OVERVIEW

Ipas invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced candidates for the position of Strategic Partnership Manager – Africa. This is a remote position open to eligible candidates based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya/Alliance locations, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia.

Ipas seeks to strengthen resource mobilisation and its strategic partnership portfolio across Africa by identifying, developing, and expanding relationships with institutional donors, foundations, corporate partners, and strategic collaborators whose priorities align with its mission and values.

The successful candidate will support high-value funding opportunities, develop compelling donor-facing materials, strengthen engagement with priority donors and partners, and contribute to effective partnership strategies. The role requires a strong commitment to reproductive justice, human rights, abortion rights, gender equity, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

JOB TYPE: Full Time

WORK ARRANGEMENT: Remote

DATE POSTED: Tuesday, 27th October, 2026

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

POSITION: STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP MANAGER – AFRICA

JOB SUMMARY

The Strategic Partnership Manager will lead efforts to identify funding opportunities, cultivate strategic partnerships, support proposal development, and strengthen donor engagement across Africa. The role involves working collaboratively across the Ipas Network to develop competitive proposals, coordinate partnership strategies, and ensure effective stewardship of donor resources.

The successful candidate will promote shared leadership, trust, inclusive collaboration, and adherence to Ipas's mission, values, and standards.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

Academic Qualifications and Work Experience:

Applicants must possess the following:

A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
Ten (10) or more years of work experience managing programmes and projects of increasing complexity and responsibility.
Demonstrated experience in business development, fundraising, and/or proposal development for NGOs, social enterprises, or mission-driven organisations.
Strong understanding of institutional donors, including bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations, and partnership or consortium approaches.
Proven experience developing competitive proposals and donor-facing materials, including complex budgets and results frameworks or log frames.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French.
Subject-matter expertise in sexual and reproductive health and rights and reproductive justice, and/or international work experience.
Ability to manage multiple deadlines, coordinate across teams, and deliver high-quality work with minimal supervision.
Deep commitment to reproductive justice, human rights, abortion rights, gender equity, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Commitment to shared leadership, trust, and inclusive, non-hierarchical ways of working.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

The ideal candidate should demonstrate:

Strong analytical, research, and opportunity-assessment skills.
Excellent proposal writing, editing, and quality-assurance skills.
Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and stakeholder-engagement skills.
Ability to work collaboratively across teams, countries, and time zones.
Excellent planning, organisation, and time-management skills.
Commitment to donor compliance, accountability, and responsible resource management.
Ability to communicate complex technical and financial information clearly and effectively.

DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Opportunity Pipeline Development and Donor Intelligence

Map priority foundations, institutional funders, corporate partners, and strategic implementing partners aligned with Ipas's mission.
Analyse funder priorities, eligibility criteria, timelines, typical award sizes, indirect cost expectations, compliance requirements, and relationship pathways.
Identify and track requests for proposals, calls for proposals, invitations, and relationship-led opportunities.
Maintain an up-to-date funding opportunity pipeline tracker.
Support go/no-go decisions through fit assessments, competitiveness analysis, and risk and feasibility reviews, including deadlines, staffing, partnership requirements, cost sharing, and indirect-rate constraints.

2. External Relations and Resource Mobilisation

Develop donor and partner engagement plans for priority prospects, including objectives, key messages, decision-makers, and follow-up actions.
Draft and refine capability statements, one-page profiles, slide presentations, project summaries, and other positioning materials.
Build intelligence on key trends and funding opportunities across Africa.
Work with the Communications Service Node to support external communications through the Ipas website, newsletters, and social media.
Prepare talking points, briefing notes, and agendas for external meetings.
Participate in meetings when requested, document agreed actions, and coordinate follow-up.
Advise on partnership strategies, including lead and sub-award roles, consortium arrangements, negotiation points, partner mapping, and outreach.
Work with the Development Service Node to report quarterly and annually on fundraising activities and results.

3. Proposal Development, Review, and Quality Assurance

Support the preparation of expressions of interest, concept notes, and full proposals in coordination with internal teams and partners.
Develop and review technical narratives to ensure clarity, compliance, and responsiveness to donor evaluation criteria.
Support the preparation of annexes, including results frameworks or log frames, workplans, monitoring, evaluation and learning plans, risk matrices, and staffing plans.
Coordinate with finance teams to develop and quality-check budgets and budget narratives, ensuring alignment with the technical approach and donor cost rules.
Provide structured written feedback through tracked comments or review memoranda.
Participate in proposal review meetings to agree on revisions and next steps.

TRAVEL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Regular travel within Africa and to strategic hubs, in accordance with Ipas travel policies.
Virtual collaboration with colleagues across the Ipas Network and different time zones.
Weekly written progress updates and biweekly virtual check-ins with the Director of Development and relevant staff.
Electronic submission of deliverables in editable formats such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, unless otherwise agreed.

REMUNERATION

Compensation will be determined according to the prevailing market rate in the employee's country, Ipas's pay philosophy, and other factors, including the successful candidate's experience and expertise.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested and suitably qualified candidates should submit their applications through the Devex job listing.

Application Link: https://www.devex.com/jobs/strategic-partnership-manager-africa-1468293

Application Deadline: Applications will be received until the position is filled.

Applicants based in the eligible countries are encouraged to review the full vacancy details and submit their applications through the application link above.