About Fika

Fika (Formerly "Bridges to Prosperity") exists to innovate cost-effective rural infrastructural solutions through advocacy, evidence and technical assistance to promote safe access for geographically isolated communities through partnership with governments and donors.

We provide flexible work arrangements, comprehensive mental and physical wellness support, and annual salary reviews aligned with our compensation policy. Additionally, we offer opportunities for professional growth, allowing individuals to shape their own career paths through targeted development programs.

Job Purpose

The Strategic Partnerships Manager is a senior in-country lead responsible for driving systems change and securing sustainable rural access investments across Uganda. Working closely with the Country Director and in tight alignment with Fika’s global advocacy and partnerships strategy, this role will lead high-impact policy alignment and innovative resource mobilization efforts. The role leads Fika Uganda’s’s advocacy, partnerships and fundraising initiatives that will secure long-term rural access policy change and sustainable long-term rural access infrastructure investments in line with the Fika global and Uganda’s strategic priorities.

This will include coordinating advocacy initiatives with diverse stakeholders to increase funding of rural access infrastructure in the national budgets, forge partnerships , and secure rural access funding from bilateral, multilateral and corporate partners. The candidate brings past successful policy experience, and technical skills in rural infrastructure investments, innovative resource mobilization, and systems change, important to the establishment of a long-term rural access program in Uganda. Overall, the Strategic Partnerships Manager also plays a critical role in executing Fika’s country advocacy, partnerships and communications strategy, helping to ensure that rural access and rural transport infrastructure is seen, prioritized, funded, and scaled as a solution for climate adaptation, economic equity, and sustainable development. The candidate participates in high-impact engagements with Government ministries, departments and agencies, writing and communicating with clarity, thinking strategically, and bringing stronger coordination to a fast-moving portfolio of work.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Partnerships & Advocacy | 50%

• Develop and implement advocacy, fundraising and partnership strategies and plans ensuring alignment with global priorities and country context.
• Lead strong strategic partnership developments with the government, NGOs, and the private sector, aligned with Fika’s rural access agenda.
• Conduct stakeholders and partnership mapping and ensure critical stakeholders are timely and regularly engaged in Fika’s strategic activities and progress.
• Build and strengthen long-term, equitable relationships with key partners. Serve as the primary relationship manager for a portfolio of strategic partners.
• Prepare targeted reports, presentations, investment cases and briefing materials targeted high level policy makers and business leaders in support of Country Director’s strategic engagements.
• Design and implement strategic partnership engagement and influencing initiatives and activities.
• Identify, onboard and supervise consultants supporting country-level policy and fundraising initiatives.
• Develop key advocacy campaigns, tools, and moments including the Safe Access Scorecard, rural infrastructure investment cases.
• Collaborate with the communication and marketing team to deliver high impact advocacy activities and events.
• Develop advocacy briefs, op-eds, talking points, and advocacy materials tailored to senior-level audiences.
• Provide strategic guidance and frameworks for partnership engagement that support Fika’s rural access agenda, collaborating with operations and field teams to ensure alignment with programmatic goals.
• Establish systems to track the impact of advocacy initiatives and the health/value of partnerships reported on key performance indicators.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to advocacy, partnerships and organizational reputation.
• Conduct background research and policy analysis to support B2P’s positioning in Uganda including government dialogues, and advocacy campaigns.

Stakeholder, Coalition and Partnership Engagement| 30%

• Maintain and update Fika’s stakeholder and coalition tracker, and support engagement planning and follow-up — including briefs, backgrounders, and relationship management tools.
• Provide coordination, research, and content support for B2P’s participation in national advocacy platforms for rural access development, prioritization and funding.
• Assist in organizing B2P’s convenings, side events, and closed-door briefings with partners and allies.
• In collaboration with the program staff, support in country advocacy engagements as needed.
• Ensure critical stakeholders are mapped and regularly engaged in B2P's activities and progress.

Knowledge management and communications (15%)

• Manage a detailed tracking and monitoring of policies and plans for rural transport infrastructure
• Maintain regular mapping and re-mapping of stakeholders, actors and other players in the rural access system for Uganda
• In collaboration with the Global Advocacy officer and the marketing team, translate technical insights and program evidence into clear, compelling advocacy content that supports B2P’s core narrative and thought leadership strategy.
• Contribute to slide decks, talking points, speeches, and internal messaging documents.
• Ensure brand voice and values are reflected across all external advocacy content.
• Help track key deliverables, timelines, and calendars across programme workstreams.
• Coordinate cross-team collaboration with MEL, Programs, and Communications to ensure consistency and alignment.
• Maintain an internal “knowledge hub” of key talking points, shared decks, engagement records, and tools.
• Contribute to development of B2P’s progress reports
• Document learnings, best practices and generate success stories
• In collaboration with the AMP team, maintain an up-to-date B2P Uganda’s website, social media platforms
• Lead planning and implementation of B2P Uganda’s visibility events

High Performing Team Membership | 5%

• Participate in team check-ins, quarterly OKRs, learning sessions, and retreats.
• Engage in continuous learning, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Provide support across the Advocacy, Marketing and Partnerships (AMP) department as needed with a collaborative and adaptable mindset.

