[Hiring] Program & Events Assistant @African Futures Lab

Role Description

African Futures Lab is seeking a motivated Program & Events Assistant to support the successful delivery of the Lab's programs, events, and other organizational priorities. The role provides cross-functional support across research, advocacy, convenings, and organizational operations, helping ensure that activities are well-coordinated and delivered effectively.

During this six-month contract, the Program & Events Assistant will play a key role in supporting the planning and delivery of the Lab's major events, both in-person and online, while also contributing to broader program implementation and organizational operations.

This position is ideal for someone who is highly organized, proactive, and eager to gain hands-on experience within a Pan-African policy and advocacy organization working to advance racial justice, reparatory justice, climate justice, and gender justice.

Key Responsibilities

• Program support
  • Support the implementation of programs, fellowships, campaigns, and other organizational initiatives.
  • Maintain program trackers, participant databases, and documentation.
  • Support stakeholder relationship management within collectives, dialogue spaces, working groups, and networks.
  • Coordinate program meetings, participant communications, schedules, and logistical arrangements as required.
  • Assist in preparing program materials, presentations, briefing notes, meeting summaries, and other program documentation.
  • Track action items and follow up with colleagues and partners to support timely delivery of program activities.
• Events & convenings
  • Support the logistical planning and delivery of conferences, podcasts, workshops, exhibitions, webinars, meetings, and other events convened in-person or online.
  • Coordinate participant registration, invitations, and attendance tracking.
  • Support participant engagement, including registrations, communications, and resource sharing.
  • Assist with venue sourcing, travel, accommodation, catering, and other logistical arrangements.
  • Support speaker, facilitator, and participant coordination, including scheduling, communications, travel arrangements, briefing materials, and other logistical requirements.
  • Prepare event materials, participant packs, agendas, presentations, and logistical documentation.
  • Provide on-site coordination before, during, and after events.
  • Assist with post-event reporting, evaluations, and lessons learned.
• Research & partnership support
  • Conduct desk research, mapping, and information gathering to support program activities, advocacy initiatives, and organizational learning.
  • Support the preparation of grant applications, research outputs, reports, and other organizational documents.
  • Assist with stakeholder mapping and partner engagement.
  • Support coordination with partners, consultants, and external service providers.
• Administrative & operational support
  • Maintain organizational trackers, databases, filing systems, and shared resources, ensuring information is accurate and up to date.
  • Support recruitment and onboarding processes, including interview coordination and document management.
  • Assist with procurement processes and coordination with suppliers and service providers.
  • Support organizational administration and operational processes as required.

Qualifications

• Master's degree (completed or in progress) in International Relations, Development Studies, Public Policy, Law, Project Management, Social Sciences, or another relevant field.
• Relevant working experience gained through internships, volunteering, academic projects, or employment in program support, event coordination, administration, research, or operations.
• Experience in organizing international events is a plus.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English; French and/or Swahili is an advantage.
• Demonstrated interest in racial justice, reparations, climate justice, gender justice, or related social justice issues, particularly within African contexts.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, multicultural environment.
• Strong coordination, planning, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Workspace, and collaboration tools.

Application Deadline

If you're ready to help shape a more just future through your work, we encourage you to apply by 8th August 2026.