Senior Program Officer, Novel Technologies – Regional & Transboundary Policy (Africa)

The Foundation

We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.

The Team

This is an embedded role within the Policy, Government Relations and Partnerships (PGRP) team within the Africa Regional Office (ARO) and works in partnership with governments and regional institutions to support country-led priorities, strengthen policy environments, and enable effective regional coordination across the continent.

PGRP focuses on engaging and supporting government systems, regional platforms, and strategic partnerships at national, regional, and continental levels. This includes supporting enabling policy frameworks for novel and emerging technologies to combat malaria and other infectious diseases, grounded in country ownership, regional coordination, and strong institutional engagement.

The mission of the Global Policy and Advocacy (GPA) division is to understand and shape the public policy debates affecting the foundation's work, build support for its major program and policy objectives, and develop partnerships and alliances that can advance the foundation's objectives nationally and globally. Because the foundation's resources alone are not enough to solve the challenges ahead, GPA also supports advocacy efforts to engage diverse stakeholders and promote innovative solutions that advance our program goals. We work in close partnership with grantees, our colleagues in the Global Health, Global Development, Global Growth & Opportunity, U.S. and Gender Equality programs and Foundation Communications to build the environment in which all people have the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives.

Application Deadline: 1st of September, 2026.

The Role

The Senior Program Officer (SPO) will lead the Foundation’s work on regional coordination and transboundary policy, and political engagement for novel and emerging health technologies across Africa, with a primary focus on East and West Africa.

This role is designed for a senior policy, advocacy and political engagement leader, with deep expertise in biosafety policy, cross-border governance, and regional institutional processes.  Experience working alongside regulatory authorities is strongly preferred.

The SPO will work with national governments, African Union institutions, and Regional Economic Communities to advance regional policy coherence, political coordination, and cross border governance mechanisms needed to support Innovation that operates across borders, while supporting coherent implementation of existing regional policy and regulatory frameworks.

While the Foundation’s regulatory strategy, systems strengthening, and direct engagement with national regulatory authorities is led by our IDEV team and its partners, this role will focus on the broader policy, political, and cross-border governance environment, required to enable responsible development and deployment of emerging technologies.

This is a 24-month, limited-term position reporting to the Deputy Director, Advocacy & Communications Africa.

What You’ll Do

1. Transboundary Policy, Governance & Political Strategy

• Lead the development and execution of strategy on cross-border policy, governance and political alignment for emerging health technologies

• Translate complex scientific, regulatory and governance dynamics into clear policy, advocacy, and political strategies that support cross-country alignment and decision-making

• Identify and address political economy dynamics, cross-border risks, and regional sensitivities that influence adoption and coordination

2. Engagement with AU, Regional Economic Communities, and Transboundary Authorities

• In partnership with the IDEV team, Lead engagement with:

  • African Union and AU-affiliated institutions (including AUDA-NEPAD)

  • Regional Economic Communities (EAC, ECOWAS, IGAD, and others)

  • Regional policy and coordination platforms relevant to cross-border governance

• Engage with and strengthen transboundary governance mechanisms tied to shared ecosystems and cross-border dynamics (e.g., basin authorities, Great Lakes regional platforms, and other shared-resource governance bodies)

• Facilitate high-level regional dialogue, agenda setting and policy alignment processes

3. National Engagement & Cross-Border Coordination

• Engage governments, ministries and regional actors to support alignment and confidence in cross-border policy environments

• Support countries in navigating:

  • Emerging cross-border policy challenges

  • Precedent-setting governance questions

  • Coordination with neighboring jurisdictions

• Support confidence building among policymakers and regional stakeholders on complex and emerging cross-border issues, in coordination with IDEV and technical partners

4. Technical Leadership in Emerging Technology Governance

• Serve as the Foundation's regional strategic adviser on policy and governance considerations for emerging technologies

• Maintain strong understanding of regulatory and scientific considerations to inform policy and political strategy

• Translate complex scientific issues into clear, actionable policy and advocacy options

• Contribute to regional and global dialogue on emerging technology governance and cross-border policy frameworks

5. Policy Advocacy & Political Engagement

• Provide strategic advice on political economy dynamics affecting cross-border technologies

• Develop and deliver briefings and engagement strategies for senior policymakers, regional leaders and regional influencers

• Support efforts to strengthen African leadership, ownership and coordination in regional and global policy discussions

6. Strategy, Grantmaking & Internal Leadership

• Lead and manage a portfolio of investments that advance policy, advocacy, and transboundary coordination objectives

• Shape and guide implementing partners and platforms working on regional and cross-border issues

• Develop high-quality briefs, insights, and strategic recommendations for Foundation leadership

• Support internal alignment across teams and contribute to overall strategy development for emerging technologies

7. Cross-Foundation Collaboration

• Collaborate across technical, regulatory, advocacy, and communications teams to ensure integrated strategy and execution

• Work in close collaboration with IDEV, ensuring that policy, political engagement and regional coordination efforts complement (and do not duplicate) regulatory strategy and implementation activities.

• Serve as a key connector between global teams, Africa regional teams, and external partners

• Align efforts across multiple countries and institutions to drive coherent regional outcomes

Your Experience

• Advanced degree in public policy, law, international relations, global health, or related field

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in policy, governance, advocacy transboundary governance

• Demonstrated experience working across multiple African countries, including East and West Africa

• Proven track record of engaging governments, regional institutions and high-level stakeholders

• Experience operating in complex, politically sensitive, multi-country environments

• Experience within African Union institutions or AU-affiliated bodies

• Senior experience within a Regional Economic Community (e.g., EAC, ECOWAS, IGAD), particularly in regional policy coordination, policy harmonization or cross-border governance.

Deep expertise in:

• Multi-lateral and transboundary governance

• Regional policy coordination and harmonization

• Multilateral environmental instruments like the convention on biological diversity and its protocols

• Transboundary resource governance (e.g., basin authorities, shared ecosystem governance, cross-border health coordination platforms)

• Familiarity with regulatory systems and processes related to emerging technologies is an asset

Expected Outcomes of the Role:

• Strengthened regional alignment on transboundary policy and cross-border governance approaches.

• Improved regional confidence and coordination supporting informed national decision-making.

• Effective engagement of AU and REC platforms as coordination mechanisms

• Reduced cross-border policy risk and fragmentation

Additional Attributes

• Qualified candidates should submit a resume and a cover letter outlining their experience and interest in the role

• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country where this role is based without visa sponsorship.

• Ability to travel up to 30% domestically and internationally.

• Policy & Governance Expertise – Strong understanding of biosafety policy and the regional regulatory landscape.

• Institutional Navigation – Strong credibility with AU institutions, Regional Economic Communities, governments and other regional stakeholders.

• Strategic Thinking – Ability to operate in complex, evolving, multi-country contexts

• Political Acumen – Skilled at navigating sensitive policy environments

• Partnership & Influence – Ability to convene and influence senior stakeholders

• Communication – Ability to translate technical issues into clear, actionable insights

Hiring Requirements

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Candidate Accommodations

We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates. If you have a disability or medical condition and need an accommodation at any stage of the application or interview process—such as an ASL interpreter, alternative interview format, or physical accessibility support—we’re happy to help. Please contact [email protected] with the position number and a brief description of your accommodation needs. Requests will be handled confidentially.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.