Based in the Expertise France office in Nairobi, with regular travel inside Africa and occasional travels to France, the Team Leader will be in charge of the overall supervision and coordination to achieve the project objectives in an efficient and effective manner.

The Team Leader will provide direct line management to the Expertise France operational team, including the Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) team (composed of a TAF Coordinator, 2 TAF Officers and 2 TAF Assistants), the Deputy Team Leader of Component 4 (ARISE), the Project Assistant, the MEAL coordinator, and the Outreach/Communications Officer and the Grant officer. The Team Leader will also exercise a functional coordination role over the Deputy Team Leader (DAAD), who coordinates Component 2, the Deputy Team Leader (Team Belgium), who coordinates Component 3. While Deputy Team Leaders of Component 2 and 3 remain under the hierarchical authority of their respective agencies, they will work under the functional coordination of the Team Leader to ensure the overall coherence, alignment, and effective implementation of the Action. The Team Leader will also work closely with the EF Administrative and Financial Support Team, including the Finance Officer, finance assistant, logistics assistant.

On behalf of Expertise France as consortium coordinator, the Team Leader will ensure consolidated oversight of programme implementation, partner contributions, budget execution, risks and results, in accordance with the Multi Partnership Contribution Agreement (MPCA), Partnership Agreement (PA) and the respective responsibilities of each IP. Each IP remains responsible for the implementation, financial management and compliance of the activities under its contractual responsibility.

Under the supervision of the Head of the Education, Higher Education and Research Unit at Expertise France headquarters in Paris, the Team Leader will lead the operationalization of the strategic direction set out in the Description of the Action and agreed through the project governance bodies. The Team Leader will oversee implementation, technical quality, team management, stakeholder relations and coherence between Components 2, 3 and 4, as well as coordination with Component 1 and other relevant EU, Team Europe and Africa-Europe research and innovation initiatives.

Key responsibilities:

Strategic management and oversight:

• Lead the operationalization of the project’s strategic direction, as defined in the Description of the Action and further agreed through the project governance bodies.Support, convene or participate in the project governance bodies in accordance with the respective roles, decision-making arrangements and responsibilities established in the DoA and PA.Ensure alignment of project activities with relevant African and EU higher education, research and innovation frameworks and priorities, including CESA, the AU–EU Innovation Agenda, the SDGs, Global Gateway...Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are in place, with support from the M&E Coordinator.

• Ensure consolidated regular reporting to the partners and the EU on project progress, challenges, and key achievements.

• Ensure coherence and complementarity between Components 2, 3 and 4, and facilitate coordination with Component 1 and other relevant EU and Team Europe initiatives.

• Lead the project inception phase, including the operational set-up of the project team, the clarification of roles and coordination arrangements, and the consolidation of the initial work plan, budget and implementation procedures.

Team management and coordination:

• Lead, manage, and guide the Project team, through a direct (EF) or a functional link (Implementing Partners).

• Foster team cohesion and effective cross-IP collaboration through regular and ad hoc meetings.

• Set goals, objectives, and deliverables for team members under his direct line management and ensure appropriate coordination of deliverables across the wider project team.

• Oversee the recruitment of short- and long-term experts under EF responsibility and contribute, where relevant, to the coordination of key project staffing needs.

Stakeholder engagement and accountability:

• Ensure effective coordination and information flows between IPs and maintain constructive dialogue with key programme stakeholders.Represent Expertise France and, where duly mandated, the consortium in strategic dialogue with the EU, higher education institutions, relevant public authorities and institutional partners. Identify and escalate major strategic, contractual, operational or partnership issues to Expertise France headquarters and the appropriate governance bodies

Planning and monitoring of project activities:

• Develop consolidated work plans and annual budgets in coordination with the Deputy Team Leaders, IPs and relevant support functions.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the M&E, communication and Knowledge Management strategies, in coordination with the respective specialists.

• Ensure that activities managed by EF comply with applicable EU and EF requirements, and oversee consolidated compliance with the contractual framework at consortium level.

• Identify potential strategic and operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.

• Oversee the allocation of EF resources and the consistency of programme level resource planning.

• Ensure that project procedures are developed, regularly reviewed and consistently applied, where relevant, at program level.

• Ensure that agreed measures for safety and security are in place and adhered to by all staff, in coordination with the Operations Security Department.