Business Development Manager SWANA

CONFIDENTIAL – INTERNAL VACANCY ONLY

Scope: Southwest Asia and North Africa
Hours: Full time
Reports to:  Head of Business Development
Team: Business Development
Location: Any Hivos office in SWANA
Indicative grade: TUN:,12

About the role

The Business Development Manager plays a key role in advancing Hivos’ strategic funding and partnership ambitions under the Ten for Ten strategy. The role focuses on identifying, shaping, and securing institutional funding and strategic partnerships that enable Hivos to deliver complex, multi-country and multi-actor programs aligned with its mission to defend and expand civil and political rights.

Operating within a functional, globally dispersed business development model, the role combines market and contextual intelligence, relationship-building, and coordinated proposal development. It requires close collaboration with program, finance, and support functions to translate strategic priorities into high-quality, fundable opportunities that are operationally feasible, compliant, and aligned with Hivos’ values and power-shifting approach.

Depending on the specific focus of the position, the role emphasizes either deep regional and contextual knowledge or the orchestration of complex, cross-regional design processes. Across all variants, the position contributes to both short-term fundraising results and longer-term positioning of Hivos within priority donor, foundation, and partnership ecosystems.

The Business Development Manager (SWANA Market Focus) supports Hivos’ funding and partnership ambitions in Southwest Asia and North Africa. The role is rooted in strong contextual understanding and operates within Hivos’ functional, globally dispersed business development model.

Purpose of the role

To coordinate context-informed business development and donor engagement processes in the SWANA region, contributing to a strong and risk-aware funding pipeline.

Key responsibilities

• Track donor and foundation opportunities relevant to SWANA contexts and Hivos’ priorities.


• Coordinate donor engagement and proposal development processes for the region.


• Contribute contextual analysis to program design, partner selection, and risk assessment.


• Coordinate inputs from internal teams to ensure proposals are compliant, fundable, and context appropriate.


• Support and maintain relationships with donors, foundations, and peer organizations active in the region.

Role-specific focus

This role requires strong knowledge of political, civic space, and security dynamics in SWANA, familiarity with local civil society ecosystems, and awareness of context-specific risks and constraints. It draws on established or developing networks in priority SWANA countries and the ability to translate local realities into credible funding opportunities.

Skills and competencies

• Strong contextual and political sensitivity.


• Ability to assess and navigate risk in complex environments.


• Experience coordinating donor-facing processes.


• Strong collaboration and communication skills.


• Fluent in English, French and Arabic.

Education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.


• 3–7 years of relevant experience in business development, fundraising, or program development for the SWANA region.


• Experience engaging with institutional donors and/or foundations.

How to apply

Please submit a cover letter (maximum 1 page) and CV (maximum 2 pages) as soon as possible by clicking the ‘Apply here’ button. Applications are being received until February 3rd 2026 midnight UTC.