Technical Assistance Manager - Transaction Advisory in African Frontier Markets

CrossBoundary Investment Advisory 

Location

It is required that the candidate be based in Africa, with Accra, Addis Ababa, Cotonou, Dakar, Freetown,  Kinshasa, Lagos, Monrovia and London being preferred locations.

About the Firm

Founded in 2011, CrossBoundary is a mission-driven investment firm dedicated to unlocking the power of capital to make substantial returns while creating a lasting difference in frontier markets. We provide investment advisory services and have developed specialized expertise in unleashing investment across various sectors in fragile and frontier markets. Our clients include governments, development finance institutions, private equity firms, Fortune 100 companies, and research institutions. 

Our investment platforms, CrossBoundary Energy, CrossBoundary Access, The Fund For Nature, and CrossBoundary Real Estate, directly finance projects to bring cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable electricity, provide capital for nature-based solutions, as well as education infrastructure, to developing countries. Anchoring the Group’s work in the renewable energy sector, CrossBoundary Energy is currently active in more than 10 African countries and has a portfolio of over US$100 million of renewable energy projects for commercial and industrial clients across the continent. CrossBoundary Access uses blended finance and an innovative project financing structure to unlock capital for mini-grids with a mission to bring electricity for the first time to more than 170,000 people. Learn more at www.crossboundary.com.

About the Program 

The Africa Resilience Investment Accelerator (ARIA) is an initiative of development finance institutions to promote investment in frontier markets. The program focuses on fostering economic growth through strategic investments and technical assistance. A CrossBoundary team of investment advisors works on the ground in Benin, DRC, Ethiopia, Liberia and Sierra Leone to identify and develop a robust pipeline of investment opportunities.

Position Overview

The Technical Assistance Manager plays a crucial role in our program, collaborating closely with the Country Managers to identify, scope, structure, and manage technical assistance activities for target investment companies. Support to these companies may involve a range of services to complete financial models, investment memoranda, ESG strategy development, sourcing strategies, market analysis, value chain diagnostics, etc. This multifaceted role involves defining technical assistance needs of companies with support of country managers, drafting ToR for the procurement of services, and identifying and managing external providers. The Technical Assistance Manager will also manage grants as an alternative implementing tool, allowing companies to directly procure technical assistance providers. Additionally, the manager is responsible for overseeing grantees and contractors hired to execute these TA activities, ensuring that all interventions are aligned with the strategic objectives of the program and delivered efficiently to enhance company performance and investment readiness.

Key Responsibilities

• TA Program Management: Develop and implement strategic plans for delivering technical assistance, aligning activities with program goals.

• Pipeline Development: Collaborate with country manager to identify and assess companies needing TA support, prioritizing based on potential impact and strategic alignment.

• Contractor Management: Recruit and manage contractors to ensure high-quality delivery of TA services within budget and on schedule.

• Grant Management: Oversee the grant awarding process, develop eligibility criteria, review applications, and manage fund disbursement.

• Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of TA activities and use feedback to enhance service delivery.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain relationships with key stakeholders and represent the program at relevant forums and meetings.

• Reporting: Regularly report on TA activities, outcomes, and impacts to stakeholders.

• Learning Extraction: Draw insights from implemented TA supports to enhance future implementations and identify potential cross-market alignment areas.

• Documentation. Update standard operating procedures, as needed.

  Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, Economics, International Development, or related fields. A Master’s degree or relevant professional qualifications are preferred.

Experience: Minimum 5 years managing technical assistance programs for SMEs, preferably in frontier or emerging markets. Experience with grant management is highly desirable.

Skills:

• Project Management and Analytical Skills: Exceptional project management abilities coupled with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Robust interpersonal and communication skills, effective in diverse cultural settings.

• Independence and Teamwork: Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

• Language Proficiency: Fluent in English with business-level fluency.

• Leadership: Demonstrated leadership skills, preferably in fast-moving and complex environments.

• Relationship Building: Proven ability to build strong relationships with clients and colleagues, even in stressful environments.

• Presentation Skills: Excellent presentation skills with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.

• Adaptability: Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to operate effectively in a changing context.

• Market Knowledge: Familiarity with frontier markets in Africa and local company needs

• Stakeholder Engagement: Experience working with a range of stakeholders, including Development Finance Institutions, development agencies, foreign and local investors, and private equity firms to support investments in high-impact sectors.

  Application Process

Interested candidates should apply by August 14th, 2024. In your cover letter, please highlight your experience managing technical assistance programs and your approach to delivering high-quality services in frontier markets.

Think you have what it takes but not sure you check every box? Research shows that while men apply to roles when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women often only apply when they meet every requirement. If you’re passionate about what we’re building, apply! We want to hear from you.  

Equal Opportunity Employer

CrossBoundary is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements in the country where we operate. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to our Team on  recruiting@crossboundary.com (human.resources@crossboundary.com) .

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