About the job Head, Strategic Partnerships & Resource Mobilization
Head, Strategic Partnerships & Resource Mobilization
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Travel Expectation: Up to 25%
Job Type: Full-time, 3-year contract
Reports to: Managing Director
About the Rwanda Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
The Rwanda Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) is a partnership between the Government of Rwanda and the World Economic Forum committed to advancing the responsible and inclusive adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies to accelerate Rwanda's national development priorities.
As part of the World Economic Forums global network of over 20 centers, C4IR serves as a public private collaboration platform that shapes policy, fosters innovation, and builds strategic partnerships with national and international stakeholders to ensure that technology benefits all of society.
About the Rwanda AI Scaling Hub
The Rwanda AI Scaling Hub (the Hub) aims to harness the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate national development outcomes safely and sustainably delivering evidence-based impact that deepens regional knowledge and shapes global benchmarks for inclusive, context-responsive innovation.
As a multi-stakeholder platform, the Hub enables the scaling of AI solutions that address Rwanda's development priorities, ensuring safety, sustainability, and public ownership while catalyzing investment and building an inclusive ecosystem that drives innovation across Africa and beyond.
Description
The Head, Strategic Partnerships & Resource Mobilization will lead the Hubs partnership development and financing strategy to ensure long-term sustainability and impact. This role will play a pivotal part in securing resources, cultivating partnerships, and positioning the Hub as a trusted and strategic partner for innovation financing.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and accelerate the Hubs resource mobilization strategy to ensure sustainable growth and impact.
- Develop and implement financing strategies that secure sustainable funding for AI use cases and Hub operations.
- Build and manage partnerships with donors, development finance institutions, private sector actors, and philanthropic organizations.
- Design, evaluate, and execute diverse fundraising models, including grants, co-financing, blended finance, social investment, and in-kind contributions, structuring partnerships through innovative business models.
- Collaborate with program managers, the Head of Finance, and line ministries to align funding strategies with program needs and national priorities.
- Represent the Hub in high-level engagements to position it as a trusted partner for innovation financing and impact investment.
Key Qualifications and Experience
- Extensive experience: Minimum of 8 years of experience in resource mobilization and development finance leveraging strategic partnerships with public, private, and philanthropic stakeholders.
- Strategy development: Proven background in strategy development or advisory roles with demonstrated experience in market analysis, business case development, and stakeholder mapping; a background in management consulting is desirable.
- Financial acumen: Proven ability to design and implement funding models, including blended finance, co-financing, grants, and investment partnerships.
- Business model innovation: Demonstrated experience in establishing and scaling sustainable business and financing models in complex ecosystems.
- Stakeholder engagement: Strong track record in cultivating relationships with donors, investors, and international development partners.
- Analytical and communication excellence: Strong problem-solving, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into actionable strategies and engage senior decision-makers.
- Cross-sector understanding: Knowledge of innovation financing, AI and digital ecosystems, and the intersection of technology, development, and policy.
- Relationship management: Exceptional ability to cultivate and manage relationships with diverse partners from governments and donors to private sector and civil society.
- Commitment to sustainability: Demonstrated passion for advancing inclusive, ethical, and long-term approaches to technology and development financing.
Our Values
- Responsible impact: We take initiative aligned with institutional and personal goals. We solve problems with practicality, efficiency, and rigor. We create opportunities that broaden and maximize impact for our stakeholders.
- Technical excellence: We think and act innovatively
We contribute expertise valued by others. - Principled collaboration: We believe in empathy and empowerment of self, colleagues and external stakeholders. We establish trust-based relationships and collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
- Effective communication: We engage and communicate effectively with all audiences.