Manager, Sustainable Insurance (Bilingual French & English)

Job Summary

JOB PURPOSE

The Manager, Sustainable Insurance will support the delivery of the Sustainable Insurance Programme (SIP) and growth of the Nairobi Declaration on Sustainable Insurance (NDSI) by providing strategic and operational support across multiple workstreams. The incumbent will play a critical role in coordinating NDSI working groups and sub-committees, offering technical advisory on sustainable insurance product development and ESG-aligned investments, and leading advocacy efforts in Francophone Africa. Additionally, the role will drive the learning and development agenda for NDSI members, manage programme implementation and reporting, and support communications, partnerships, and event coordination to elevate NDSI’s impact across the continent.

FSD Africa’s Sustainable Insurance Programme (SIP)

FSD Africa’s Sustainable Insurance Programme (SIP) is designed to position Africa’s insurance industry as a driver of sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient development. The programme tackles two critical challenges: the significant protection gap across the continent and the limited adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles by insurers and regulators.

SIP supports the integration of sustainability across insurance value chains by enabling the development of sustainable insurance products, strengthening ESG integration in underwriting and investments, and promoting sustainability reporting aligned with global standards such as International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) (International Financial Reporting Standards IFRS S1 & S2). The programme works in close collaboration with insurers, regulators, industry associations, and international partners to build technical capacity, develop enabling regulatory frameworks, and co-create innovative insurance solutions.

The SIP also anchors the Nairobi Declaration on Sustainable Insurance (NDSI), a pan-African initiative launched in 2021 to drive the integration of ESG principles within Africa’s insurance sector. Anchored in a vision of a sustainable, resilient, and prosperous continent, NDSI brings together insurers, reinsurers, regulators, and ecosystem partners committed to aligning underwriting and investment practices with climate and sustainability goals. With over 260 signatories across 36 countries, the platform fosters collective action through capacity building, technical assistance, and advocacy, enabling the development of innovative insurance products and sustainable investment strategies. NDSI serves as a catalyst for market transformation, bridging the gap between insurance and sustainable development in Africa.

For more information, please visit: http://www.fsdafrica.org 

and https://sustainableinsurancedeclaration.org/

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports directly to Senior Manager, Climate Finance

Job Details

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

1. Learning and Development 

Drive a dynamic member engagement agenda, fostering peer learning, capacity building, and technical assistance across the NDSI, with a focus on Francophone Africa.

• Implement Technical Advisory projects in support of ESG strategy development, sustainability reporting, and sustainable product innovation.
• Participate in the planning and delivery of learning programmes, including market events, technical webinars, NDSI Academy content, and working group sessions.
• Facilitate co-creation of annual workplans for each Working Group and monitor delivery against targets.
• Ensure effective knowledge sharing, documentation, and administrative support for all Working Group meetings and activities.

2. Strategy, Advocacy & Communication

Contribute to the execution of NDSI’s growth, advocacy, and communications strategy to scale up sustainable insurance across Africa.

• Drive the delivery and continuous improvement of SIPs strategic workstreams, including ESG integration, sustainable underwriting, and responsible investment.
• Coordinate the development and implementation of advocacy plans, with a strong focus on positioning NDSI as a continental thought-leader in sustainable insurance.
• Lead NDSI’s visibility efforts in Francophone Africa and beyond, leveraging communications tools (website, social media, newsletters, knowledge products) to raise awareness and influence.
• Manage communications content creation and ensure timely dissemination of technical and impact-focused updates across multiple platforms.

3. Relationship & Stakeholder Management 

 Serve as a relationship manager for NDSI members and external stakeholders, ensuring continuous engagement and delivery against member needs.

• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with NDSI members, African insurance sector, regulators, and sustainability champions.
• Coordinate with internal FSD Africa teams and external consultants to ensure harmonised delivery of programme activities.
• Lead efforts to expand NDSI’s reach in underrepresented regions and sectors, with a focus on accelerating collaboration in Francophone markets.
• Manage the onboarding process and lifecycle engagement of NDSI members to ensure sustained participation and value addition.

4. Project Management 

Ensure the effective implementation of Sustainable Insurance projects; ensuring that the anticipated results are achieved.

• Project manage the implementation and reporting in line with NDSI’s strategy and FSD Africa’s performance reporting frameworks.
• Co-ordinate the roll-out of NDSI’s projects so that results are achieved, timelines are met, and quality projects are delivered. 
• Oversee and manage all logistics and stakeholders for assigned NDSI projects, including but not limited to events, media briefings, communications, and social media management, among others.
• Ensure that ongoing learning from projects is fully utilised to maximise impact and innovation.
• Provide project and operational management support to Sustainable Insurance team as required in support of the Pillar’s strategy and programming.
• Support the process of annual budget preparations and ensure activities remain within budget limit.
• Work collaboratively with the rest of the teams to develop project plans and trackers that will ensure effective and efficient delivery of initiatives.

