Senior Change Fund Manager – NEAR (Adeso): Leading Locally Led Humanitarian Financing | Deadline: 22 June 2026
The Network for Empowered Aid Response (NEAR), hosted by Adeso – African Development Solutions, is recruiting a Senior Change Fund Manager to lead the next phase of its flagship humanitarian financing mechanism, the Change Fund. This is a high-impact remote role with significant travel requirements, focused on transforming how global humanitarian resources are governed and delivered.
The position combines fund management, governance design, systems leadership, and humanitarian financing innovation, making it one of the most strategically significant roles in the sector.
About NEAR and the Change Fund
NEAR is a global network of more than 360 local and national organizations across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Its mission is to shift power and resources toward local actors responding directly to crises.
The Change Fund, launched in 2022, is NEAR’s flagship pooled financing mechanism designed and governed by local actors.
Key achievements so far include:
- USD 6.5 million disbursed
- 65 grants issued
- Operations in 24 crisis-affected countries
- Average 16-day disbursement cycle
The Fund is now transitioning from a proof-of-concept phase into a scaled, federated global financing architecture.
Purpose of the Role
The Senior Change Fund Manager will lead both operational delivery and strategic transformation of the Fund.
Core responsibilities include:
- Managing day-to-day fund operations and grantmaking
- Scaling annual disbursement from under USD 2M to over USD 20M
- Implementing governance reforms approved by the Oversight Body
- Designing a federated governance and funding structure
- Strengthening donor relations and capital mobilization
- Ensuring compliance, accountability, and risk management
- Driving long-term systems change in humanitarian financing
This role requires balancing operational precision with strategic innovation.
Key Responsibilities
1. Fund Operations and Grantmaking
- Manage full grant lifecycle (crisis monitoring to disbursement and reporting)
- Maintain rapid response timelines (approx. 16 days average disbursement)
- Oversee financial systems including multi-currency portfolios
- Ensure compliance with donor and audit requirements
- Strengthen safeguarding and community feedback mechanisms
- Support risk management in fragile and conflict-affected settings
2. Strategic Transformation and Scaling
- Implement governance decisions from the 2026 Nairobi co-design workshop
- Build a federated governance system (regional bodies + global council)
- Expand eligibility frameworks to include broader partnerships
- Design a continuum funding model covering:
- Anticipatory action
- Emergency response
- Recovery programming
- Strengthen NEAR’s role in global humanitarian financing architecture
3. Oversight Body Partnership
The Oversight Body (OB) is the governing authority of the Change Fund.
- Prepare and facilitate OB meetings and decision sessions
- Develop briefing papers and analytical materials
- Maintain governance policies and accountability frameworks
- Support onboarding and development of OB members
- Ensure transparent, evidence-based decision-making
This relationship is central to the success of the Fund.
4. Donor Engagement and Financial Stewardship
- Manage relationships with philanthropic and bilateral donors
- Develop investment cases for new funding partners
- Oversee multi-donor compliance and reporting
- Contribute to innovative financing mechanisms (blended finance, guarantees)
- Support long-term capital strategy for scale
5. Learning, Evidence, and Advocacy
- Oversee monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems
- Produce evidence briefs and annual learning reports
- Contribute to global humanitarian financing policy discussions
- Share insights on locally led funding models
- Support research on pooled funds and networked financing systems
Required Experience and Skills
The ideal candidate will bring:
- 10+ years of experience in humanitarian financing, fund management, or governance
- Strong knowledge of localization and humanitarian reform agendas
- Experience designing governance systems or institutional frameworks
- Proven donor relationship management experience
- Strong financial oversight and compliance expertise
- Experience working in fragile or crisis-affected contexts
- Excellent communication and analytical skills
- Commitment to locally led development principles
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with innovative financing (blended finance, guarantees, etc.)
- Familiarity with humanitarian coordination systems (CERF, CBPFs, Grand Bargain)
- Experience in network-based or movement organizations
- Multilingual ability (French, Arabic, or Spanish)
Contract Details
- Duration: 12 months
- Location: Remote (with extensive travel)
- Reporting to: Solutions Director
- Start date: As soon as possible
- Closing date: 22 June 2026
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their application via email:
Please include:
- One-page cover letter (including expected annual gross salary in USD)
- Updated CV
Subject line: Senior Change Fund Manager
Why This Role Matters
This is not a standard fund management role—it is a systems transformation leadership position shaping the future of humanitarian financing.
The successful candidate will:
- Influence global aid architecture
- Strengthen local leadership in crisis response
- Scale innovative funding mechanisms
- Improve speed, equity, and accountability in humanitarian funding
- Support a shift from centralized to locally governed aid systems
Final Reflection
As the humanitarian sector evolves, this role represents a critical opportunity to reshape how funding flows to crisis-affected communities. It requires a leader capable of balancing operational excellence with bold institutional redesign, while centering the authority of local actors.
For senior professionals committed to localization and systems change, this position offers a rare opportunity to drive meaningful global impact.
Join Our WhatsApp Community
Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
