Assistant Manager, A&R Programmes

The Assistant Manager will serve as the core of the AFIYA programme's management function, working closely with the Senior Manager, Adaptation & Resilience Programmes, and the Senior Project Manager, AFIYA. Key responsibilities include maintaining accurate project tracking systems like Monday.com, managing the reporting calendar, compiling inputs for Mastercard Foundation and internal reports, and tracking budget-versus-actuals across the programme. The role also involves coordinating operational inputs from implementing and delivery partners across AFIYA's activities in Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal. This position enables the senior team to concentrate on programme delivery, partner management, and impact. Additionally, the Assistant Manager will support monitoring, evidence, and learning activities by collaborating with the Development Impact team and partners to ensure timely collection, validation, and reporting of data for AFIYA’s results framework and resilience measurement. While line management of Programme Assistants and Analysts is with the Senior Manager, this role will support their day-to-day coordination, ensuring workload tracking, quality standards, and consistent use of FSD Africa’s tools and processes.

1. Support the operational management infrastructure for the AFIYA programme, ensuring accurate and timely delivery of reporting, tracking, and coordination tasks.
2. Maintain the AFIYA reporting calendar, tracking all reporting obligations and coordinating timely inputs.
3. Keep the project management platform (e.g., Monday.com) current and accurate for project status, milestones, deliverables, and risk flags.
4. Compile and quality-assure inputs from the AFIYA programme team and partners for progress updates, risk registers, and milestone reports.
5. Prepare initial drafts of funder and internal reports, ensuring consistency with FSD Africa’s templates and Mastercard Foundation’s requirements.
6. Support the development and maintenance of standardised templates and processes for AFIYA project reporting and operational coordination.
7. Liaise with Finance & Operations, Development Impact, and Corporate Services teams on routine operational and administrative matters.
8. Maintain comprehensive and accurate visibility of AFIYA workplans, milestones, and deliverables across all activities.
9. Collect and verify progress data from the AFIYA programme team and delivery partners regularly.
10. Track programme milestones and deliverables against the approved workplan and results framework, flagging delays or risks.
11. Support the preparation of programme governance documentation by compiling accurate status and supporting data.
12. Support effective budget management across the AFIYA programme, adhering to FSD Africa policies and Mastercard Foundation grant requirements.
13. Maintain monthly budget-versus-actuals (BVA) trackers, preparing variance analysis and flagging discrepancies.
14. Liaise with the Finance & Operations team to reconcile expenditure, track partner disbursements, and support accurate forecasting.
15. Support the preparation of resourcing plans, procurement plans, and budgets for AFIYA activities.
16. Support compliance with Mastercard Foundation’s financial reporting requirements.
17. Support effective coordination of AFIYA’s implementing and delivery partners, ensuring onboarding, briefing, and compliance.
18. Support partner onboarding processes, including due diligence and integration into reporting systems.
19. Ensure partners are briefed on reporting expectations, data collection, quality standards, and compliance with risk management.
20. Coordinate the collection of partner reports and deliverables, tracking submission status and quality-assuring inputs.
21. Support the organisation of partner meetings, workshops, and programme events.
22. Coordinate inputs and follow-ups with consultants engaged on AFIYA programme management tasks.
23. Support the collection, validation, and management of programme data for AFIYA’s results framework and resilience measurement.
24. Work with the Development Impact team and delivery partners to coordinate monitoring data collection.
25. Quality-assure and validate data submissions from partners, flagging gaps or inconsistencies.
26. Maintain AFIYA’s programme data and documentation electronically, ensuring records are complete and audit-ready.
27. Support the preparation of learning products, case studies, and evidence summaries.
28. Support the smooth functioning of the AFIYA programme team and allocated Programme Assistants.
29. Support the Senior Manager in tracking workload and task allocation of Programme Assistants and Analysts.
30. Help maintain consistent quality standards across the work of Programme Assistants and Analysts on AFIYA.
31. Support the induction and training of Programme Assistants and Analysts in AFIYA’s project administration processes.
32. Work collaboratively with the AFIYA programme team and cross-functional teams for effective coordination.
33. Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by Management.

1. Relevant Master’s degree with 3 years of experience OR Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with 4 years of experience in programme management, development finance, financial sector development, or a related field.
2. Excellent written and spoken English skills.
3. Practical experience in programme or project management support within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment, including managing reporting deadlines and coordinating inputs across teams.
4. Strong data management and organisational skills, with demonstrated ability to maintain project tracking systems, workplan trackers, and reporting trackers accurately.
5. Experience supporting funder reporting cycles for grant-funded programmes, preferably with philanthropic funders like the Mastercard Foundation, including narrative and financial reporting.
6. Good skills in data analysis, financial tracking (budget versus actuals), and budget administration, with strong attention to detail.
7. Strong coordination skills, capable of managing multiple deadlines simultaneously and systematic follow-up across diverse workstreams.
8. Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., Monday.com, MS Project) and strong skills in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
9. Ability to manage data and documentation electronically and work effectively with digital platforms and tools.
10. Excellent communication skills and a collaborative team player.
11. (Desirable) Experience in inclusive or agricultural insurance, climate finance, adaptation finance, or financial sector development in Africa.
12. (Desirable) Experience supporting gender-intentional or youth-focused programming.
13. (Desirable) Experience coordinating implementing partners across multiple countries.
14. (Desirable) Experience working in a multi-cultural environment.
15. (Desirable) Experience working with funders, including knowledge of grant compliance policies and procedures.
16. (Desirable) Willingness to experiment with AI tools and experience leveraging AI for programme management, reporting, and analysis.
17. (Desirable) French language proficiency (strong asset, as AFIYA phase 1 includes Senegal); other local African languages an advantage.