Ashoka Venture Program Assistant Position to be filled immediately at Ashoka East Africa Nairobi, Kenya

1. | East Africa
Vacant Position: Venture Program Assistant
About Ashoka:
Ashoka’s mission is to shape a global, entrepreneurial and competitive citizen sector that allows social
entrepreneurs to thrive and enables the world’s citizens to think and act as change makers. Since 1981,
Ashoka has identified, brought together and invested in a network/fellowship of more than 3,000 of the
world’s leading social entrepreneurs in more than 73 countries. Already the largest global network of
thought and change leaders across every issue area imaginable, the Ashoka Fellowship continues to
grow at an even more rapid pace as we strive to create an Everyone a Changemaker world. To this end,
Ashoka seeks to strengthen its East Africa program by adding to the team a dynamic, self-motivated,
entrepreneurial and highly skilled Program Assistant to the Venture Program. The Venture Program in
East Africa is responsible for the search and selection of Ashoka Fellows from across the region including
countries: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia.
Position: Venture Program Assistant
 Full-time (40 hours/week)
 Salary and benefits compatible with position and citizen sector standards
 Based in Nairobi, Kenya
Professional Requirements
 University degree in a relevant field preferably in social or human sciences
 Strong entrepreneurial track record
 Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
 Strong training and presentation skills
 Excellent writing skills and analytical skills
 Strong project management skills
 Strong proposal writing and fundraising skills
 Computer savvy including strength in use of internet, MS word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint
 Experience in using Salesforce or other cloud-based database program is preferred
 Fluency in English is required, Fluency in French and Kiswahili preferred
Required Personal Qualities
 Entrepreneurial traits
 Creativity
 Commitment to the public interest
 Integrity
 Team working
 Leadership
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2.  Empathy
 Systemic, conceptual thinking
Responsibilities
1) Meeting election targets cost effectively, efficiently and on time.
2) Building a diverse, engaged and well supported nominator network across the region to
generate a high quantity and quality of nominations for the Ashoka Fellowship.
3) Pursuing independent research to identify and connect with potential new Ashoka fellows
4) Collecting and reviewing Fellowship nominations and applications and carrying out due diligence
including sector mapping, media research, site visits and reference checks for all candidates to
develop a comprehensive understanding of their work within the context of Ashoka’s selection
criteria.
5) Preparing well written profiles for all candidates for submission to second opinion reviewers and
international board of Ashoka.
6) Organizing and managing all aspects of regional selection panels for fellowship candidates
7) Pipeline management to aid integration of unsuccessful venture candidates with other programs
in Ashoka.
8) Organizing periodic “round table” conversations to engage nominators, fellows, potential
candidates, partners and staff of Ashoka around emerging issues and trends across East Africa’s
development sector.
9) To liaise with the staff from the global venture team as well as other program areas as and when
is required.
10) To contribute to the East African program’s fundraising goals and in any case work with the
program manager to raise money for the venture program in East Africa.
11) To report to the Venture Program Manager and the East Africa Regional Representative.
Application:
Please go to http://www.ashoka.org/staff-app and fill out the online staff application form and upload
your CV. In addition email three reference letters to nkaturamu@ashoka.org and put the code
“VPAC12” in the subject line.
Deadline: 30th April
For more information about the offer, please contact Nassir Katuramu at nkaturamu@ashoka.org.
Please note: Ashoka is a comprehensive equal opportunity employer that takes diversity (ethnicity,
gender, sexual orientation, disability, etc.) into account in its selection process.
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