Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

WeForest is a fast-growing international non-profit association with a Global Office in Belgium and with current projects in Brazil, Argentina, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Senegal and Zambia. The mission of the organisation is to advance innovative, scalable and lasting solutions to restore forest and landscapes for climate, people and planet. We promote scientific evidence for the ways in which forests contribute to climate change mitigation, beyond their impacts as stocks of carbon, by increasing water availability, enhancing local biodiversity conservation and rural livelihood and resilience.

The majority of WeForest’s funding comes from corporate sponsorship and corporate social responsibility. However, a major priority for the organisation is to expand philanthropy and institutional funding from public donors and foundations. WeForest is therefore seeking a new staff member to support this work.

WeForest’s Miombo Belt Regeneration Programme

WeForest’s largest programme focuses on the miombo belt that stretches from Angola to Tanzania. This programme includes our projects in Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania. These projects focus on community-led conservation of existing miombo forests, as well as catalysing sustainable livelihoods and conservation-based economies for example through beekeeping and agroforestry. WeForest has ambitions to scale our work in the miombo belt over the next 5 years.

Responsibilities or duties

WeForest is seeking an experienced fundraiser to support fundraising and grant management of our existing projects and to support the scaling of our work. The role will focus on managing current grants and acquiring new funding partnerships.

The role will report to the Zambia Country Director with a functional link to the Head of Philanthropy and Institutional Partnerships in Brussels. She/he will be based (ideally) in one of the countries where we have a country office - Zambia, Tanzania or Malawi - to closely connect project teams with funders.

Key Responsibilities

In close collaboration with project teams and local stakeholders, the Grants and Partnerships Manager will :

Funding Scoping and Pipeline Development

• Develop and maintain a strong, up-to-date funding pipeline aligned with WeForest's global funding strategy and organisational priorities
• Identify and prioritise relevant funding opportunities, assessing eligibility and applicability in coordination with regional and global teams
• Proactively build relationships with potential funders and increase WeForest's visibility within relevant funder networks
• Develop strategic partnerships and consortium relationships to strengthen funding applications

Application Preparation and Submission

• Lead the development of high-quality funding applications, integrating input from project teams, technical advisors, and the finance team
• Manage the full submission process, including due diligence requirements and compliance with ethical fundraising guidelines

Grant Management and Donor Stewardship

• Oversee the delivery of contractual obligations by coordinating with project teams to ensure timely and quality reporting to funders
• Lead narrative reporting and coordinate financial reporting with the finance team
• Manage and grow a portfolio of key funders, ensuring a high standard of ongoing stewardship and communication

Networking and Positioning

• Represent WeForest at key sector events and networks to raise visibility and support fundraising efforts
• Contribute to thought leadership content that positions WeForest as a leading voice in forest restoration and attracts new funding partners

Organisational Support

• Build fundraising capacity within WeForest country teams
• Serve as a key communication link between the Global Fundraising and Communications teams and programme teams in the field for the miombo programme

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Experience needed

• Minimum 5 years of experience in fundraising, with a focus on public donors, institutional funding (EU, members states), and philanthropic foundations, experience with corporate fundraising appreciated
• Working on environmental conservation and/or rural development
• Knowledge of the Miombo biome is a strong advantage
• Narrative and financial reporting
• Grant management
• Working with major international donors and philanthropic foundations
• Working in multi-cultural environments with international colleagues

Academic qualifications and trainings

• Masters’ degree or equivalent experience in International Development, Business Administration, Economics, Fundraising, Environmental Science or another related topic.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, and to inspire and motivate
• Ability to be proactive and to work independently and as part of a team with colleagues and partners
• IT proficiency in MS Office, Google Workspace, Canva or similar
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

What WeForest can Provide

WeForest is an international organisation with strong local roots, and we use technology to enable seamless communication across our global footprint. As part of the Fundraising Team and based in the miombo belt, you will be exposed to international best practice and international connections, while remaining firmly connected to the project teams on the ground. You will work across different countries and cultures, and will have the opportunity to learn about all the different aspects of our work.

Position: Full-time employee, 5 or 6 days per week or Consultant depending on status (you must have the right to work in your country of residence)

Employment status: preference for local hire. Open to discussion on employment permit sponsorship for the right candidate

Preferred work location: Zambia or Malawi, remote work within the region could be supported for the right candidate

Start date: As soon as possible

Package: Competitive package for a small organisation

• Develop and maintain a strong, up-to-date funding pipeline aligned with WeForest's global funding strategy and organisational priorities
• Identify and prioritise relevant funding opportunities, assessing eligibility and applicability in coordination with regional and global teams
• Proactively build relationships with potential funders and increase WeForest's visibility within relevant funder networks
• Develop strategic partnerships and consortium relationships to strengthen funding applications
• Lead the development of high-quality funding applications, integrating input from project teams, technical advisors, and the finance team
• Manage the full submission process, including due diligence requirements and compliance with ethical fundraising guidelines
• Oversee the delivery of contractual obligations by coordinating with project teams to ensure timely and quality reporting to funders
• Lead narrative reporting and coordinate financial reporting with the finance team
• Manage and grow a portfolio of key funders, ensuring a high standard of ongoing stewardship and communication
• Represent WeForest at key sector events and networks to raise visibility and support fundraising efforts
• Contribute to thought leadership content that positions WeForest as a leading voice in forest restoration and attracts new funding partners
• Build fundraising capacity within WeForest country teams
• Serve as a key communication link between the Global Fundraising and Communications teams and programme teams in the field for the miombo programme

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, and to inspire and motivate
• Ability to be proactive and to work independently and as part of a team with colleagues and partners
• IT proficiency in MS Office, Google Workspace, Canva or similar
• Fluency in written and spoken English

• Masters’ degree or equivalent experience in International Development, Business Administration, Economics, Fundraising, Environmental Science or another related topic.