Partnerships Manager

Program Brief:

The Inclusive Africa Program (IAP) is a transformative initiative designed to break barriers preventing youth with disabilities from accessing Africa’s digital economy. The program operates under four pillars: standards development, skills development, knowledge generation, and institutional environment enhancement. This three-year program (2025-2028) aims to implement Kenya’s Digital Accessibility Standards and harmonize them across Africa, fostering systemic change. IAP will also train youth with disabilities as Digital Accessibility Champions and host the annual Inclusive Africa Conference.  in      ABLE will partner with other stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector organizations.

Position Summary:

The Partnerships Manager will develop strategic partnerships, manage stakeholder relationships, and coordinate major events for the Inclusive Africa Program. This role will ensure the successful planning and execution of the annual Inclusive Africa Conference, as well as other convenings and workshops aimed at promoting digital accessibility. The Partnerships Manager will lead efforts to engage private sector organizations, government institutions, and civil society groups to drive collaboration and maximize program impact.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Partnerships Engagement
   • Develop and implement a comprehensive partnerships engagement strategy that aligns with business goals and objectives.
   • Identify, establish, and manage partnerships with businesses, governments, NGOs, and international organizations.
   • Create target lists of new prospects through contact databases for outreach campaigns.
   • Manage and enhance relationships with existing partners.
   • Develop strategies for partnership growth and integration and identify and negotiate new partnerships.
   • Oversee the development of partner offerings, monitor partnership performance, and ensure alignment with the goals of the program.
   • Act as a liaison between partners and internal teams, facilitating communication and project execution to ensure the success of the partnership.
   • Lead engagement with African standards bodies and financial institutions to advance digital accessibility initiatives.
   • Strengthening relationships with donor agencies, ensuring alignment with funding objectives.
   • Collect feedback from stakeholders and participants to improve engagement strategies.
   • Represent inABLE and IAP at high-level meetings, forums, and industry events.
   • Facilitate discussions with policymakers to integrate digital accessibility into national and regional frameworks.
2. Event Management
   • Oversee the planning and execution of a variety of events, including in-person convenings, digital-first programs, and hybrid events.
   • Lead the planning and execution of an annual Inclusive Africa Conference, ensuring accessibility and high-impact participation.
   • Organize quarterly business roundtables, government policy discussions, and youth convenings.
   • Oversee logistics, speaker coordination, venue selection, and accessibility accommodations for events.
   • Lead a team of Event Coordinators and oversee delivery by vendors, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment.
   • Oversee the continuum of event marketing, including content development and promotion, registration tracking, and confirmation, and support the development of materials.
   • Oversee, develop, and manage budgets for events, ensuring efficient and cost-effective allocation of resources.
   • Oversee post-event evaluations to measure the success of events and identify areas for improvement. Prepare comprehensive reports for the Executive team and other stakeholders.
   • Develop event marketing strategies to maximize participation and visibility.
   • Prepare reports highlighting the success of partnership initiatives and convenings.
   • Coordinate with the Communications Team to develop advocacy materials, reports, and event-related media.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business development, Public Relations, International Relations, Event Management, or related field (master’s preferred).
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in partnership development and event management
• Proven track record of organizing large-scale conferences, roundtables, or advocacy events.
• Experience in managing multi-sectoral partnerships in Africa, particularly in disability inclusion or digital accessibility.
• Experience working with governments and private sector organizations.

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter (mentioning the expected salary), resume, and three professional references to careers@inable.org with the subject line Partnerships Manager – Inclusive Africa Program.

Application Deadline: 24/2/2025

The NGO is an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from persons with disabilities, women, and individuals from diverse backgrounds.