the right to work in Abuja, Harare, Kinshasa, or Nairobi, as this is a stated requirement for the position.
Your application should clearly demonstrate the experience requested in the person specification. Focus especially on your institutional fundraising record, large-contract experience, multi-country proposal work, donor relationships, project management, and experience working across organisational teams.
CAFOD also states that successful candidates will be subject to appropriate recruitment and safeguarding checks, including references and relevant screening. Applicants should therefore provide accurate information throughout the recruitment process.
Applications should be submitted through CAFOD’s official recruitment website rather than through unofficial job portals.
Tips Before Applying
Before submitting your application:
- Read every requirement carefully and identify the areas where your experience directly matches.
- Tailor your CV to highlight institutional fundraising and major donor work.
- Give clear evidence of successful large-scale funding achievements.
- Highlight experience with multi-country programmes and complex bids.
- Make your donor engagement and relationship-management experience easy to find.
- Prepare examples of proposal development, contract management, reporting, and project planning.
- Check that you meet the right-to-work requirement for your chosen location.
- Review your application for accuracy before submitting it.
- Be prepared for the safeguarding and screening procedures described in the vacancy.
Conclusion
The Senior Business Development Lead (Africa) is a senior institutional fundraising role for an experienced NGO and development professional. The position combines donor relationship management, major proposal development, contract oversight, new business development, planning, and support for multi-country programmes.
Candidates who can demonstrate substantial resource mobilisation experience, a strong institutional donor track record, and the ability to work effectively across countries and teams should review the full CAFOD vacancy carefully. If you meet the stated requirements and have the right to work in one of the four locations, the official vacancy provides the appropriate route for submitting your application.