Program Officer – Matching Grant Management at Kilimo
Trust (Kigali, Rwanda) | High-Impact Agribusiness Career Opportunity 2025
Are you passionate about
transforming agribusiness in East Africa? Do you thrive in fast-paced,
mission-driven environments that empower farmers, SMEs, and private sector
innovators? Kilimo Trust—a leading regional organization shaping the
future of sustainable agriculture—is calling for an exceptional professional to
join its team as a Program Officer – Matching Grant Management.
If you’ve been searching for a
rewarding development career that combines project management, grant
oversight, and agribusiness impact, this opportunity is crafted for
you.
About Kilimo Trust (KT)
Kilimo Trust (KT) is a regional, non-governmental organization known for its
excellence in designing and implementing sustainable, market-driven
agribusiness solutions across Rwanda and East Africa.
For over 20 years, Kilimo
Trust has been at the center of:
- Strengthening agricultural value chains
- Supporting farmer organizations and smallholder farmers
- Enhancing post-harvest systems
- Expanding access to agricultural financing
- Enabling agribusiness SMEs to scale
- Facilitating local, regional, and export market growth
KT works closely with private sector
actors, government institutions, development partners, and financial
institutions to create inclusive, resilient, and profitable food systems.
Job Opportunity
Position: Program Officer – Matching Grant Management
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Reports To: Country Team Leader
Application Deadline: 2 December 2025
Organization: Kilimo Trust
This role is ideal for a
professional who is proactive, analytical, highly organized, and passionate
about helping early-stage and growth-stage agribusinesses access funding,
improve operations, and scale impact.
Purpose of the Role
The Program Officer – Matching
Grant Management plays a key role in the successful design, implementation,
monitoring, and closeout of Kilimo Trust’s Matching Grants Program.
You will oversee the entire grant
lifecycle, including:
- Grant solicitation
- Partner selection
- Due diligence
- Contracting
- Monitoring & evaluation
- Financial verification
- Compliance & risk management
Your work will directly contribute
to increasing farmer incomes, supporting agribusiness SMEs, and strengthening
agricultural markets across Rwanda.
Key Responsibilities
A.
Grant Management & Partner Support
- Lead the end-to-end management of matching grants in
alignment with project objectives and donor requirements.
- Develop calls for applications, coordinate proposal
reviews, and participate in partner selection panels.
- Conduct due diligence assessments on potential grantees
and prepare detailed evaluation reports.
- Draft, negotiate, and finalize grant agreements with
clear milestones, deliverables, budgets, and compliance conditions.
- Provide continuous mentorship and technical guidance to
Matching Grant Partners.
- Maintain a comprehensive, digital grant management
system for documentation, milestones, budgets, and partner performance.
B.
Compliance, Risk Management & Quality Assurance
- Update and disseminate the Grants Management Manual to
relevant project staff.
- Receive and coordinate the review of narrative,
financial, and technical reports.
- Convene cross-department meetings to ensure partners
are on track and resolve bottlenecks.
- Review milestones and approve partner payments based on
verified performance.
- Monitor compliance with donor rules, procurement
standards, and Kilimo Trust protocols.
- Conduct compliance spot checks and support internal and
external audits.
- Identify risks and work with the Finance and Country
Team Leader to implement mitigation strategies.
C.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
- Conduct regular field visits to verify reported
achievements and identify support needs.
- Review and validate partner narrative and financial
reports prior to disbursements.
- Work with the M&E team to track progress toward
project indicators.
- Prepare grant progress reports for internal and donor
reporting cycles.
- Lead documentation of lessons learned, success stories,
and best practices.
This role requires a sharp eye for
detail, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to translate field
realities into high-quality reports.
D.
Financial Management of Grants
- Work with the Finance team to review budgets,
cost-share requirements, and forecasts.
- Verify expenses, receipts, and financial records to
ensure compliance and accuracy.
- Recommend disbursements based on validated progress and
financial compliance.
- Participate in partner financial spot checks, audits,
and grant closeouts.
E.
Capacity Building & Stakeholder Engagement
- Build the capacity of Matching Grant Partners in
proposal development, financial management, compliance, and reporting.
- Facilitate learning sessions, workshops, and
knowledge-sharing events.
- Represent Kilimo Trust in stakeholder forums involving
the private sector, development partners, SMEs, cooperatives, and
government institutions.
You will be a key ambassador of
Kilimo Trust’s values and model for sustainable agribusiness financing.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Your performance will be evaluated
based on:
- Effective supervision and timely support to Matching
Grant Partners
- Quality and timeliness of report reviews and approval
of disbursements
- Level of compliance with donor and institutional
requirements
- Achievement of project and grant milestones
- Efficiency of documentation and reporting
- Strength and effectiveness of stakeholder relationships
Required Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance,
Agriculture, Economics, Project Management, Development
Studies, or related fields.
- Master’s degree or professional certification in Grants
Management or Project Management is an added advantage.
Experience
- Minimum 5 years
of experience in grant management, SME development, or donor-funded
projects.
- Demonstrated experience managing matching grants,
challenge funds, or enterprise development funds.
- Familiarity with compliance frameworks for USAID,
EU, IFAD, Mastercard Foundation, and other major donors.
- Experience working with private-sector partners, SMEs,
or farmer organizations.
Technical
Skills
- Strong project management and coordination skills
- High-level financial analysis and budgeting expertise
- Strong analytical and reporting abilities
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Proficiency in MS Excel and grant management software
- Knowledge of AI productivity tools is an advantage
How to Apply
If you believe you are the right
candidate for this exciting opportunity, submit your application through the
Kilimo Trust online recruitment portal:
👉 Apply Here:
https://erp.kilimotrust.org/jobs/detail/program-officer-matching-grant-management-01-position-65
Your
Application Should Include:
- A detailed application letter
- A CV demonstrating relevant experience aligned to the
job responsibilities
- Contacts of three referees (with daytime phone
numbers)
- Copies of academic certificates and transcripts (O’
Level, A’ Level, Undergraduate & Postgraduate)
- Contact details of your current and two previous
supervisors
- A statement and proof of your current remuneration
📅 Deadline: 2 December 2025
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Don’t Miss Your Shot!
Stay Updated!
Follow Theos Careers for daily updates on jobs, scholarships, internships, and online opportunities in Rwanda and beyond.
ASK HELP IN APPLICATION:
APPLICATION LINK
- Bookmark or save this page so you can easily return to it anytime during your application process.
- Leave a comment below if you have any questions—we're here to help!
- Follow us for more scholarship tips and updates.
.jpg)
0 Comments