Practical Action is a change-making organisation that works in unconventional ways. We put ingenious ideas to work so people in poverty can change their world.
We do things differently, so answers that start small can grow big, bringing people together in bold collaborations, using innovation and knowledge to build futures free from poverty and help shape a world that works better for everyone.
GDC last-mile distribution technical manager
About the role
Join the Global Distributors Collective (GDC) as our Last Mile Distribution Technical Manager.
Practical Action is an international development organisation putting ingenious ideas to work so people in poverty can change their world. For the past seven years, Practical Action has been hosting and building the Global Distributors Collective (GDC): a collective of 230 last-mile distribution companies that cumulatively reach millions of the poorest consumers in the world with beneficial products like solar lanterns, water filters, and improved cookstoves.
The GDC provides a collective voice for distributors to ensure their priorities are heard; drives research and innovation across the sector; facilitates the exchange of information, insight, and expertise; and provides critical services that leverage economies of scale.
The GDC’s 2022-25 strategy focuses on six key areas:
- Accelerating innovation, e.g., through our Replication Facility
- Building capacity, e.g., through information exchange, formal training for managers and agents, learning events, and mentoring programmes
- Helping members access products, suppliers, and services at affordable prices
- Helping members access finance and become investment-ready
- Undertaking market intelligence and research, e.g., by creating a performance benchmark for the last-mile distribution sector
- Engaging with members and advocating for their interests
As the GDC Last Mile Distribution Technical Manager, you will directly provide support across all of our programmatic areas and will have the scope to get more directly involved in areas of interest. In particular, you will work with the Head of the GDC to contribute towards the research, advocacy, and strategy of the Global Distributors Collective.
This will be a global role based either in one of our country offices in Kenya or Senegal. The final salary and benefits for this role are dependent on the country of base and job market conditions.
Are you passionate about driving inclusive business solutions in underserved markets? Practical Action is looking for a dynamic professional to help shape the future of last-mile distribution. You’ll contribute to global research, thought leadership, and advocacy for a network of over 200 distribution companies delivering life-changing products like solar lanterns and clean cookstoves. In this varied role, you’ll manage impactful projects, support fundraising and programme design, and engage with stakeholders worldwide. If you have experience in the sector, outstanding communication skills, and thrive in a remote team, we’d love to hear from you!
Accountabilities
The ideal candidate is someone who has experience in delivering projects, studies, and research pieces within the last-mile distribution sector and has experience in supporting the design of new programmes and writing fundraising bids. Ideally, they would also have first-hand experience running or working within a last-mile distribution company.
Person profile
To be successful in the role, the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following experience and knowledge:
- Master's in a relevant discipline or equivalent work experience
- Experience of living and working in markets in which last-mile distributors operate
- Experience in last-mile distribution, inclusive business, or energy access.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills across cultures and mediums, including proven technical writing and presentation/ communication/ advocacy skills.
- Experience in running research projects and writing technical research papers
- Excellent strategic and analytical thinking skills
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Business development experience, including preparing and writing funding proposals and winning work
- Willingness to get stuck in and get things done- we are a small team.
- Fluency in written and spoken English is essential
- Exceptional relationship management skills
- Ability to work independently, prioritise tasks effectively, and work well under pressure
Desirable
- Experience working with networks, membership organisations, or communities of practice
- Familiarity with project management approaches, tools, and phases of the project lifecycle
- Understanding of, or a willingness to learn about, gender dynamics within inclusive business
- An understanding of monitoring, learning, and evaluation in a development setting
- Fluency in French
Application information
Why join us?
Highly respected in the development world, Practical Action has been at the forefront of development thinking and practice for over 50 years. Our work regularly receives awards and recognition for innovation, collaboration and, most importantly, results – as measured by lasting change in people’s lives and livelihoods.
Put simply, to join Practical Action is to join one of the world’s most innovative and influential development teams. Go for it!
The opportunity to work for an organisation that is making a positive difference to the lives of people worldwide, a friendly and supportive culture, and working with values-driven and highly engaged colleagues are just some of the reasons we think Practical Action is a great place to work.
The successful applicant must have the pre-existing right to both live and work in the country from which they will be based (Kenya or Senegal).
Practical Action believes that having a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace culture based on respect will enable us to be an effective organisation. We seek to create an inclusive workplace in which people are accepted as individuals, regardless of their differences and where they feel their contribution is valued. Practical Action is an equal opportunities employer, and we encourage applications from under-represented groups.
We stay committed to cultivating an inclusive and diverse working environment and believe that people from different backgrounds or cultures give us different perspectives, and the more perspectives we have, the more successful we will be. By building a culture where everyone feels heard, respected, and valued we give everyone working with us the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Practical Action is committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults and as such candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks including criminal checks and terrorist financing.
Closing date for applications: 6th June 2025. Please note that should we recruit a suitable candidate before the closing date, we will close applications earlier than the specified date.
If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.
How to apply
If you want to work for a charity with significant people ambitions, then we would like to hear from you.
To apply, please submit:
- a copy of your CV (A maximum of 4 pages), and
- A supporting statement that includes your two writing samples.
