Remote Role for East and Southern Africa 2026
Catholic Relief Services is recruiting an experienced Business Development Specialist II to support institutional fundraising efforts across East and Southern Africa.
This is a remote position open to qualified candidates based in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, or within three hours of East Africa Time GMT plus three.
If you have strong experience in proposal development, donor engagement, and international development funding, this role offers the opportunity to work with a global humanitarian organization on large scale funding applications.
About Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services is an international nonprofit organization founded by the Catholic community in the United States. It operates in more than 100 countries and delivers humanitarian and development programs in areas such as:
Emergency response
Health systems strengthening
Agriculture and food security
Education
Peacebuilding
Livelihoods and microfinance
CRS works with local partners and governments to support poor and vulnerable communities. The organization follows strict safeguarding and ethical standards.
Role Overview
The Business Development Specialist II supports institutional funding efforts across the East and Southern Africa Region.
The role covers the full business development cycle. This includes:
Opportunity identification
Capture planning
Proposal coordination
Budget development
Donor communication
The specialist works closely with country offices, regional leadership, and global technical teams to develop competitive proposals for institutional donors.
This is not an entry level position. It requires solid experience managing complex funding applications.
Main Responsibilities
Strategic Positioning and Capture Planning
The specialist provides technical guidance to country teams during the early stages of funding opportunities.
Responsibilities include:
Reviewing funding announcements
Advising on go or no go decisions
Supporting capture strategies
Conducting donor and competitor analysis
Supporting partnership negotiations
This stage often determines whether a proposal stands a strong chance of success. Experience with institutional donor expectations is important.
Proposal Development and Coordination
A major part of the role involves leading or coordinating high value proposals.
Tasks may include:
Serving as proposal coordinator
Writing technical and management sections
Reviewing partner inputs
Ensuring compliance with donor guidelines
Supporting detailed budget preparation
Integrating cross cutting themes such as gender, climate, partnerships, and MEAL
The specialist ensures that submissions meet technical standards and donor rules. Attention to detail is required, especially for large grants and contracts.
Donor Engagement and Resource Mobilization
The position also supports broader fundraising strategy across the region.
This includes:
Engaging donor representatives
Supporting regional resource mobilization plans
Building relationships with institutional donors
Advising leadership on funding trends
Preferred donor familiarity includes:
World Bank
European Union
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
United States Government
Private foundations and corporate donors
Experience working with both grants and contracts is an advantage.
Systems and Capacity Support
Beyond proposal writing, the specialist contributes to improving internal systems.
Responsibilities may include:
Developing business development tools and templates
Training staff on proposal writing
Maintaining past performance records
Supporting knowledge management
Contributing to internal communities of practice
This ensures that institutional knowledge is retained across offices.
Required Qualifications
Applicants must have:
Bachelor’s degree in international development, international relations, or a related field
At least eight years of experience in international development
Fluency in English
Willingness to travel up to 35 percent
Preferred Qualifications
Strong candidates may also have:
Master’s degree in a related field
At least three years of experience working in a developing country
Demonstrated success leading competitive proposals
Experience managing both grants and contracts
Knowledge of adult learning methods
Familiarity with Catholic Social Teaching principles
Working knowledge of French, Arabic, or Portuguese
Skills and Competencies
The ideal candidate should demonstrate:
Strong analytical thinking
Deep understanding of institutional donor compliance
High quality writing skills
Experience coordinating remote teams
Good negotiation and communication skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and information management systems
Because the role is remote, the ability to manage deadlines across different countries is important.
Work Conditions
Remote based within eligible countries
Travel up to 35 percent
No supervisory duties
Legal authorization to work in the country of residence required
Medical clearance required for international travel
CRS gives preference to citizens or permanent residents of countries where it operates.
Application Details
Job ID: 3002332
Category: Resource Mobilization
Posting Date: February 4, 2026
Application Deadline: March 5, 2026
Degree Required: Bachelor’s Degree
Work Shift: Day
Applications must be submitted through the official CRS careers portal.
CRS does not charge any application fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this role fully remote?
Yes. The position is remote but limited to specific African countries and nearby time zones.
How much travel is required?
Up to 35 percent travel may be required, depending on proposal demands and regional needs.
Is prior donor experience mandatory?
Yes. Candidates must have strong experience working with institutional donors in international development.
Can candidates outside Africa apply?
Only candidates located in the specified countries or within three hours of East Africa Time are eligible
Should You Apply?
This role is best suited for professionals with extensive experience in institutional funding, proposal leadership, and donor engagement.
If you have managed large grant submissions, coordinated cross country teams, and worked with donors such as the European Union or the World Bank, this opportunity aligns with that background.
Before applying:
Review your proposal portfolio
Prepare examples of successful funding applications
Ensure your CV highlights measurable funding results
Positions like this require both technical expertise and coordination ability. If your experience matches the requirements and you are ready for regional level responsibility, submit your application before the March 5, 2026 deadline through the official CRS website.
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