Local Ecosystem Facilitator - Nigeria

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Local Ecosystem Facilitator - Nigeria for a finance, ict, health consultancy assignment financed by UNDP in Nigeria.

Aninver Development Partners SL is preparing a proposal for a prospective UNDP-supported initiative aimed at strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems across Africa. The programme focuses on scaling early-stage ventures in sectors such as finance, ICT, and health by improving their commercial and investment readiness, connecting them with key market actors, and providing structured, locally grounded support.

To support on-the-ground implementation and stakeholder engagement in Nigeria, we are currently seeking a qualified Local Ecosystem Facilitator. This expert will play a vital role in coordinating local activities, fostering partnerships with public and private stakeholders, and driving the successful execution of the programme's in-country components, focusing on the AI and FinTech sectors.

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

• Facilitate local stakeholder engagement and ecosystem coordination in Nigeria.
• Support the successful on-the-ground implementation of programme activities, including academies, activation weeks, and build sprints.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local innovation hubs, universities, investors, and corporate partners.
• Contribute to pipeline activation and outreach efforts to reach diverse and under-represented founder communities.

Scope of work

• Support the local mobilisation and execution of country-specific implementation plans.
• Coordinate logistics and stakeholder engagement for in-country academies and activation events.
• Engage with local builders, tech hubs, and entrepreneurial networks to support pipeline activation and outreach.
• Facilitate interactions between participating ventures, local investors, and corporate partners.
• Assist in monitoring local programme activities and gathering feedback to ensure high-quality delivery.

Your role as Local Ecosystem Facilitator - Nigeria

• Serve as the primary on-the-ground liaison for ecosystem coordination and stakeholder engagement in Nigeria.
• Support the planning and execution of in-country events, including pitch days, demo days, and prototyping sprints.
• Collaborate with regional teams and local partners to identify, screen, and select promising early-stage ventures.
• Maintain regular communication with local innovation actors, mentors, and beneficiaries to ensure smooth participation.
• Assist in tracking local progress and reporting on ecosystem engagement metrics.
• Identify and resolve operational bottlenecks at the country level in coordination with the management team.

Requirements

• Relevant university degree in business, economics, technology, social sciences, or a related field.
• Proven professional experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, programme management, or ecosystem development.
• Deep familiarity with the local innovation and startup landscape in Nigeria, specifically within the AI and FinTech sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with diverse local stakeholders including founders, investors, hub managers, and academic institutions.
• Excellent written and spoken English, along with strong local language proficiency.
• National of, or based in, the project country

Desirable

• Previous experience working with international development organisations or UNDP-backed initiatives.
• Fostering networks within under-represented founder communities and regional innovation hubs.

A well-connected local ecosystem expert with deep knowledge of Nigeria's AI and FinTech startup landscape, strong community-building skills, and hands-on experience in supporting entrepreneurship programmes.

Assignment details

• Location: Nigeria
• Financed by: UNDP
• Sector: Finance, ict, health
• Estimated duration: 33 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 Nigeria.
• 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? This position requires a national of, or a professional based in, the project country.

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.