Programme Manager – Lead Africa’s Green Industrialisation Transition

Position description

The African Climate Foundation (ACF) is the first and only African-led climate change re-granting organisation on the continent. Through a combination of grant making, fellowships, transformational research, technical assistance, coalition building and advocacy the ACF seeks to support interventions at the nexus of climate change, and development that have the greatest potential to deliver long-term socio-economic transformation and inclusive development.

 

Purpose

Reporting to the Head of Programmes, the Programme Manager will lead our Green Industrialisation Programme.  This role is central to ACF’s ambition to support African countries in transitioning from extractive and carbon-intensive models of growth to low-carbon, climate-resilient, and inclusive industrial development pathways. 

 

The Programme Manager will support national and sub-national governments and regional bodies to identify and realise green industrial development priorities aligned with their broader climate and development strategies. These priorities may span multiple sectors, such as renewable energy manufacturing, agro-industrial value chains, electric mobility, circular economy initiatives, and critical minerals development, depending on the context and demand from each country. Support may target specific initiatives at the level of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), be implemented at the national scale, or involve regional cooperation, depending on the opportunity and scope for impact.

 

A core component of this role will be the implementation of ACF’s Critical Minerals Strategy, housed within the Green Industrialisation Programme. This includes managing the establishment of the Critical Minerals Support Facility and supporting African countries to increase domestic value addition, strengthen ESG governance, and position themselves more strategically within global energy transition supply chains.

 

This position requires strong political economy acumen, strategic thinking, and experience engaging across government, private sector, and regional institutions to drive industrial policy innovation and climate-aligned investment.

 

Responsibilities include, but not limited to the following:

 

1. Strategic Leadership and Programme Delivery

• Lead the development, implementation, and evolution of ACF’s Green Industrialisation Strategy, with a flexible, country-driven approach.
• Through grant-making and technical assistance, support national and sub-national governments and regional institutions to identify and advance green industrial priorities, tailored to their respective policy contexts and economic structures.
• Identify and support mechanisms that provide guidance and technical direction across a range of sectors, including renewable energy manufacturing, agro-processing, green transport (e.g. EVs), circular economy, and sustainable mining.
• Implement ACF’s Critical Minerals Strategy as a flagship stream within the programme, including oversight of the Critical Minerals Support Facility.
• Coordinate with other ACF programmes to ensure alignment with broader strategies on climate finance, just transitions, energy access, adaptation and resilience, international partnerships and economic resilience.
• Oversee work planning, implementation tracking, and results-based management in collaboration with the MEL team.

 

2. Resource Mobilisation and Donor Engagement

• Contribute to the development of funding proposals and donor strategies for green industrialisation and critical minerals.
• Manage the Green Industrialisation Programmes budget and ensure effective, efficient, and transparent use of resources.
• Engage with donors and financing partners to align on goals and unlock funding opportunities for catalytic initiatives.

 

3. Grant-Making and Programme Management

• Design and manage a high-impact grant portfolio supporting green industrial policy development, institutional capacity building, and knowledge exchange.
• Lead the identification, engagement, and support of grantees and partners across thematic areas and geographies.
• Ensure high-quality grant oversight, performance tracking, and adaptive learning across the programme.

 

4. Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with key stakeholders across government, regional economic communities, industry platforms, research institutions, and civil society.
• Represent ACF in relevant national, regional, and international fora, including public speaking engagements.
• Facilitate collaboration with regional and international actors working on green industrialisation, just transitions, and sustainable economic transformation.

 

5. Thought Leadership and Communications

• Commission and contribute to cutting-edge research, policy papers, and strategic convenings on green industrialisation and critical minerals.
• Contribute to internal learning and positioning of ACF through strategic briefings and synthesis products.
• Work closely with the Communications Team to ensure insights and outcomes are effectively shared with diverse audiences, including policymakers, partners, and media.

 

6. Team Leadership and Performance Management

• Lead a team of programme staff and consultants, fostering a high-performance, values-driven, and collaborative work culture.
• Provide mentoring and strategic direction to team members; oversee workplans and performance assessments.
• Contribute to cross-team collaboration and organisational strategic planning.

 

Requirements include but not limited to:  

• Master’s degree or equivalent in development economics, public policy, industrial strategy, climate and energy policy, or a related field.
• 7-10 years of experience in industrial policy, or economic transformation strategies in Africa.
• Proven ability to design or support the implementation of industrial strategies at sub-national, national or regional levels.
• Experience working on one or more relevant sectors (e.g. energy manufacturing, agro-industries, circular economy, critical minerals, EVs).
• Strong political economy understanding of industrialisation, climate transitions, and investment ecosystems in Africa.
• Familiarity with global and regional industrial frameworks (e.g. UNIDO, AfCFTA industrial strategy, African Mining Vision).
• Knowledge of climate finance mechanisms and donor landscapes relevant to green industrial development.
• Demonstrated experience leading programmes, managing teams, and working with governments, DFIs, and regional bodies.
• Strong grant-making, partnership development, and donor engagement skills.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and verbal communication skills.
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in French, Portuguese, Arabic, or Mandarin is advantageous.

 

Application instructions

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