The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is recruiting a Deputy Director, Development Policy & Finance (Africa) to provide high-level strategic leadership on fiscal policy, domestic resource mobilisation, public financial management, and development finance across Sub-Saharan Africa.

This is a senior, continent-facing leadership role based in Nairobi, at the centre of Africa’s policy and development finance ecosystem. The successful candidate will drive policy engagement with ministries of finance, central banks, revenue authorities, and regional institutions — aligning African fiscal reform priorities with global capital mobilisation strategies.

Location: Nairobi
Organisation: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Employment Type: Full-Time
Application Deadline: 15 March 2026

The Strategic Context

Within the Foundation’s Global Policy & Advocacy (GPA) division, the Development Policy & Finance (DPAF) team provides macroeconomic, fiscal, and capital markets expertise to support:

• Economic growth strategy

• Domestic resource mobilisation

• Public financial management reform

• Fiscal accountability

• Development finance and blended finance mobilisation

Across priority countries including Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Kenya, the Foundation works directly with finance ministries and regional development institutions to increase the volume and impact of public spending on pro-poor investments — particularly in health and agriculture.

The Deputy Director will ensure Africa’s fiscal engagement agenda is strategically aligned with broader advocacy priorities and global financing reforms.

Key Responsibilities

1. Fiscal Policy Strategy & Advocacy

• Lead Africa-focused fiscal and development finance strategies.

• Translate complex macroeconomic developments into actionable policy and advocacy priorities.

• Align fiscal reform initiatives with health and economic opportunity strategies.

• Develop leadership briefings and strategic insights for regional prioritisation.

2. Government & Institutional Engagement

• Maintain high-level relationships with:

  • Ministries of Finance

  • Revenue Authorities

  • Economic Planning Ministries

  • Central Banks

  • Multilateral Development Banks

• Coordinate closely with regional government relations teams to ensure coherent advocacy positioning across East, Southern, and West/Central Africa.

3. Team Leadership & Capacity Development

• Supervise Senior Program Officers across the continent.

• Foster high-performance, collaborative culture aligned with DEI values.

• Ensure cross-team integration between Africa Regional Office and Global teams.

4. Development Finance & Investment Oversight

• Oversee fiscal policy and development finance grant portfolios.

• Lead key blended finance transactions in collaboration with program strategy teams.

• Ensure investments are strategically aligned and deliver measurable impact.

• Strengthen portfolio management, evaluation, and delivery standards.

5. Representation & Influence

• Represent the Foundation at continental and global policy platforms.

• Engage in high-level macroeconomic and development finance dialogues.

• Contribute to GPA leadership forums, ensuring Africa priorities are embedded in global policy positioning.

Candidate Profile

Education

• Master’s degree or higher in:

  • Economics

  • Public Policy

  • Public Finance

  • International Development

Experience

• Minimum 15+ years senior-level experience in:

  • Development finance

  • Fiscal policy

  • Macroeconomic policy analysis

• Demonstrated engagement with:

  • African Ministries of Finance

  • Central Banks

  • World Bank

  • African Development Bank

  • International Monetary Fund

• Proven leadership of complex policy or advocacy portfolios.

• Strong political economy insight across Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Experience managing multi-country, multi-functional teams.

• Established networks with policymakers and development partners.

• Fluency in English required; French preferred.

• Ability to travel up to 40%.

Why This Role Matters

Africa faces growing fiscal pressures — debt constraints, tightening global capital markets, and increasing demand for social spending. This position sits at the intersection of:

• Macroeconomic reform

• Capital mobilisation

• Public sector efficiency

• Development impact

The Deputy Director will help shape how African governments finance health, agriculture, and economic opportunity in a volatile global environment.

Compensation & Benefits

The Foundation offers:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage (no premiums)

• Generous paid time off

• Paid family leave

• Foundation-funded retirement contributions

• Inclusive employee communities

• Flexible work arrangements

Employment is contingent on successful completion of background checks.

Diversity & Inclusion Commitment

The Foundation is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics. Click to Apply.