The renowned Gates Foundation has announced a new career opportunity for experienced partnership and philanthropy professionals with the opening of applications for the position of Senior Officer, Africa, Global Partnership Development. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, the role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to global health and development initiatives while strengthening philanthropy across Africa.

The position is housed within the Foundation’s Global Policy & Advocacy (GPA) division and is designed to support the organization’s mission of reducing poverty, disease, and inequity worldwide. Applications are open until June 22, 2026.

About the Gates Foundation

The Gates Foundation is one of the world’s largest nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving lives through investments in health, development, education, and poverty reduction. Guided by the belief that all lives have equal value, the Foundation works with governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and philanthropists to accelerate progress toward sustainable development goals.

The organization offers employees a comprehensive benefits package, including:

Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Paid family leave
Generous paid time off
Foundation-funded retirement contributions
Regional holidays
Employee community engagement opportunities
Professional development support

Role Overview

The Senior Officer, Africa, Global Partnership Development will lead the Foundation’s strategy for engaging African philanthropists and building high-impact partnerships across the continent.

The successful candidate will work with:

Ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs)
Family offices
Corporate foundations
Private foundations
Institutional donors
African diaspora philanthropists

The role focuses on mobilizing resources for global health and development priorities while strengthening the culture of giving across Africa.

Based in Nairobi, the position reports to the Director of the Africa Regional Office within the Global Policy & Advocacy division and works closely with the Philanthropic Partnerships Team.

Key Responsibilities

The selected candidate will be responsible for developing and managing strategic philanthropic relationships throughout Africa.

Primary responsibilities include:

Identifying and cultivating prospective philanthropic partners
Managing a portfolio of high-value donor relationships
Securing significant financial commitments for health and development initiatives
Designing innovative partnership structures and funding mechanisms
Facilitating co-investment and blended finance opportunities
Developing strategies to increase philanthropic engagement across Africa
Building relationships with African business leaders, philanthropists, and civil society organizations
Supporting donor engagement and stewardship efforts
Coordinating complex multi-stakeholder partnerships across countries and sectors
Maintaining accurate partnership and pipeline records through Salesforce systems

Supporting African Philanthropy Growth

A central aspect of the role involves strengthening Africa’s philanthropic ecosystem and encouraging greater investment in social impact initiatives.

The Senior Officer will:

Promote strategic giving among African philanthropists
Encourage long-term investments in health and development
Support donor education and engagement initiatives
Foster collaboration between philanthropic and development actors
Help cultivate future champions of global health and development

The role will also contribute to initiatives that encourage African participation in global philanthropic communities, including the Giving Pledge.

Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

The successful applicant will serve as a strategic advisor to Foundation leadership regarding relationships with influential African philanthropists and partners.

Responsibilities include:

Preparing executive briefings
Supporting high-level stakeholder engagements
Coordinating relationship management strategies
Facilitating follow-up actions from leadership meetings
Identifying prospective Giving Pledge participants from Africa

Strong diplomacy, networking, and relationship management skills will be critical for success in this position.

Qualifications and Experience Required

The Foundation is seeking candidates with extensive experience in partnership development, fundraising, investment, or resource mobilization.

Minimum requirements include:

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent professional experience
At least seven years of experience in partnership development, fundraising, business development, investment, or strategic relationship management
Demonstrated success in securing high-value financial commitments
Deep understanding of African philanthropic, business, and civil society landscapes
Experience managing relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and institutional donors
Experience structuring complex partnerships across multiple sectors and geographies

Desired Skills and Competencies

Ideal candidates should possess:

Strong relationship-building abilities
Strategic thinking and partnership development expertise
Knowledge of philanthropy trends across Africa
Experience with blended finance and innovative funding models
Excellent communication and negotiation skills
Ability to influence senior decision-makers
Strong cross-cultural competence
Data-driven decision-making capabilities
Experience working with diverse stakeholder groups

Preferred Qualifications

Additional qualifications that may strengthen an application include:

Established networks within African philanthropy and business communities
Experience with family offices and institutional foundations
Knowledge of the Giving Pledge initiative
Experience in impact investing or blended finance
Familiarity with global health and development programming
Proficiency in African languages
Experience engaging boards and senior executives

Location and Eligibility

The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Applicants must:

Be legally authorized to work in Kenya
Not require visa sponsorship
Be available for travel of up to 40% across Sub-Saharan Africa

Commitment to Inclusion

The Gates Foundation continues to emphasize diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout its recruitment and employment practices. The organization welcomes applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds and is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive hiring process.

Application Deadline

Qualified candidates interested in contributing to Africa’s growing philanthropic ecosystem and advancing global health and development priorities are encouraged to submit their applications before June 22, 2026.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.