Qualifications

Core Experience

• 5–7 years of experience in evidence-based partner and stakeholder engagement, advocacy, knowledge management, policy, public affairs, or development-related work
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, especially for high-level audiences
• Experience working with governments, multilaterals, and donors
• Experience developing policy content, briefings, or research for decision-makers
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

Mindset & Approach

• You believe advocacy, strong partnerships, and stakeholder engagement, is a key driver for resourcing.
• You’re as comfortable tracking stakeholders as you are writing a strategic memo or walking into a high-stake briefing with confidence
• You don’t need everything to be perfect before you start, but you know how to refine as you go
• You thrive in ambiguity, adjust quickly, and understand that timing and tone can shift outcomes

Domain Expertise (Preferred)

• Exposure to infrastructure, climate, mobility, or rural development sectors
• Familiarity with national level stakeholders, government and development platforms and processes
• Experience with coalition engagement, private sector or national level policy platforms is a plus
• Expertise in developing communication and visibility materials
• Expertise in resource mobilization is a plus

Working Conditions

This is a hybrid position (office and remote) with flexibility across time zones. Some early morning or evening hours may be required to support global coordination. Occasional travel may be expected based on strategic priorities.

Application guidelines

We have seen firsthand the benefits of a diverse team, and the strength that comes with diversity in experience, background, and perspective. We strongly encourage applications from individuals that would bring a unique or underrepresented perspective to our organization.

CV Guidelines:

• Length: Maximum 2 pages.
• Education: Highlight relevant diplomas, degrees and recognized certifications
• Exclude: personal information (photos, gender, religion, marital status, number of dependents), non-certified training.

• Develop and implement advocacy, fundraising and partnership strategies and plans ensuring alignment with global priorities and country context.
• Lead strong strategic partnership developments with the government, NGOs, and the private sector, aligned with Fika’s rural access agenda.
• Conduct stakeholders and partnership mapping and ensure critical stakeholders are timely and regularly engaged in Fika’s strategic activities and progress.
• Build and strengthen long-term, equitable relationships with key partners. Serve as the primary relationship manager for a portfolio of strategic partners.
• Prepare targeted reports, presentations, investment cases and briefing materials targeted high level policy makers and business leaders in support of Country Director’s strategic engagements.
• Design and implement strategic partnership engagement and influencing initiatives and activities.
• Identify, onboard and supervise consultants supporting country-level policy and fundraising initiatives.
• Develop key advocacy campaigns, tools, and moments including the Safe Access Scorecard, rural infrastructure investment cases.
• Collaborate with the communication and marketing team to deliver high impact advocacy activities and events.
• Develop advocacy briefs, op-eds, talking points, and advocacy materials tailored to senior-level audiences.
• Provide strategic guidance and frameworks for partnership engagement that support Fika’s rural access agenda, collaborating with operations and field teams to ensure alignment with programmatic goals.
• Establish systems to track the impact of advocacy initiatives and the health/value of partnerships reported on key performance indicators.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to advocacy, partnerships and organizational reputation.
• Conduct background research and policy analysis to support B2P’s positioning in Uganda including government dialogues, and advocacy campaigns.
• Maintain and update Fika’s stakeholder and coalition tracker, and support engagement planning and follow-up — including briefs, backgrounders, and relationship management tools.
• Provide coordination, research, and content support for B2P’s participation in national advocacy platforms for rural access development, prioritization and funding.
• Assist in organizing B2P’s convenings, side events, and closed-door briefings with partners and allies.
• In collaboration with the program staff, support in country advocacy engagements as needed.
• Ensure critical stakeholders are mapped and regularly engaged in B2P's activities and progress.
• Manage a detailed tracking and monitoring of policies and plans for rural transport infrastructure
• Maintain regular mapping and re-mapping of stakeholders, actors and other players in the rural access system for Uganda
• In collaboration with the Global Advocacy officer and the marketing team, translate technical insights and program evidence into clear, compelling advocacy content that supports B2P’s core narrative and thought leadership strategy.
• Contribute to slide decks, talking points, speeches, and internal messaging documents.
• Ensure brand voice and values are reflected across all external advocacy content.
• Help track key deliverables, timelines, and calendars across programme workstreams.
• Coordinate cross-team collaboration with MEL, Programs, and Communications to ensure consistency and alignment.
• Maintain an internal “knowledge hub” of key talking points, shared decks, engagement records, and tools.
• Contribute to development of B2P’s progress reports
• Document learnings, best practices and generate success stories
• In collaboration with the AMP team, maintain an up-to-date B2P Uganda’s website, social media platforms
• Lead planning and implementation of B2P Uganda’s visibility events
• Participate in team check-ins, quarterly OKRs, learning sessions, and retreats.
• Engage in continuous learning, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Provide support across the Advocacy, Marketing and Partnerships (AMP) department as needed with a collaborative and adaptable mindset.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, especially for high-level audiences
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Ability to track stakeholders
• Writing strategic memos
• Confidence in high-stake briefings
• Adaptability in ambiguous environments
• Expertise in developing communication and visibility materials

• 5–7 years of experience in evidence-based partner and stakeholder engagement, advocacy, knowledge management, policy, public affairs, or development-related work
• Experience working with governments, multilaterals, and donors
• Experience developing policy content, briefings, or research for decision-makers
• Exposure to infrastructure, climate, mobility, or rural development sectors
• Familiarity with national level stakeholders, government and development platforms and processes
• Experience with coalition engagement, private sector or national level policy platforms is a plus