The Role
Owns the East Africa growth pipeline, researches government and development-sector institutions, drafts proposals and concept notes, tracks tenders and funding calls, manages partner follow-ups, and coordinates events and client actions. The role requires independent execution, clear writing, proposal experience, and familiarity with governments, multilaterals, or foundations in East Africa.
Summary Generated by Built In
Position: Associate, Growth (East Africa)
Team: Growth
Level and grade: L2 Associate
Position type: Full time; engagement basis set by country of residence
Location: Nairobi, Kenya. Hybrid.
Reports to: Director, Growth (East Africa); the Chief Executive Officer until that leader is in place
Travel: Up to 20 percent, within the region
About Us
APLYD helps governments, multilateral institutions, development finance institutions and foundations use AI in public systems. Most public-sector AI stops at the pilot. Our work is getting it into everyday service delivery and keeping it running once we leave.
Athena Infonomics has done this work for years. In 2026 we set it up as its own company. We cover strategy and readiness, field data and last-mile reach, design and build, evaluation and audit, and scale and production.
440+ engagements · 240+ global clients · 85+ specialists · 7 countries · 5 continents
The Role
You are a member of the Growth team in East Africa with your own responsibilities. You own the regional pipeline record, you produce the buyer research and the first drafts of proposals and concept notes that the team works from, and you manage partner follow-ups and events from start to finish. Your work is reviewed by the Growth Director for the region and by the domain leaders in India, and you are expected to run it with limited day-to-day supervision.
Core Job Responsibilities
- Own the pipeline record for the region. Every opportunity is logged with its stage, its next step and a date, and the record is accurate at the end of each week.
- Produce the research brief on each institution before the team meets it: ministries and agencies, county and regional bodies, multilateral country offices, development finance institution portfolios and foundations, including who decides, who signs, and what they have funded before.
- Write the first full draft of proposals, concept notes and expressions of interest, including the budget from our pricing model and rate card, ready for a domain leader’s review.
- Track tenders, funding calls and procurement notices across the region, and recommend to the Growth Director which ones to pursue and why.
- Manage partner follow-ups end to end: the note after the meeting, the documents promised, and the next date in the diary.
- Run events, convenings and delegations from invitations to follow-up, and brief the team beforehand.
- Attend client conversations, write the notes, and hold the actions until they are done.
Qualifications and Competencies
- One to three years in business development, consulting, research or programme roles that worked with governments, multilaterals or foundations in East Africa.
- You have drafted a proposal section or concept note that was submitted to a government or funder.
- You have kept a pipeline or project record that other people relied on.
- You write clearly and quickly. We will ask for a writing sample.
- You can work on several opportunities at once with limited supervision.
Also useful, though we will not screen on it
- Swahili.
- A network in Nairobi’s development and multilateral community.
- Experience with regional or multilateral procurement formats.
Additional Requirements
- This position requires successful completion of a reference check and employment verification.
- The successful candidate must not be subject to employment restrictions from a former employer, such as a non-compete, that would prevent performance of the responsibilities described.
- Candidates must declare any current or recent engagement with a government, multilateral or development finance institution that could present a conflict of interest.
APLYD’s Work Culture
At APLYD, we function in an outcomes-based work environment with flexible hours and a high level of autonomy. Professional development and thought leadership are key elements of our business model: we support our team members’ professional growth through on-the-job training, and we encourage the cultivation of our colleagues’ personal brands through participation in panels, events, publications, and other thought-leadership opportunities. We embrace a transparent, open work environment with meaningful leadership pathways for those with inventive ideas and initiatives.
APLYD is an Equal Opportunities Employer
APLYD, part of the Athena Infonomics group, is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.
AI Proficiency and Responsible Use
Proficiency in the responsible and sophisticated use of AI is a mandatory requirement for all roles, across all levels and functions at APLYD and Athena Infonomics.
Skills Required
- One to three years of experience in business development, consulting, research, or program roles involving governments, multilaterals, or foundations in East Africa
- Experience drafting a proposal section or concept note submitted to a government or funder
- Experience maintaining a pipeline or project record relied upon by others
- Clear and fast writing ability; a writing sample is required
- Ability to manage multiple opportunities simultaneously with limited supervision
- Successful completion of a reference check and employment verification
- No employment restrictions, such as a non-compete, preventing performance of the role
- Declaration of current or recent engagements that could present a conflict of interest
- Responsible and sophisticated use of AI
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The Company
What We Do
Athena Infonomics is a data-driven global consultancy and impact solutions group. The company applies social science research, data analytics, and technology to drive innovation in policy and practice, and to plan, implement, and monitor development interventions to advance global development.
