Innovation Fellow, GOTF

Scope of Work

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the identification and framing of priority modernisation challenges with GOTF anchor utilities (KPLC, AEDC, ESCOM) and regional partners, translating utility priorities into targeted innovation opportunities.
• Support innovation scouting across African and international markets, including ecosystem outreach, technical due diligence, expert evaluation, and cohort selection.
• Coordinate the design and mobilisation of pilots with anchor DisCos and other partner utilities, including implementation coordination, field engagement, and user testing.
• Apply structured monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks to generate technical, operational, financial, and development evidence from pilots.
• Support the connection of validated innovators to philanthropic, blended, and commercial capital, working with venture partners, and development finance institutions.
• Coordinate ecosystem partnerships across innovation platforms, funders, regulators and industry stakeholders, including proposal development, MoU coordination, and joint workplan management.
• Contribute to knowledge products including case studies, playbooks, whitepapers, and regulatory or policy engagement materials.
• Support the day-to-day running of the Innovation workstream, including reporting to GEA leadership, coordination with the wider GOTF Africa team, and cross-linkage with adjacent programmes (BESS Consortium, IMG/DRE, M300/CDMU).

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Economics, Business, Public Policy, or a related discipline; Master's degree an added advantage.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in the power sector, climate innovation, utility engagement, venture support, or programme management.
• Working knowledge of grid modernisation, distributed renewable energy, battery energy storage, interconnected mini-grids, digital utility systems, and productive-use technologies.
• Experience with utility partnerships, innovation programmes, or climate-tech ecosystems; direct exposure to African markets strongly preferred.
• Track record of stakeholder engagement across utilities, regulators, technology providers, and investors.

Key Skills:

• Structured problem-solving with the ability to distil complex inputs into decision-ready materials.
• Programme and stakeholder management in multi-partner environments.
• Analytical mindset with a data-driven approach to pilot design and evaluation.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including briefing notes, concept papers, and executive-level materials.
• Comfort operating in the foundational period of a new workstream, with initiative and follow-through.

Success Metrics (KPIs):

• Innovation cohorts identified, selected, and supported through the pathway.
• Pilots launched with GOTF anchor utilities against agreed milestones.
• Follow-on capital mobilised into validated innovators.
• Strength of ecosystem and utility partnerships activated and sustained.
• Evidence products (case studies, playbooks, whitepapers) delivered and disseminated.