Programs & Partnerships Manager

Role Overview

The Programs & Partnerships Manager is responsible for coordinating all African Food Network programs, partnerships, and collaborative projects across different countries.

The role ensures that AFN initiatives such as festivals, summits, and awards are executed successfully through external partners while maintaining the standards and strategic vision of the African Food Network.

This position acts as the operational bridge between the African Food Network and its global partners — ensuring clear communication, timely execution, and alignment between all stakeholders involved in AFN initiatives.

The role also supports the expansion of the African Food Network by coordinating discussions with new country partners and helping develop future opportunities for AFN programs internationally.

Core Mission of the Role

To ensure that every African Food Network project and partnership is executed smoothly, while helping develop relationships that enable AFN programs to expand into new countries and markets.

The Programs & Partnerships Manager serves as the operational coordinator who ensures that initiatives move from planning to execution effectively.

Key Areas of Responsibility

1. Program & Project Management

Oversees coordination of all AFN initiatives including:

• African Food Summit & Expo — UK
• African Food & Drinks Festival — Ghana
• African Food Influencers Awards — Lagos
• Future AFN programs and country collaborations

Responsibilities: managing project timelines and milestones, coordinating planning meetings with partners, tracking deliverables across all projects, ensuring partners meet agreed responsibilities, identifying risks and escalating issues when necessary.

2. Partner & Stakeholder Coordination

Serves as the primary coordination point between AFN and its partners (country partners, event production teams, institutional collaborators, sponsors and supporting organizations).

Responsibilities: maintaining consistent communication with partners, coordinating planning meetings and follow-ups, ensuring partners remain aligned with AFN standards, managing documentation related to partnerships and agreements, supporting negotiations and follow-up conversations.

3. Country Expansion & Partnership Development

Supports AFN’s expansion strategy by maintaining communication with potential country partners, coordinating introductory meetings and follow-ups, tracking partnership opportunities and proposals, assisting in preparing materials for potential collaborators, and supporting the Founder in developing strategic partnerships.

4. Sponsorship Coordination Support

Provides operational support by tracking sponsorship discussions and opportunities, coordinating sponsor communication when required, managing documentation related to sponsorship agreements, and ensuring partners fulfill sponsor deliverables during events.

5. Event Representation & Industry Networking

May represent AFN at meetings, partner events, or industry gatherings attending meetings with partners and collaborators, representing AFN in operational discussions, building relationships with potential collaborators, and identifying partnership opportunities.

6. Internal Reporting & Founder Support

Provides regular updates to the Founder including weekly project updates across all AFN initiatives, partner status updates and action points, sponsorship coordination updates, and issues requiring strategic decisions.

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely delivery of AFN projects and events
• Strong coordination with partners and collaborators
• Consistent follow-up on partnership opportunities
• Effective communication across all stakeholders
• Ability to keep projects organized and on schedule

Ideal Candidate Profile

Strong organizational and communication skills, ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders across different projects.

Key qualities: strong project management ability, excellent communication and relationship-building skills, high level of organization and attention to detail, ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, proactive problem-solving approach.

Preferred background: experience in event management, partnerships, or program coordination; experience working with external collaborators or teams; interest in African culture, food, or creative industries.

Key Skills Required

Project Management, Stakeholder Coordination, Communication, Partnership Development, Organizational Skills, Problem Solving

Compensation Structure

Monthly Salary: ₦150,000

Additional incentives may include bonuses tied to successful project delivery, bonuses linked to partnership or sponsorship outcomes, and opportunities for role expansion as AFN grows.

Growth Path

Senior Programs Manager Head of Programs & Strategic Partnerships