A Consultancy – Innovation Manager (Part-Time, K4GGWA Innovation Facility

1. Operational Management
   

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Innovation Facility, including managing timelines, budgets, and administrative processes.
  
• Organize and facilitate biannual innovation competitions, ensuring seamless application processes and adherence to selection criteria.
  
• Manage the transfer of awards in strict accordance with EU and recipient country guidelines.
  
• Liaise with the Project Management Unit (PMU) and the Innovation Facility Advisory Council to implement recommendations and secure appropriate support mechanisms for grantees.
  
• Develop and implement communication and publicity initiatives in collaboration with the communications consultant of K4GGWA, where appropriate, the delegations of the European Union in Great Green Wall countries.
  

2. Innovation Support
   

• Provide tailored support to grantees, including coordinating trainings, mentorship, arrangements for eventual consultancy services, and other targeted interventions.
  
• Develop and maintain relationships with innovators and field agents, ensuring continuous engagement and capacity building.
  
• Identify challenges faced by grantees and work collaboratively to propose solutions and growth strategies.
  

3. Stakeholder Engagement
   

• Expand and manage a robust network of field agents, advisors, and partners, ensuring strong ties with the private sector, NGOs, governments, and international organizations.
  
• Foster collaboration with other innovation support projects by helping to build and operationalize the Green African Drylands Innovation Hub (GADIH).
  
• Engage organisations federating and/or promoting the interests of rural youths and women
  

4. Monitoring and Reporting
   

• Track progress of supported innovations.
  
• Under the guidance of the Head of the Innovation Facility, prepare detailed reports, presentations, and updates for the PMU, the EU and its Delegations, other stakeholders, and the advisory councils.
  
• Collect and analyze data to assess the impact of funded initiatives, help successful grantees secure additional support,and inform future programming.
  

5. Resource Mobilization
   

Qualifications and Experience

• Bilingual Proficiency: Fluency in English and French is essential.
  
• Educational Background: A degree in a relevant field such as innovation management, entrepreneurship, business administration, environmental management, or a related discipline.
  

  Professional Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in innovation support, entrepreneurship, business development, or environmental program management.
  
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects with diverse stakeholders.
  
• Familiarity with innovation ecosystems in Africa.
  

Skills:

• Strong administrative and organizational skills.
  
• Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities.
  
• Proficiency in designing and implementing support mechanisms for innovators (e.g., training, mentorship, funding structures).
  
•  Experience with monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment frameworks
  

Desirable Attributes 

• A passion for sustainable development, particularly in the context of the Great Green Wall initiative.
  
• Knowledge of sociopolitical and cultural dynamics in the Sahel and /or African dryland areas.
  
• Experience of working with donor-funded projects and international organizations.
  
• Familiarity with land restoration and land regeneration principles in cropping and/or pastoral contexts greatly preferred.
  
• Familiarity with gender dynamics, value chains, natural resource management challenges in rural settings are an advantage.