Lead Consultant / Senior Expert (Investment and Curriculum Lead) – Ethiopia

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Lead Consultant / Senior Expert (Investment and Curriculum Lead) for a transport consultancy assignment financed by UNDP in Ethiopia.

Aninver Development Partners is currently inviting applications for the position of Lead Consultant / Senior Expert (Investment and Curriculum Lead) for an upcoming proposal supporting the transport and innovation sectors in Ethiopia. Working in partnership with UNDP, this initiative aims to strengthen Africa's startup and innovation ecosystem by expanding access to investment expertise, improving decision-making quality, and connecting promising ventures with informed investors across the continent.

The selected expert will play a pivotal role in designing and delivering a comprehensive, high-quality investment curriculum tailored to early-stage investors. This assignment contributes to a connected, robust, and inclusive African investor ecosystem, positioning the initiative as a strategic driver in developing the next generation of investment professionals and fostering cross-border knowledge exchange.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Train at least 80 aspiring African investors through an intensive six-month fellowship program focusing on technology and tech-enabled companies.
• Equip fellowship participants with practical knowledge, tools, networks, and exposure relevant to early-stage investment in Africa.
• Integrate global standard investment curricula with Africa-specific investment vehicles, deal structures, venture building, and ESG principles.
• Facilitate deep-dive learning sessions, thought leadership, and market knowledge products derived from sector analysis and fellow research.

Scope of work

• Design an inception report, detailed curriculum, and delivery calendar aligned with project priorities and monitoring frameworks.
• Implement a transparent, inclusive, and merit-based outreach and selection process to onboard diverse cohorts of aspiring investors.
• Deliver a structured six-month fellowship curriculum combining venture investing capabilities with Africa-specific content, sourcing, due diligence, and valuation.
• Provide two months of structured placement and career support, connecting fellows to investment ecosystem opportunities.
• Plan and deliver in-person investor gatherings in selected African markets to foster peer exchange and ecosystem connection.
• Coordinate fellow-developed research pieces, sector analyses, and market deep dives on jointly agreed themes.
• Ensure effective program management, data protection, risk management, and adherence to safeguarding and visibility standards.

Your role as Lead Consultant / Senior Expert (Investment and Curriculum Lead)

• Lead the design, development, and continuous improvement of the fellowship curriculum and learning materials.
• Facilitate expert-led sessions, applied assignments, team projects, and mentoring activities for fellowship participants.
• Incorporate Africa-specific investment landscape dynamics, deal structures, innovative financing mechanisms, and ESG principles into the training.
• Oversee quality-assurance processes for learning outcomes, attendance records, and assignment tracking.
• Collaborate closely with the project leadership and the donor team to ensure alignment with overall strategic objectives.
• Provide technical guidance on venture building, portfolio support, and responsible investment practices.
• Support the coordination of deep-dive learning sessions and research outputs generated by the cohort.

Requirements

• Education: Advanced degree or equivalent professional qualification in Finance, Investment, Economics, Business, Entrepreneurship, or a related field
• At least 8 years of experience in venture capital, private investment, startup finance, investment advisory services, accelerator programmes, or investor education
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering investment-related curricula and learning programmes
• Languages: English required

Desirable

• Previous experience working with international development organizations or UN agencies on innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives.
• Demonstrated network within the pan-African early-stage investment and venture capital community.

An experienced investment professional with a strong background in startup finance and curriculum design, eager to shape the next generation of African early-stage investors through a flagship UNDP initiative.

Assignment details

• Location: Ethiopia
• Financed by: UNDP
• Sector: Transport
• Estimated duration: 10 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a UNDP-financed project in Ethiopia.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.