Business Development Officer at icipe – International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

Job Description

Overall Purpose of the Job

In 2026, the Digital Earth Africa (DE Africa) programme moved to icipe. DE Africa is a pan-African program providing free and open access to analysis-ready Earth observation data and decisionsupport tools for the African continent. Through continental-scale services, national partnerships and capacity development, DE Africa enables governments, civil society, researchers and institutions to transform satellite data into actionable insights for decision making across many areas, including flooding, drought, soil and coastal erosion, agriculture, forest cover, land use and land cover change, water availability and quality, and changes to human settlements. In February 2026 icipe commissioned a sustainment review from an external professional firm to inform the DE Africa sustainment strategy. The DE Africa sustainment strategy is designed to support DE Africa’s future operational model and successful transition to enduring locally driven ownership in Africa. icipe is now seeking a dynamic and experienced Business Development Officer to support the DE Africa sustainment strategy and its implementation.

Specific duties

The successful candidate will undertake tasks that include but are not limited to the following:

• Support the roll-out of DE Africa sustainment strategy with internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate the implementation of DE Africa sustainment strategy.
• Set annual and quarterly workplan targets and activities.
• Lead implementation of workplan activities for sustainment.
• Implement in-kind and financial funder meetings.
• Develop DE Africa funding prospects and case for investments.
• Promote DE Africa in co-creation processes with funders and in partner relations.
• Reporting and tracking against DE Africa sustainment targets

Requirements/ qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant subject such as social development or business administration.
• 7 years of progressive experience in business development, resource mobilisation or investor relations.
• Certificates in project management.
• Training in project management/resource mobilisation.
• Familiar with international development financing and rapidly evolving funding landscape.
• Experience in developing funding prospects and case for investments.
• Experience in co-creation and partner relations.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven ability to prepare high-quality documents and reports.
• Excellent skills in digital technologies and data analytics.
• Ability to work under pressure in a multicultural and team environment.
• Strong client relationship skills.
• Excellent organisation and planning skills.
• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, accuracy and ability to work under minimal supervision.
• Good analytical skills in developing and implementing sustainment activities.
• Ability to work effectively in teams.
• Initiative taker, self-motivation and a commitment to continuously work towards results.
• Excellent knowledge of English (Working knowledge of French will be an added advantage).