Director of Digital Economies, Africa at Caribou

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Program Leadership


Lead a major long-term engagement with a leading African foundation, shaping strategic objectives and ensuring high-quality delivery across all workstreams.
Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, acting as a strategic advisor.
Identify opportunities to deepen and expand the partnership as client needs evolve.
Represent the program externally, sharing insights through high-profile events, media engagement, and strategic dialogue with ecosystem leaders.


Investment Strategy and Analytic Leadership


Develop investment theses that balance financial returns with social impact, defining clear criteria for investability.
Evaluate companies through financial analysis, operational assessment, and impact measurement.
Conduct primary research, including interviews with executives, investors, policymakers, and industry experts.
Produce investment-grade deliverables in concise, decision-maker-ready slide decks.
Work directly with client investment and program teams to shape recommendations.
Manage commercially sensitive company data with discretion and rigour.


Evidence, Research and Learning


Co-develop a dynamic learning agenda that is directly informed by, and responsive to, program teams, ensuring research priorities align with evolving strategy and on-the-ground needs.
Design and oversee high-impact research studies and analytic workstreams that generate actionable insights to guide program direction and investment decisions.
Select and manage research and implementation partners, ensuring timely, rigorous, and relevant outputs.
Oversee publications, multimedia outputs, and dissemination strategies to strengthen thought leadership and influence across Africa's digital economies landscape.
Deliver peer-learning events and internal knowledge-sharing activities to ensure insights are absorbed, applied, and translated into programmatic action.


Team Management and Capacity Building


Manage, lead, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of consultants.
Anticipate emerging program needs and build a strong talent pipeline for the region.
Lead recruitment for new hires as the Africa portfolio expands.


Financial Oversight and Reporting


Manage financial resources effectively, including budget planning, forecasting, and cost control.
Provide quarterly financial and progress reports to the client.
Ensure rigorous internal tracking and documentation across all program activities.


Caribou Leadership


Contribute actively to Caribou's strategy and evolution as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Participate in monthly leadership discussions, annual planning, and company-wide retreats.
Provide regular updates to the Senior Leadership Team on program progress and learning.
Offer strategic guidance to other Caribou teams working on Africa-based program components.


Africa Market Growth


Develop and execute a strategy for Caribou's business expansion across Africa.
Cultivate relationships with prospective clients, funders, and ecosystem partners.
Maintain a strong understanding of the regional funding landscape and competitive environment.
Lead regional business development efforts, including proposal development and partnership shaping.
Serve as Caribou's ambassador in Africa, representing the organisation at major events and engaging with policy-makers and thought leaders.
Build and maintain a regional talent pool for future hiring.
Oversee additional Africa-based programs as the portfolio grows.


About You

Essential Experience

Strategy consulting background (5+ years)


Building analytical frameworks from complex information and producing executive-facing deliverables under pressure
Experience in top-tier strategy firms or impact consultancies strongly valued


Impact investing experience


Reading and analyzing company financials (P&Ls, balance sheets, cash flows) and understanding unit economics, scalability, and business model viability
Prior work in impact investing, private equity, venture capital, or corporate development


Impact measurement fluency


Quantifying and qualifying social outcomes (employment, gender inclusion, job quality) and understanding trade-offs between financial returns and social impact
Experience with gender lens investing or inclusive business models


Africa digital economies / tech expertise


Deep familiarity with African markets and experience managing investment portfolios or consulting projects in African countries, specifically in digital economies or the tech sector more broadly.
Existing networks in entrepreneurial, business, government, or development sectors