Manager, Funding Partners Engagement

Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI); Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) seeks a Manager, Funding Partners Engagement to lead relationships with existing and prospective funding partners, drive proposal development, and ensure donor reporting aligns with AFI priorities.

The role involves coordinating with technical teams, translating member needs into fundable opportunities, and providing regular leadership updates on progress, risks, and opportunities.

Qualifications

• Degree requirement: minimum in related fields (Business Admin/Marketing/Comm/IR).
• 5–8 years of experience building relationships with funding partners/donors and delivering proposal-based priorities.

Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with funding partners, coordinating regular calls and updates to secure funding.
• Coordinate concept notes and full project proposals with technical teams to align with donor priorities.
• Coordinate donor reporting, timelines, and ensure compliance with AFI standards and contractual obligations.

Skills

Fundraising & Resource Mobilization

Concept Notes & Proposal Development

Troubleshooting & Problem Solving

Communication & Negotiation

Stakeholder & Partnership Management

Education

Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications or International Relations

Post graduate professional certification (advantage)

Job description

Manager, Funding Partners Engagement

Job Purpose

The Manager, Funding Partners Engagement is responsible for managing and engaging with existing and prospective funding partners by proactively building new opportunities and leading the development of project proposals, donor intelligence, and internal reporting, to ensure compliance with internal processes and strengthen long‑term financial sustainability.

Job Responsibilities / Accountabilities

Management of partners engagement

• Manage relationships and funding partners needs by coordinating regular calls and updates to ensure strategic communication, engagements in exploring and securing new funding opportunities.
• Develop and deliver progress reports; conduct landscape research; co review project reports; maintaining CRM contacts to ensure accuracy, quality, strategic relevance, and strengthened funding engagement deliverables.
• Provide regular updates to leadership to ensure time updates on progress, risks, opportunities and alignment with AFI priorities.

Coordination and development of concept notes and proposal

• Work closely with technical teams to develop concept notes that articulate AFI’s value proposition and potential areas of collaboration, and coordinate the development of full project proposals, to ensure alignment with donor priorities and AFI’s strategic objectives.
• Manage a member demand repository sourced from technical and regional teams by translating member needs into compelling project ideas for funders to ensure demands ar captured and converted into viable funding opportunities.
• Support internal discussions by identifying and prioritizing high interest potential donors and positioning AFI initiatives to ensure funding opportunities are maximized, aligned, and effectively secured.

Reporting

• Coordinate consolidated reporting by sharing periodic updates with the leader, inform project managers and technical leads of upcoming deadlines and expectations, and proposing realistic timelines for high‑quality donor reports, to ensure compliance with reporting requirements, strategic guidance, and timely delivery of accurate outputs.
• Work collaboratively with project managers and the Global Partnerships team to ensure reporting guidelines are institutionalized, understood, and consistently applied.
• Support quality control of funder reports by reviewing accuracy, consistency, and strategic relevance to ensure compliance with donor requirements, AFI standards, and contractual obligations.

Professional Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications or International Relations.
• Post graduate professional certification in related discipline is an advantage.
• Minimum of five (5) to eight (8) years’ experience in building and maintaining strong relationships with funding partners or donors and deliver proposal-based funders priorities and requirements.
• Successful track records in developing concept notes or proposals in compliance with donor requirements.

Technical Competencies

• Fundraising & Resource Mobilization
• Facilitate Concept Notes and Proposal Development
• Troubleshooting & Problem Solving
• Communication and Negotiation
• Stakeholder and Partnership Management

Behavioral Competencies

• Goal Commitment and Results Orientation
• Planning and Organizing
• Resourceful and Efficiency
• Proactive and Excellence Execution
• Foster Relationship and Engagement