Associate, Business Development Africa

Key Responsibilities

• Supports the development of winning bids, including proposals and concept notes in English and French, and proposal annexes as required.
• Collaborates on Search’s representation efforts in Europe vis-a-vis donors and partners.
• Ensures the capture process (gathering donor intel, developing partnerships, capture planning, prepositioning).
• Assists in the development and implementation of BD strategies.
• Supports the team’s knowledge management.

Contributions:

1. Strategy development: Carries out background research, record-keeping. Supports strategy processes.
2. Business intelligence: Researches and monitors donors. Analyzes funding opportunities. Ensures internal record-keeping.
3. Positioning and donor relations: Represents Search in line with positioning efforts, especially vis-a-vis European institutional donors. Produces talking points, pitches, and briefing materials.
4. Partnerships: Supports partnership discussions. Conducts partner analyses. Ensures knowledge management.
5. Go/No-Go decisions: Conducts background research on new funding opportunities, prepares decision making, including competitor analysis.
6. Capture planning: Conducts desk reviews. Assembles pre-proposal material. Supports delivery of capture strategy.
7. Program design: Provides input and support. Develops background materials.
8. Proposal development: Drafts specific sections of proposals or concept notes. Lead-writes supporting materials.
9. Proposal reviews: Participates on review teams.
10. Knowledge management and training: Ensures proper record-keeping, including in the Grants Management System. Tracks key BD data and prepares reports as requested.
11. Other duties that are broadly in line with the above key contributions as assigned.

Desired Qualifications:

• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills in English and French.
  Working proficiency in any other language (German, Spanish, Arabic) is a strong asset.
• Interest and knowledge in the field of peacebuilding and conflict transformation.
  Practical experience with program design, fundraising, proposal writing, donor engagement.
• High attention to detail.
• High level of analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to maintain professionalism, creativity, and enthusiasm while working in a fast-paced, multi-cultural environment with minimal supervision is key.
• Self-starter, able to work independently, and willing to take on tasks small and large.
• Well organized, resourceful with time management and technology to prioritize tasks.

Type and Nature of Contacts

Interacts with colleagues, partners, and donors from diverse geographic and cultural backgrounds and handles problems with tact. Periodic external engagement as requested.

Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in peace and conflict studies, international relations, African studies, international development, or a related field with a minimum of 3 years’ experience or Masters degree with at least one year work experience.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Usual office environment conditions; ability to travel internationally at least 10%.

Supervisory and Budget Responsibility
None

Search for Common Ground (Search) is seeking a motivated candidate to join its Africa Business Development (BD) Hub, a high-performing, diverse and dynamic team that leads institutional fundraising efforts across seventeen countries in Central, East, and West Africa. 

Based in Brussels, Belgium, the Associate will support project design and the development of program ideas into competitive bids and proposals to secure funding for the region. The Associate will work closely with in-country staff, the Brussels headquarters, and other departments to develop programming that directly responds to the most pressing conflict issues and peacebuilding needs. The Associate will have a particular focus on one geography, but will support other geographies in the portfolio as required.

Application process

The deadline for applications is 31st of January 2026. Please submit your CV and motivation letter via our website, in the Jobs section.

Please note that we are unfortunately only able to consider applicants who hold the right to live and work in Belgium. Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted.
Include the word “Ubuntu” somewhere in your letter to confirm you have read the posting in full.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Search is an equal employment employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected under applicable law.