World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian non-profit organization in international development, committed to building a more equitable and sustainable world. The Pan-Africa Senior Manager for the Refugee-led Organization (RLO) Opportunity Fund is responsible for the strategic leadership and implementation of the RLO Opportunity Fund. This role involves overseeing grant-making processes, capacity-building initiatives, and fostering equitable partnerships to support the sustainability and growth of refugee-led organizations across Africa.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Fund Management
- Design and oversee the implementation of the RLO Opportunity Fund, including grant-making processes, eligibility criteria, and funding cycles.
- Develop and manage the fund’s budget, ensuring effective and compliant allocation of resources to RLOs.
- Ensure alignment of the Opportunity Fund with the initiative’s overall strategy and the donor’s RDP Strategy.
RLO Capacity Strengthening & Transition Support
- Work closely with the Training and Curriculum Development Specialist to design and deliver capacity-building programs for RLOs, including institutional development, financial management, MERL, and safeguarding.
- Support the systematic transition of TA delivery from WUSC staff to RLOs, in collaboration with the Head of the TA Mechanism and the Head of Higher Education Inclusion.
- Develop and manage a “Grants Plus” model, pairing financial support with tailored technical assistance to ensure RLO sustainability and growth.
Partnership & Ecosystem Engagement
- Identify, assess, and onboard RLO partners across target countries, ensuring diversity in geography, gender, disability, and thematic focus (including green/climate initiatives).
- Foster strong relationships with RLOs, the donor’s teams, and other ecosystem actors to enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Represent the RLO Opportunity Fund in internal and external forums, advocating for refugee-led solutions and inclusive funding practices.
Monitoring, Learning & Adaptation
- In collaboration with the Lead, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Research (MERL), develop and implement a robust MERL framework for the Opportunity Fund, tracking RLO progress, impact, and readiness for TA provision.
- Facilitate learning exchanges, reflection sessions, and adaptive management processes to continuously improve fund delivery and RLO outcomes and to share best practices.
- With support from the MERL and Communications teams, document and disseminate success stories, lessons learned, and best practices related to RLO empowerment and funding models.
Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure all RLO partnerships and fund disbursements adhere to WUSC and the donor’s compliance, safeguarding, and due diligence requirements.
- Mitigate risks related to RLO capacity, financial management, legal registration, and program delivery.
- Work closely with the GESI and Safeguarding unit to ensure that all aspects of the Opportunity Fund are designed to effectively build collaborative, safe and equitable partnerships with RLOs.
- Promote ethical and inclusive practices in all aspects of fund management and partner engagement.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online through the WUSC BambooHR portal via the link provided in the application section.