5. Financial, Risk & Resource Management

Ensure effective management of resources/budget for projects under management, aiming to optimise the impact that is achieved with resources and ensuring compliance with FSD Africa and donor policies:

• Develop project plans, budgets, and forecasts to ensure optimal resource utilisation and compliance with organisational policies.
• Support fundraising by contributing technical sections and budgets to project proposals.
• Coordinate rigorous due diligence and risk assessments, ensuring thorough analysis without impeding NDSI partner operations.
• Liaise internally to manage financial resources effectively, ensuring compliance with statutory and donor regulations.
• Regularly analyse portfolio performance for value-for-money, adjusting strategies to enhance development impact.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

COMPETENCIES
Competencies describe the key behaviours that drive success in all of FSD Africa’s roles, regardless of technical specialism. They have been derived from systematic research correlating performance with personal attributes. 

Competency Levels 

• Level 1: Basic
• Level 2: Foundation   
• Level 3: Specialist
• Level 4: Senior Specialist      
• Level 5: Leading Expert          
• Level 6: Executive

This position requires competency at Specialist Level for all the competencies listed below:

ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS
Commitment & Alignment
Demonstrates commitment to serving our partners and alignment with the values and vision of FSD Africa
Change & Challenge
Has a strong sense of ownership that leads to learning, self-starting, taking initiative, driving change and leading development
 

ACHIEVEMENT COMPETENCIES
Situational Awareness & Thinking
Thinks clearly and intentionally, analysing information objectively, understanding issues, solving problems, and making decisions
Drive for results
Is keenly motivated to achieve goals & act with accountability to deliver quality results
 

PEOPLE COMPETENCIES
Relationships & Collaboration
Discerns and appreciates the values, viewpoints, or abilities of others; effectively reconciles different interests and displays emotional intelligence
Communication & Influencing
Deliberately adjusts behaviour to accommodate others; communicates clearly, confidently, and appropriately to influence others
 

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal Relationships

• Strategic Communications & Engagement
• Other FSD Africa staff 

External Relationships

• NDSI Members
• External consultants and Technical Advisors
• Stakeholders from major African financial institutions at middle-to-senior level management range
• Client and Implementing partners
• Funding partners and donors

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct Control

• Project budget forecasting and monitoring
   

Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Master’s degree and 6 years of experience or bachelor’s degree and 8 years of experience.
• Relevant postgraduate qualifications preferred E.g., Economics, Finance, Actuarial Science or Sustainability
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English and French
   

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Minimum of 6 years’ experience working in the insurance sector with demonstrable exposure to sustainable finance, ESG, or climate risk-related initiatives.
• Comprehensive network within the African Insurance Industry with the ability to command respect and to influence senior leaders in Private and Public sectors
• Proven ability to manage and build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, including senior leaders in the African financial sector, regulators, development partners, and private sector players. 
• Ability to engage & influence convincingly at a senior management level. 
• Experience working in a complex and pioneering environment.
• Good level of project management skills and experience of implementing projects with medium- to long-term timeframes (e.g. 3–5 years), ideally in areas such as climate finance, sustainable insurance, or sustainable investment.
• Ability to manage a project using digital platforms or tools to communicate; ability to manage data/ documentation electronically.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment.
• Experience building alliances or engagement platforms.
• Knowledge and conceptual understanding of green finance, sustainable insurance, and the role of financial markets in supporting sustainable outcomes.
• Experience working with donors including knowledge of donor policies and procedures.
   

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity: 

FSDAi is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of equity and inclusivity.  We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. We will ensure that all applicants are provided a fair chance to compete for available job opportunities.

About Company

FSD Africa

https://fsdafrica.org/

FSD Africa is a specialist development agency working to help make finance work for Africa’s future. Based in Nairobi, FSD Africa’s team of financial sector experts work alongside governments, business leaders, regulators, and policymakers to design and build ambitious programmes that make financial markets work better for everyone. FSD Africa Investments, provides early-stage, risk-bearing, catalytic and patient capital to inventive commercial organisations in order to stimulate capital flows in support of green economic growth benefiting people and planet. Established in 2012, FSD Africa is incorporated as a non-profit company limited by guarantee in Kenya. It is funded by UK aid from the UK government.