About AAHEFA

The Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies (AAHEFA) is a continental apex membership organization dedicated to advancing sustainable higher education financing, policy innovation, research, and institutional capacity across Africa.

Formed in 2008, AAHEFA provides a consolidated platform for information sharing, best practices, and experience exchange on common matters that contribute to increasing access and equity in higher education.

Through strategic partnerships with governments, higher education institutions, development partners, and the private sector, AAHEFA works to expand equitable access to quality higher education while fostering innovation, skills development, and socio-economic transformation.

Position summary

The Assistant partnerships and research officer will support AAHEFA’s communication, stakeholder engagement, research, and knowledge management functions.

The role involves assisting in content development, documentation, institutional communication, and research coordination activities. It is designed to strengthen AAHEFA’s visibility, strategic communication, and evidence-based programming while supporting engagement with member institutions, partners, and external stakeholders.

The Assistant will contribute to the preparation of reports, presentations, concept notes, newsletters, meeting documentation, research tracking, and digital communication materials. The role will also support timely dissemination of institutional information and maintenance of organized knowledge management systems.

Key responsibilities

Communication and content development

The Assistant will support AAHEFA’s communication and visibility efforts by performing the following duties:

• Draft and edit professional communication materials, including emails, reports, newsletters, meeting briefs, concept notes, and institutional updates.
• Support the development of communication content for AAHEFA’s website, social media platforms, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Assist in preparing presentations, visibility materials, and conference documentation.
• Maintain organized digital archives of communication materials and institutional records.

Research and knowledge management

The Assistant will contribute to AAHEFA’s research and institutional learning activities by:

• Conducting background research, literature reviews, and data collection on higher education financing, policy, partnerships, and related thematic areas.
• Supporting the preparation of research summaries, briefing notes, analytical reports, and policy-related documentation.
• Assisting in tracking institutional partnerships, programmes, conferences, and strategic engagements.
• Supporting knowledge management processes, including documentation, filing, and information consolidation.

Stakeholder and meeting coordination

The Assistant will help coordinate internal and external engagements by:

• Assisting in organizing meetings, workshops, webinars, and conferences, including agenda preparation, minute taking, participant coordination, and follow-up actions.
• Supporting communication and coordination with member institutions, partners, consultants, and external stakeholders.
• Assisting in preparing official correspondence and follow-up communications.

Administrative and operational support

The Assistant will support day-to-day programme and communication operations by:

• Supporting coordination of programme and communication activities.
• Assisting with scheduling, documentation, and operational logistics where required.
• Supporting maintenance of organized institutional records and databases.

Qualifications and experience

Education

Applicants should have:

• A bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, international relations, development studies, public policy, research, social sciences, or a related field.

Experience

Applicants should have:

• At least 1 year of relevant experience or internship exposure in communications, research, programme support, or institutional support roles. This is considered an added advantage.

Technical skills

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
• Strong report writing, presentation development, and documentation skills.
• Familiarity with digital communication platforms, Canva, cloud-based collaboration tools, or content management systems. This is considered an added advantage.
• Basic research and data analysis skills, which are desirable.

Required competencies

Communication skills

Applicants should have:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong professional writing and editing abilities.

Research and analytical skills

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Ability to gather, synthesize, and present information clearly and accurately.
• Strong attention to detail and analytical thinking.

Organizational skills

Applicants should have:

• Ability to multitask, manage deadlines, and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong coordination and documentation abilities.

Professionalism and integrity

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Ability to handle sensitive institutional information with confidentiality and professionalism.

Teamwork and initiative

Applicants should have:

• Ability to work collaboratively within a multicultural and professional environment.

• Draft and edit professional communication materials, including emails, reports, newsletters, meeting briefs, concept notes, and institutional updates.
• Support the development of communication content for AAHEFA’s website, social media platforms, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Assist in preparing presentations, visibility materials, and conference documentation.
• Maintain organized digital archives of communication materials and institutional records.
• Conducting background research, literature reviews, and data collection on higher education financing, policy, partnerships, and related thematic areas.
• Supporting the preparation of research summaries, briefing notes, analytical reports, and policy-related documentation.
• Assisting in tracking institutional partnerships, programmes, conferences, and strategic engagements.
• Supporting knowledge management processes, including documentation, filing, and information consolidation.
• Assisting in organizing meetings, workshops, webinars, and conferences, including agenda preparation, minute taking, participant coordination, and follow-up actions.
• Supporting communication and coordination with member institutions, partners, consultants, and external stakeholders.
• Assisting in preparing official correspondence and follow-up communications.
• Supporting coordination of programme and communication activities.
• Assisting with scheduling, documentation, and operational logistics where required.
• Supporting maintenance of organized institutional records and databases.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
• Strong report writing, presentation development, and documentation skills.
• Familiarity with digital communication platforms, Canva, cloud-based collaboration tools, or content management systems.
• Basic research and data analysis skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong professional writing and editing abilities.
• Ability to gather, synthesize, and present information clearly and accurately.
• Strong attention to detail and analytical thinking.
• Ability to multitask, manage deadlines, and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong coordination and documentation abilities.
• Ability to handle sensitive institutional information with confidentiality and professionalism.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multicultural and professional environment.

• A bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, international relations, development studies, public policy, research, social sciences, or a related field.
• At least 1 year of relevant experience or internship exposure in communications, research, programme support, or institutional support roles.