Access to Finance Lead - Africa-Europe Digital Innovation Bridge (M/W)

Based in Kigali and under the hierarchical authority of the Team Leader, the Technical Lead will be responsible for leading the full technical implementation of Specific Objective 3 – Improving access to finance for innovative ventures, including women-led businesses, supporting the Digital Transformation and Green Transition.

The Technical Lead will work hand-in-hand with a dedicated Grant Manager, who will provide operational support in the design, allocation, management, and monitoring of grants to intermediary support organizations (ISOs).

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

Strategic and Technical Management of Component 3 – Access to Finance

·       Actively contribute to the strategic positioning of AEDIB

·       Define the strategic orientations, approaches, and methodologies of the access to finance component (SO3), in close collaboration with the other implementing partners (e.g. RVO, Smart Africa, Digital Africa, ESTDEV)

·       Lead all internal discussions within the consortium around SO3 activities (organise and chair bimonthly SO3 meetings, represent SO3 in PMU meetings, lead the update of annual work plans etc.) and ensure coherence / synergies with activities under the other components.

·       Ensure fluid communication and information-sharing across stakeholders (PMU, SO leads, implementing partners, donors)

·       Support the Grant Manager in the implementation of Expertise France activities by providing technical inputs on:

·       internal annual planning processes including the development and consolidation of the work plan and budget

·       supervision and coordination of activities

·       Identification of needs, design and implementation of calls for proposals, recruitment of experts, and management of service providers

·       contracting and monitoring of grants to support organizations (such as incubators, accelerators, or ecosystem support organizations)

Visibility and representation of AEDIB

·       Build and maintain a strong network of local and international stakeholders in the access to finance and entrepreneurship support ecosystem (investors, venture funds, business angels, accelerators, etc.)

·       Promote the visibility of AEDIB, including by coordinating delegations and activities in major international and regional events (e.g. exhibitions, networking sessions, workshops)

·       Serve as a representative of the project in technical and public forums, ensuring coherent messaging and strategic positioning of AEDIB/SO3 activities

·       Contribute to the design and execution of the project’s stakeholder engagement strategy, including its digital and social media components, in coordination with the EU Delegation’s communication guidelines

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Capitalization

·       Develop and implement, in collaboration with the M&E Manager, a robust system to monitor activities, assess performance indicators, and evaluate the impact of the component’s interventions

·       Consolidate lessons learned and support capitalisation efforts to inform future programming and donor engagement.

Across Africa, digital entrepreneurs are creating impactful solutions but often struggle to scale due to policy gaps, limited markets, and scarce funding. The Africa-Europe Digital Innovation Bridge (AEDIB) addresses these obstacles by connecting governments, investors, and innovators across 14 countries to improve policies, strengthen innovation hubs, and expand access to finance—ultimately boosting support organisations, building Africa-Europe partnerships, and funding growing digital businesses, especially women-led ones.

• Specific Objective 1: Enhance digital entrepreneurship and innovation policies, by strengthening processes and capacities of policymakers and ecosystem leaders
• Specific Objective 2: Strengthen Digital Innovation Ecosystems for Digital Transformation and Green Transition, by enhancing Innovation Support Organisations’ capacities
• Specific Objective 3 (SO3): Improve access to finance for innovative (including women-led) ventures supporting Digital Transformation and Green Transition, by enhancing support mechanisms for early-stage and scaling ventures

Consortium structure and key partners :

The project is jointly implemented by six European development agencies and financed by five European donors. Expertise France leads the consortium and is responsible for the Project Management Unit (PMU), which oversees all project components and ensures coordination among the implementing partners.

The project is scheduled to run until Novembre 30, 2029.

Qualifications and Skills

·       Master’s degree (or equivalent) in economics, business, public policy, law, development studies, or a related field

·       Intimate knowledge of needs and challenges of entrepreneurs in accessing finance, especially in the digital and green sectors

·       In-depth knowledge of financing mechanisms for early-stage ventures (grants, blended finance, equity instruments, etc.) and financiers active on the continent in that space

·       Previous experience working in or with business support organizations (incubators, accelerators, venture funds, etc.)

·       Excellent understanding of the public policy cycle, particularly as it relates to innovation, entrepreneurship, and private sector development

·       Strong project management skills, with demonstrated ability to coordinate complex multi-stakeholder initiatives across countries and institutions

·       Proven ability to engage in strategic dialogue and negotiation within politically sensitive or institutionally complex environments

·       Demonstrated capacity to build, manage and energize partnerships and professional networks, including with donors, investors, public institutions and private sector actors.

·       Sensitivity to gender equality and inclusive development, with an ability to integrate these dimensions into project activities and stakeholder engagement

·       Fluent in both spoken and written French and English

Professional Experience

·       Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience, including at least 5 years in a senior coordination, project management or technical advisory role, ideally in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation, or access to finance

·       Proven experience designing and managing technical assistance activities aimed at strengthening public and private innovation ecosystems

·       Extensive experience conducting advocacy, awareness-raising, capacity-building and policy dialogue with national and regional authorities

·       Strong track record in facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and collaborative processes involving diverse actors from public, private, and civil society sectors

·       Experience in organizing international and local events (workshops, conferences, knowledge exchange sessions)

·       Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa and a deep knowledge of the regional entrepreneurial landscape are a requirement

·       At least two relevant experiences implementing international cooperation projects; experience with EU-funded projects is a strong advantage

·       Previous successful collaboration with Expertise France or familiarity with its procedures will be considered an asset