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Capacity Development Director
The African Disability Forum (ADF) is a continental membership organization of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in Africa whose vision is to see an inclusive Africa where all persons with disabilities and their families have their rights and voices respected and participate actively in the life of their communities and nations as outlined in the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Currently, ADF has 49 National Federations of Organization of Persons with Disabilities, ten continental and four sub-regional OPDs
Since 2020, ADF has been working in more than 15 countries across Africa, implementing high-quality programmes that deliver long-lasting benefits for persons with disabilities. The organisation has grown rapidly, expanding from two staff members in 2020 to 29 staff in 2025. Team members are based in various countries across Africa and collaborate with ADF members, who are the direct implementers of the projects at the national level.
Currently, ADF is co-implementing the BRIDGE (Boosting the Rights of Individuals with Disabilities in Africa) project, which aims to strengthen the capacity of regional actors to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in Africa. The project will strengthen the capacities of federations of organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in Africa and support the ratification, implementation and monitoring of the African Disability Protocol. BRIDGE is financed by the GIZ commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Job Summary: The Capacity Development Director provides strategic leadership in strengthening the institutional, technical, and operational capacity of ADF’s and its members. This includes the design, implementation and monitoring of capacity development programs to ensure effectiveness and efficiency, sustainability and impact across the membership.
Job Description: Duties and Responsibilities
- Strategic and Operational Management
- Develop the Capacity Development Department (CDD) strategy by reviewing ADF strategic plan (2024-2028), ADF organizational Capacity Assessment and its members status.
- Develop and lead the CDD operational plan and monitor implementation of CD activities of the ADF’s global portfolio by mentoring technical teams in the field, ensuring adherence to targets, timelines, budget management and achievement of objectives.
- Lead the technical and contextual adaptation of ADF’s Capacity Development (CD) tools and approaches considering accessible communication and training channels, with an eye towards transitioning member organizations to direct donor funding, including Technical Organizational Capacity.
- Support the establishment of the ADF Academy as a centre of excellence for youth with disabilities, serving as a platform for continuous professional development and a sustainable source of income for ADF.
- Programme Design and Management
- Lead/coordinate strategy development, implementation, and monitoring of all project activities concerning CD of ADF and its members
- Lead the design, development, and rollout of training programs, toolkits, manuals, and learning products.
- Oversee capacity development initiatives at regional and organizational levels.
- Manage the BRIDGE project.
- Coordinate mentorship, coaching, peer learning, and knowledge-exchange mechanisms.
- Ensure integration of cross-cutting issues (gender, disability inclusion, safeguarding, accountability, etc.).
- Support the development of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning and Accountability (MERLA) frameworks related to the capacity development interventions.
- Produce analytical reports, lessons learned, and recommendations for improvement by engaging with the project team to identify key learnings, document good practices, and package project successes for communication and integration into future initiatives.
- Programme Financial Management
- Develop the CDD project budgets by identifying activities and costs, preparing the budget and submitting it as required
- Manage project/program expenditures by monitoring spending against budgets and approving expenses
- Technical support and Advisory
- Support partners to strengthen governance, program delivery, advocacy, financial management, strategic planning, and MERLA.
- Facilitate organizational development plans for members and track progress.
- Resource Mobilization and Partnerships
- Support proposal development and contribute to resource mobilization efforts for capacity-development initiatives.
- Build strategic partnerships with academic institutions, training centers, donors, and technical experts.
- Manage relationships with capacity development consultants and service providers.
- CDD Staff Management and Coordination
- Resource the team by defining staffing requirements; recruiting, selecting, and appointing staff; and planning and managing induction and probation periods as required.
- Develop staff by identifying growth and learning needs, supporting the implementation of learning activities, tracking their impact, and providing feedback as required
- Manage performance by defining expectations, monitoring progress, providing feedback, addressing areas of concern, and tracking performance improvement.Ensure coordination with other departments to integrate capacity development across programs.
- Participate in Senior Management Team meetings, mid-term and annual review and planning sessions, provide updates, and contribute to ADF’s mission.
Job Requirements
- Master’s degree in Project Management, Social Work, Business, Development Studies, or a related field.
- At least 10 years of project management experience in a donor-funded environment.
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience in capacity development, training, and facilitation.
- Excellent grasp of participatory CD methodologies.
- Excellent facilitation and training skills in a variety of organizational development topics.
- Demonstrated track record of successfully building and effectively managing diverse and dispersed teams of employees.
- Demonstrated effective interpersonal and creative problem-solving skills.
- Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with governments and civil society partners.
- Experience in the Non-Profit and/or disability movement (Organizations of Persons with Disabilities)
- Excellent Communications in speaking and writing English and French
- Able to communicate in International Sign Language preferred
- Computer skills (Word, Excel and Power Point) and experience of using online/virtual communication platforms.
- The position is open to citizens of any African country.
How to Apply
Interested applicants who meet the above criteria should submit their CV and a one-page motivation letter to jobs@adf-secretariat.org by 12 December 2025, using the subject line: Capacity Development Director Vacancy.
Persons with Disabilities and Women are highly encouraged to apply.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for exam/interview, no phone calls please.
