Network Development Associate – Africa

• Department: Global Impact – Network Development
• Location: Candidates can be based in any country where they have the legal right to live and work, and where HelpAge is able to employ and pay them legally.
• Regional Focus: Actively seeking candidates based in Africa
• Contract Type: Open Ended Contract
• Reporting Line: Network Platform Manager
• Closing Date: 03/02/2026

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Network Development Associate based in Africa to strengthen engagement, communication, and coordination across the HelpAge Global Network. The role will support the Network Platform Manager, regional advisers and Thematic advisers to build strong member relationships, enhance knowledge sharing, and amplify member voices, particularly across Africa but also across all five regions.

About You

You are a motivated, organized, and relationship-focused professional with experience in network coordination, communications, and member engagement. You thrive in multicultural environments, are fluent in English, and enjoy enabling collaboration, peer learning, and shared action. You are digitally confident, adaptable, and committed to promoting inclusive, locally led development.

About the Team

The Global Impact Team, within which this role sits, drives HelpAge International’s mission to advance the wellbeing, dignity, and rights of older people by championing locally led action and global solidarity.

At the heart of our work is a thriving, resilient HelpAge Network — a powerful collective of national civil society actors driving change that is rooted in the priorities and experiences of older people.

We lead the delivery of HelpAge’s strategic approach to support, convene, and influence across humanitarian and development contexts to achieve lasting and inclusive impact.

2030 Strategy Goals

Our goal as stipulated in the 2030 strategy is to ensure that:

• Older people have inclusive, improved access to secure and adequate income
• Older people have safe and secure access to humanitarian assistance
• Older people have improved access to inclusive health, care, and support services
• Age-inclusive laws, policies and systems guarantee older people’s rights across all sectors
• A thriving locally led HelpAge Network drives collective action to uphold older people’s rights, dignity, and wellbeing

Global Impact Team Structure

Within the Global Impact Team, there are four key sub-teams:

• Network Development Team
• Advocacy and Evidencing Team
• Programme Support Team
• Global Impact Planning / MEAL Team

Role Placement

The Development Associate role sits within the Network Development Team, which:

• Strengthens and connects the HelpAge Global Network by acting as an enabler, connector, and coordinator
• Builds effective communication and coordination channels between HelpAge and network members, and among members themselves
• Curates and manages the Network Platform and facilitates knowledge-sharing through thematic sessions, webinars, newsletters, and peer-learning opportunities
• Ensures that member voices are amplified and well represented
• Maintains accurate member data and mailing lists
• Supports member applications, onboarding, and induction
• Provides first-line platform and user support
• Gathers feedback and engagement metrics to drive continuous improvement
• Coordinates regional convenings through Regional Advisers and other HelpAge colleagues
• Advances localisation and capacity-strengthening efforts
• Supports alignment of member collaboration with HelpAge’s Strategy 2030

Overall, the team’s identity and practice emphasise reliability, credibility, solidarity, and responsiveness, positioning it to accompany members through change and to foster a coherent, member-led network that delivers greater collective impact.

What you will do

Network Engagement and support to the Network Platform (50%)

• Strengthen communication and coordination between HelpAge and the network members, working with the Network Platform Manager, Regional Advisers, and thematic Advisers.
• Support and facilitate knowledge sharing, collaboration, and peer learning across the network.
• Support the curation, management and updating of the HelpAge Platform, providing administrative backend support and Firstline user support.
• Help organize thematic sessions, webinars, peer learning events, and cross-network exchanges.
• Support in the Development of newsletters and additional communications content for network members and stakeholders.
• Support member applications, onboarding, and induction processes.
• Maintain accurate member information and mailing lists on HelpAge CONNECT and SharePoint.
• Coordinate the Network Development Team Meetings

Administrative and Coordination Support for the Regional Adviser (20%)

• Provide coordination support for the regional adviser and capacity-strengthening efforts, including mapping member capacities.
• Support Regional Advisers with logistical and coordination support for regional workshops, meetings, and seminars.
• Support translations for communications and other collaborative tasks.
• Strengthen internal communication flows between Regional Advisers, Network Platform Manager, and technical teams.
• Gather feedback and engagement metrics to support continuous improvement.

Communication Support (15%)

• Support the sourcing and development of communications materials showcasing Africa network members’ work and engagement in global campaigns.
• Maintain and update Africa Regional social media channels in coordination with the communication Team and the regional Africa.
• Collect case studies, stories, and materials from members, partners, and programme teams in the Africa region.
• Produce regionally contextualized communications materials that highlight member impact and encourage their involvement.
• Facilitate effective communication flows within and across regions and outward to the broader global network.

Thematic Support (15%)

• Support Thematic Advisers with logistical and coordination support for regional workshops, meetings, and seminars.
• Coordinate with Network Members in the region to gather content/information for thematic learning sessions.
• Support Membership engagement with the learning thematic learning groups (agenda planning, follow-up notes and reminders)
• Coordinate thematic campaigns or awareness days with advisers and members

Let’s talk about your skills and experience

• Experience in network coordination, member engagement, and administrative support; ideally in international development, civil society, or humanitarian settings.
• Good IT skills and familiarity with digital collaboration tools and data visualization tools
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to produce clear, concise documents.
• Experience supporting online events, webinars, and knowledge-sharing processes.
• Basic design and editing skills; familiarity with Canva, WordPress and Mailchimp is desirable.
• Experience producing newsletters and managing social media channels.
• Ability to write news updates and articles in English.
• Ability to troubleshoot basic platform or login issues.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken).
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work under pressure.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Good interpersonal skills and experience working in cross-cultural settings.
• High level of discretion when handling sensitive information.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity