Job Details

Market Research & Analysis

Support pillar strategy by conducting market research, managing pillar knowledge and ensuring the availability of high-quality data and information to inform decision-making:

• Collaborate with the pillar team to align pillar research and partnership agenda with FSD Africa’s broader objectives and research priorities.
• Develop a research plan with clear methodologies and timelines, leveraging sources such as industry reports, expert interviews, and databases.
• Conduct regular market research on all aspects of Africa’s early-stage financing ecosystem, including trends, gaps and opportunities, as well as bespoke research priorities as required. 
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a robust digital knowledge and partnership management system to ensure relevant data is easily accessible and actionable.

Programme Development Support

Produce analyses to support the identification and design of pillar programming:

• Collaborate with the ESF team, other pillars/Centre of Excellence and cross-functional teams to understand ESF analysis needs.
• Conduct research and analysis to identify and assess the viability of project opportunities, drawing from a range of sources and adhering to best practices in research methodology.
• Produce insightful research outputs (e.g. databases, reports, position papers, slide decks) tailored to team needs, enabling informed project decisions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support project proposal development through to project approval, leveraging research and analysis to contribute to new initiatives. 

Programme Management Support

Provide support to the ESF team in monitoring, evaluating, and managing ESF projects to ensure successful outcomes:

• Review and analyse implementing partner narrative and financial reports, ensuring alignment with project objectives and tracking development impact and EDI performance metrics.
• Support risk assessment and monitoring processes for all projects, identifying challenges and proposing mitigation strategies.
• Participate in project progress meetings, taking minutes and following up on agreed actions and research as required.
• Support ESF team in management of relationships with implementing partners, external consultants and other stakeholders.
• Assist in enhancing reporting templates, processes and dashboards to improve data collection and decision-making across the pillar.

Communications & Content Development

Develop content to communicate insights, research findings, and project outcomes both internally and externally:

• Support the pillar team in the creation of blogs, reports, slide decks and other materials to share key insights on the early-stage financing ecosystem and highlight the pillar’s work.
• Contribute to the creation of knowledge-sharing materials for dissemination to internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications and Education 

• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant subject and 2 years of experience or Higher Diploma in relevant subject with 3 years of experience 
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English 

 Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills 

• At least 1 year of experience as an Analyst conducting market research and analysis.
• Demonstrated knowledge in Africa’s early-stage financing, including supply, demand and trends.
• Track record of effective project management with experience of using relevant tools or trackers 
• Solid understanding of good research practice with a track record of undertaking quality research, analysing and processing data effectively, evaluation and report production