The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) strengthens democracy around the world through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy and is an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Since 1983, CIPE has worked with business leaders, policymakers, and civil society to build the institutions vital to a democratic society. CIPE’s key program areas include Enterprise Ecosystems, Democratic Governance, Business Advocacy, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Anti-Corruption & Ethics, and Trade.

Position: Program Associate, Africa

Reports to: Senior Program Manager, Africa

Scope: CIPE is seeking a full-time, non-exempt position based in Washington, D.C. for a Program Associate for sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on programs related to engaging businesses in peacebuilding and supporting digital economic transformation in West and East Africa. This position is responsible for assisting in program implementation and supporting the regional leadership team in tracking the financial, strategic, administrative, and legal tasks involved in completing programmatic work.

Responsibilities:

Programmatic Responsibilities

• Work with the Senior Program Manager and other regional staff to coordinate project management deliverables and activities for the portfolio, which typically includes:
  • Develop and maintain programmatic workplans, financial trackers, and routine partner correspondences and contracts.
  • Support data collection and documentation practices for monitoring and evaluation goals.
  • Support the development and review of key deliverables and research reports to advance program implementation.
  • Assist active project partners to ensure high-quality deliverables, including the accurate completion of financial and narrative reports, as well as other due diligence issues.
  • Monitor grantee, contractors, and consultants’ performance to ensure quality control in full compliance with procurement policies, financial reporting requirements, and evaluation plans.
  • Coordinate regular staff meetings, including facilitating discussions, drafting agendas, taking meeting notes, and tracking action items for domestic and international staff.
  • Collaborate with multiple CIPE departments to achieve programmatic goals, including Centers of Excellence, Field Offices/in-country offices, Communications, Grants and Finance, and other regional teams.
• As directed, draft, review, and edit periodic reports, proposals, and other documents for submission to donor agencies.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Coordinate domestic and international travel arrangements and logistics. Prepare routine correspondence and mailings such as grant agreements, consultant contracts, reporting requirements for grantees, grant and contract modifications, etc.
• As needed, translate partner documents or other programmatic materials.
• Adhere to appropriate CIPE and donor policies and procedures.

Financial Responsibilities

• Monitor and track payment requests, burn rates, accounting documents, field office liquidations, travel expense reports, and documents for signature in close coordination with the CIPE Grants and Finance teams.
• Support the development of budgets, financial projections, and perform other business operations tasks in Excel.

Other Duties May Include:

• Perform legal and subject matter-specific research as needed.
• In coordination with regional leadership, support planning and executing internal and external events, including writing announcements and invitations, coordinating guests, publicizing on social media, and acting as primary tech support during run of show.
• Manage or contribute to public outreach and communications, which may include managing social media accounts, writing blogs, and drafting promotional materials, in collaboration with the Communications department when appropriate.
• In coordination with regional team leadership, support new business development opportunities.
• In coordination with the regional team leadership, support the recruitment, onboarding, and training of new staff members as needed.
• Recruit, onboard, and manage seasonal interns, including assigning and managing day- to-day tasks and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or years of equivalent experience required in one of the following or equivalent fields: International Relations, International Business, Economic Development, Advocacy and Campaign Management, Political Science, or Public Policy.
• Professional proficiency in English and French (reading, writing, and spoken).
• At least 2 years of administrative office experience, particularly in supporting international programs.
• Excellent interpersonal, coordination, and communication skills.
• Superb writing, research, and analytical abilities.
• Ability to take initiative, as well as prioritize and manage multiple, detail-oriented tasks simultaneously with limited supervision.
• Strong computer skills, proficiency in MS-Office, specifically Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Demonstrated strong critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to develop and monitor project budgets.
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment, across time zones and in a hybrid setting.
• Flexibility to collaborate with a diverse team or work independently and deliver consistently reliable results.
• High degree of cultural competence.
• Contribute to an organization-wide culture of innovation, integrity, inclusion, and respect.