Pan-Africa Senior Manager, Refugee-led Organization Opportunity Fund

Position Title: Pan-Africa Senior Manager, Refugee-led Organization Opportunity Fund

Position Location: Preference for Nairobi, Abidjan, Kampala, Accra, Kigali, or Addis Ababa

Reports To: DREEM Project Director

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

EXPECTED START DATE: May 1, 2026

BACKGROUND

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian international development organization driving positive education and economic change for young people around the world. Our vision is a world where every young person thrives and belongs. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to fulfill their aspirations and create their own futures. To help achieve this goal, we develop initiatives that: deliver lasting, measurable impact; are powered by partnerships across the globe; stay true to our core programming principles; and respond to the priorities and aspirations of the people with whom we work.

WUSC is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and has offices across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East. Our global team of development professionals bring deep expertise and open minds to identify new solutions to old problems and create a better world together. WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference for youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in the communities they serve.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

WUSC is launching the second phase (2026-2031) of DREEM, an exciting initiative which aims to significantly expand efforts to help refugee, displaced, and host community (RDP) youth, particularly young women, secure dignified and fulfilling work and access education opportunities across Africa. Building on prior successes, this Phase II will deepen engagement in new geographies, strengthen local ecosystems, and equip partners with necessary knowledge and tools for lasting change. A core strategy is emphasizing the engagement and strengthening of Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) to provide sustainable, locally led technical assistance.

Over the next five years, DREEM’s ambitious goals include indirectly enabling one million RDP youth to secure dignified work and 35,000 to access education through the provision of expert technical assistance to a broad ecosystem of actors. Key implementation strategies involve working closely with RLOs through three pathways: providing financial access via an RLO Opportunity Fund, strengthening their capacity to provide technical assistance to partners, and embedding them across Phase II’s functional areas. WUSC will serve as a network orchestrator, facilitating connections for scale and training partners and other stakeholders on RDP inclusion. The initiative will achieve its targets by increasing knowledge among partners, enhancing capacity to develop innovative programming, improving collaboration and inclusive policies, and strengthening the institutional ability of RLOs to design, implement, and sustain RDP solutions.

Role Description:

The Pan-Africa Senior Manager of the RLO Opportunity Fund will play a pivotal role in designing, managing, and scaling the RLO Opportunity Fund a central mechanism for providing financial and capacity-building support to over 50 RLOs across Africa. This role is responsible for ensuring that RLOs are empowered, “funding-ready,” and equipped to transition into primary providers of technical assistance (TA) under the initiative. The Senior Manager will work closely with the Training and Curriculum Development Specialist, the Lead of the TA Mechanism, and Higher Education Inclusion to foster a sustainable ecosystem of RDP-led expertise. This position requires strategic vision, partnership management, and a deep commitment to refugee leadership and inclusion.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Fund Management

• Design and oversee the implementation of the RLO Opportunity Fund, including grant-making processes, eligibility criteria, and funding cycles.
• Develop and manage the fund’s budget, ensuring effective and compliant allocation of resources to RLOs.
• Ensure alignment of the Opportunity Fund with the initiative’s overall strategy and the donor’s RDP Strategy.
  

RLO Capacity Strengthening & Transition Support

• Work closely with the Training and Curriculum Development Specialist to design and deliver capacity-building programs for RLOs, including institutional development, financial management, MERL, and safeguarding.
• Support the systematic transition of TA delivery from WUSC staff to RLOs, in collaboration with the Head of the TA Mechanism and the Head of Higher Education Inclusion.
• Develop and manage a “Grants Plus” model, pairing financial support with tailored technical assistance to ensure RLO sustainability and growth.

Partnership & Ecosystem Engagement

• Identify, assess, and onboard RLO partners across target countries, ensuring diversity in geography, gender, disability, and thematic focus (including green/climate initiatives).
• Foster strong relationships with RLOs, the donor’s teams, and other ecosystem actors to enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Represent the RLO Opportunity Fund in internal and external forums, advocating for refugee-led solutions and inclusive funding practices.

Monitoring, Learning & Adaptation

• In collaboration with the Lead, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Research (MERL), develop and implement a robust MERL framework for the Opportunity Fund, tracking RLO progress, impact, and readiness for TA provision.
• Facilitate learning exchanges, reflection sessions, and adaptive management processes to continuously improve fund delivery and RLO outcomes and to share best practices.
• With support from the MERL and Communications teams, document and disseminate success stories, lessons learned, and best practices related to RLO empowerment and funding models.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure all RLO partnerships and fund disbursements adhere to WUSC and the donor’s compliance, safeguarding, and due diligence requirements.
• Mitigate risks related to RLO capacity, financial management, legal registration, and program delivery.
• World closely with the GESI and Safeguarding unit to ensure that all aspects of the Opportunity Fund are designed to effectively build collaborative, safe and equitable partnerships with RLOs;

Promote ethical and inclusive practices in all aspects of fund management and partner engagement

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in grants management for local and community-based organizations and working within diverse African contexts.

• Advanced degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in program management, grant-making, or capacity-building, with at least 5 years focused on refugee/displacement contexts.
• Demonstrated experience designing and managing funds or grant programs for local organizations, preferably refugee-led or community-based organizations.
• Strong understanding of the African RDP ecosystem, including challenges and opportunities related to education, livelihoods, and organizational development.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including donors, partners, and youth-led groups.
• Excellent strategic planning, financial management, and MERL skills.
• Fluency in English; professional proficiency in French is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to build equitable partnerships with marginalized and community-led organizations
• Commitment to WUSC’s mission of building a better world for all young people, particularly displaced and refugee youth.
  

Other requirements:

• The headquarters of this initiative is located in Nairobi, Kenya; the Senior Manager is expected to be based on the African continent, and must already possess the relevant work authorizations in the country they are/will be residing in.
• The role will require frequent travel across the continent, and occasional international travel for conferences, workshops and meetings;
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.

WHY WORK WITH WUSC?

Join Us. Our work is important, cutting-edge, and rewarding. We encourage curiosity, innovation, and flexibility.

WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference in the lives of youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, economic opportunities and empowerment.

WUSC’s office in Kenya is located in Westlands, off Waiyaki Way. Here is some of what you can expect working with us:

• 40-hour workweek, some ability to work flexible hours and a hybrid work arrangement
• 21 days annual leave
• Health insurance coverage
• Free access to an e-learning platform with 350+ courses on various topics
• Get to know and exchange with people from all over the world
• Being part of a friendly, caring and enthusiastic team!

APPLICATIONS

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check where appropriate.

Persons with disabilities, who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e-mail a request to hr-rh@wusc.ca.

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please note that only the candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

If you are interested in this position, please follow this link to apply through our website