Head Of Partnerships And Advancement

Position Title: Head of Partnerships and Advancement

Organization: Africa Dyslexia Organization (ADO)

Location: Remote or Hybrid or In-person ( candidates across Africa and globally considered)

Reports to: Executive Director

Employment Type: Full-time (in-person, remote or hybrid)

About Africa Dyslexia Organization (ADO)

The Africa Dyslexia Organization (ADO) is a pan-African nonprofit organisation working to transform awareness, research, and support systems for individuals with dyslexia and related learning differences across Africa.

Across the continent, millions of children struggle to read, write, and learn effectively due to undiagnosed learning differences and limited teacher preparation to address diverse learning needs. These hidden barriers to learning contribute significantly to Africa’s foundational literacy crisis.

ADO works to address these challenges by advancing early identification, teacher training, inclusive education policies, and research on learning differences.

Our work focuses on:

• Strengthening teacher capacity in structured literacy and inclusive education
• Advancing research and policy engagement on dyslexia and learning differences in Africa
• Supporting early identification of reading difficulties through innovative screening approaches
• Convening continental platforms such as the Africa Dyslexia Conference
• Building partnerships with governments, universities, international organisations, and civil society

Through these initiatives, ADO seeks to ensure that children who learn differently are recognised early, supported effectively, and given equitable opportunities to succeed.

Position Overview

The Head of Partnerships and Advancement will lead the Africa Dyslexia Organisation’s efforts to build strategic partnerships, mobilise resources, and strengthen the organisation’s global institutional positioning.

This role is central to ADO’s growth and sustainability. The successful candidate will identify and cultivate partnerships with foundations, development agencies, governments, universities, and corporate institutions while securing financial support for the organisation’s programs and continental initiatives.

The position requires an individual who is entrepreneurial, strategic, and highly relationship-oriented, with experience navigating international development ecosystems and building partnerships that advance social impact.

Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Resource Mobilisation

• Develop and implement ADO’s fundraising and resource mobilisation strategy.
• Identify funding opportunities from philanthropic foundations, bilateral donors, development agencies, and corporate partners.
• Lead the development of grant proposals, concept notes, and institutional funding applications.
• Cultivate relationships with donors to secure both restricted program funding and flexible institutional support.
• Develop funding pipelines for research initiatives, teacher training programs, technology innovation, and continental convenings.
  

Strategic Partnerships Development

• Identify and cultivate partnerships with governments, universities, research institutions, and international organizations.
• Build collaborative relationships with education networks working on foundational learning, literacy development, and inclusive education.
• Support the development of partnerships for ADO’s major initiatives, including conferences, fellowships, research programs, and digital platforms.
• Represent ADO in partnership meetings, conferences, and stakeholder engagements.

Institutional Advancement and Visibility

• Strengthen ADO’s global positioning as a leading organization addressing dyslexia and learning differences in Africa.
• Support the development of institutional communications, thought leadership materials, and partnership briefs.
• Work closely with the Executive Director to cultivate relationships with high-level stakeholders across philanthropy, education, and policy sectors.
• Contribute to strategic planning and long-term institutional growth.
  

Corporate and Sponsorship Partnerships

• Develop partnerships with corporate organisations to support ADO’s programs, research initiatives, and continental conferences.
• Lead sponsorship outreach for events such as the Africa Dyslexia Conference and other ADO convenings.
• Build long-term partnerships with companies interested in advancing inclusive education and social impact.
  

Donor Engagement and Stewardship

• Manage relationships with existing donors and institutional partners.
• Ensure timely donor reporting, updates, and stewardship communication.
• Maintain systems to track funding opportunities, proposals, and donor engagement.
• Work closely with program and finance teams to ensure compliance with donor requirements.

Expected Outcomes 

The Head of Partnerships and Advancement will be responsible for securing new resources and strengthening strategic partnerships that support the Africa Dyslexia Organisation’s growth and long-term sustainability.

Within the first 12 months, the successful candidate will be expected to deliver the following outcomes:

1. Funding Mobilisation

Secure new financial resources that contribute directly to the organisation’s sustainability, including:

• Institutional grants from philanthropic foundations and development agencies
• Program funding for ADO initiatives and research activities
• Core or unrestricted funding to strengthen the organisation’s operational capacity
• Corporate partnerships and sponsorships supporting ADO programs and events

The role is expected to generate significant new funding commitments within the first year through successful grant applications, sponsorship agreements, and institutional partnerships.

2. Grant Development and Submissions

• Develop and submit multiple high-quality grant proposals and concept notes to foundations, development partners, and philanthropic institutions.
• Identify and pursue major funding opportunities aligned with ADO’s work in inclusive education, teacher capacity building, literacy development, and early identification of learning differences.

3. Strategic Partnership Expansion

• Establish new strategic partnerships with international organizations, universities, research institutions, and development actors.
• Facilitate collaborative opportunities that support ADO’s programs, research initiatives, and continental advocacy efforts.

4. Corporate and Institutional Sponsorships

• Secure corporate partnerships and sponsorships to support key initiatives such as the Africa Dyslexia Conference, research programs, fellowships, and teacher training initiatives.
• Build long-term partnerships with corporate actors interested in advancing inclusive education across Africa.

5. Funding Pipeline Development

• Establish and maintain a structured pipeline of prospective funders, foundations, and development partners.
• Ensure that ADO maintains a continuous pipeline of opportunities to support long-term growth and sustainability.

6. Strengthened Donor Engagement

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective donors.
• Ensure effective stewardship through regular communication, updates, and reporting.

7. Institutional Positioning

• Strengthen ADO’s visibility and credibility within global education and development ecosystems.
• Support participation in international networks, partnerships, and platforms that expand opportunities for collaboration and funding.
  

Key Result Expectation

The role is expected to contribute directly to increasing the organisation’s annual funding base and diversifying its funding sources, ensuring the Africa Dyslexia Organization can expand its programs, partnerships, and continental impact.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in international development, public policy, education, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6–10 years of experience in fundraising, partnerships development, international development, or nonprofit leadership.
• Demonstrated success securing grants or institutional funding.
• Experience engaging with foundations, development agencies, governments, or corporate partners.
• Strong grant writing and proposal development skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building abilities.
• Experience working across multiple countries or within international nonprofit environments is an advantage.

Key Competencies

• Strategic partnership development
• Resource mobilisation and fundraising strategy
• Stakeholder engagement and diplomacy
• Grant writing and proposal development
• Institutional positioning and advocacy
• Cross-cultural collaboration
• Organisational growth and sustainability
  

What We Are Looking For

ADO seeks an individual who is deeply committed to advancing inclusive education and addressing hidden barriers to learning across Africa.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong strategic thinking and initiative
• The ability to cultivate long-term partnerships across diverse sectors
• Excellent communication and representation skills
• A strong sense of mission and commitment to social impact
  

Safeguarding Commitment

The Africa Dyslexia Organization is committed to safeguarding and protecting children, young people, and vulnerable individuals.

All staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and professional conduct. The successful candidate will be required to adhere to ADO’s safeguarding policies, including child protection and the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA).

Background checks and reference verification may be conducted as part of the recruitment process.

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

The Africa Dyslexia Organization is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce.

ADO does not discriminate on the basis of gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, or any other protected status.

We strongly encourage applications from individuals who reflect the diversity of the communities and regions we serve.

Apply Via: https://africadyslexia.org/head-of-partnerships-and-advancement/

Application Deadline: 10th April, 2026

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