Based in Kigali and under the hierarchical authority of the Team Leader, the Technical Lead will be responsible for leading the full technical implementation of Specific Objective 3 – Improving access to finance for innovative ventures, including women-led businesses, supporting the Digital Transformation and Green Transition.

The Technical Lead will work hand-in-hand with a dedicated Grant Manager, who will provide operational support in the design, allocation, management, and monitoring of grants to intermediary support organizations (ISOs).

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

Strategic and Technical Management of Component 3 – Access to Finance

·       Actively contribute to the strategic positioning of AEDIB

·       Define the strategic orientations, approaches, and methodologies of the access to finance component (SO3), in close collaboration with the other implementing partners (e.g. RVO, Smart Africa, Digital Africa, ESTDEV)

·       Lead all internal discussions within the consortium around SO3 activities (organise and chair bimonthly SO3 meetings, represent SO3 in PMU meetings, lead the update of annual work plans etc.) and ensure coherence / synergies with activities under the other components.

·       Ensure fluid communication and information-sharing across stakeholders (PMU, SO leads, implementing partners, donors)

·       Support the Grant Manager in the implementation of Expertise France activities by providing technical inputs on:

·       internal annual planning processes including the development and consolidation of the work plan and budget

·       supervision and coordination of activities

·       Identification of needs, design and implementation of calls for proposals, recruitment of experts, and management of service providers

·       contracting and monitoring of grants to support organizations (such as incubators, accelerators, or ecosystem support organizations)

Visibility and representation of AEDIB

·       Build and maintain a strong network of local and international stakeholders in the access to finance and entrepreneurship support ecosystem (investors, venture funds, business angels, accelerators, etc.)

·       Promote the visibility of AEDIB, including by coordinating delegations and activities in major international and regional events (e.g. exhibitions, networking sessions, workshops)

·       Serve as a representative of the project in technical and public forums, ensuring coherent messaging and strategic positioning of AEDIB/SO3 activities

·       Contribute to the design and execution of the project’s stakeholder engagement strategy, including its digital and social media components, in coordination with the EU Delegation’s communication guidelines

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Capitalization

·       Develop and implement, in collaboration with the M&E Manager, a robust system to monitor activities, assess performance indicators, and evaluate the impact of the component’s interventions

·       Consolidate lessons learned and support capitalisation efforts to inform future programming and donor engagement.