- Two writing sample examples include a publication, a presentation, and a blog post (Note: the samples do not need to be work-related).
Please send your CV and supporting statement to recruitment@practicalaction.org.uk
Accounts and Administrative Assistant
About the role
We are looking for a dynamic personality to assist in managing all aspects related to accounts and payables for the India country office. The role is primarily responsible for monitoring and tracking all accounts and payables, assisting in formulating budgets, and supporting the preparation of statutory reports and monthly financial reports. S/he will also support in handling legal matters, ensuring compliance with statutory and internal regulations, and liaising with auditors for audit clearance.
About you
You have the willingness and enthusiasm to work in challenging and difficult situations and with vulnerable communities. You have experience in timely and accurate financial documentation and reporting, including the issuance of invoices and reconciliation of payables, and providing essential administrative support services, including logistics arrangements, stationery management, procurement coordination, and courier services, to ensure smooth day-to-day operations of the office.
Why join us?
The opportunity to work for an organisation that is making a positive difference to the lives of people worldwide, a friendly and supportive culture, working with values driven and highly engaged colleagues, work life balance and flexible working – these are just some of the reasons we think Practical Action is a great place to work.
About us
Practical Action exists to change the systems that keep people in poverty and vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, nature loss, and pollution. We work alongside communities to build resilient livelihoods and thriving, inclusive societies.
We treat all applications for employment fairly regardless of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, caste, tribe, belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, caring responsibilities, sexual orientation, or disability.
Practical Action is committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults, and as such, candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks, including criminal checks and terrorist financing.
To ensure that Practical Action meets its obligations of safer recruitment, appointment to posts within Practical Action will be subject to a satisfactory criminal check. Criminal checks will be conducted for all roles.
The successful applicant must already have the right to both live and work in India and should be willing and able to travel.
Closing date for applications: 7 June 2025
Submit a cover letter along with the duly filled standard application form to hr.india@practicalaction.org
Project Officer – Gender & Advocacy: CE4HOW
Practical Action is a global innovator, inspiring people to discover and adopt ingenious, practical ways to free themselves from poverty and disadvantage. With over 50 years of expertise, Practical Action has a strong heritage and track record of bringing communities and experts together to find practical, sustainable solutions to enable people to meet their needs, which work for both people and the planet.
We are committed to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment through all our work. This includes programmes, knowledge sharing, advocacy, external communications, and our own organisational development. At a minimum, we ensure that all our work is gender sensitive, seeking gender transformative approaches as our overall ambition and in accordance with the context.
The objective of the project is to create a commercially viable circular economy model for household organic waste that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, improves household waste services, and transforms the lives of informal waste workers.
Practical Action is looking for a Project Officer-Gender & Advocacy who will be responsible for gender mainstreaming and proactive advocacy support to the CE4HOW project. They will work with partners/stakeholders to ensure that gender equity principles are incorporated into all project activities, policies, plans, and budgets. They will plan, implement, and follow up on gender and advocacy-related activities and provide support to counterpart staff, partners, and other stakeholders on mainstreaming gender in their programs, policies, plans, budget, and activities, including the design and implementation of trainings on gender-related topics.
A detailed Job Profile can be accessed from the download section.
If you are ready for an exciting challenge with an organisation whose mission and values are particularly relevant in these rapidly changing times, please forward your application, curriculum vitae and cover letter to: Practical Action, Kenya Office by email: recruitment@practicalaction.or.ke no later than 20th June 2025 indicating ‘Practical Action: ‘Project Officer – Gender & Advocacy (CE4HOW)’ in the subject line of the email. Your cover letter should outline why you feel you are the right candidate for this position. Please include the names of 3 referees in your CV. All information/data given will be handled in the strictest confidence and will only be used for recruitment purposes.
Additional Information
Practical Action is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage applications from under-represented groups. We stay committed to cultivating an inclusive and diverse working environment and believe that people from different backgrounds or cultures give us different perspectives, and the more perspectives we have, the more successful we will be. By building a culture where everyone feels heard, respected, and valued, we give everyone working with us the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Practical Action is committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults, and as such, candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Call for Consultants – Practical Action Africa Consultants Network
Background
Practical Action is launching the Africa Consultants Network, a dynamic platform designed to connect qualified consultants with opportunities with Practical Action across Africa. This initiative aims to streamline consultant engagement, enhance expertise coverage, and foster long-term partnerships that align with Practical Action’s vision and programming needs. The network will serve as a readily accessible resource for Business Development teams, project managers, and other internal stakeholders to efficiently identify and engage expert consultants across various technical fields.
Objective of the call
The purpose of this call is to invite qualified individual consultants and consultancy firms to join the Africa Consultants Network. The network will provide Practical Action with access to specialized expertise in key areas, enabling effective project delivery, business development, and strategic impact.
Scope of consultancy
Selected consultants will be engaged on a project-by-project basis, aligned with Practical Action’s evolving needs. Priority will be given to individuals with proven expertise in the following key areas and demonstrated experience working within the Africa Region
- Climate Finance Resource Mobilization
- Climate Resilience (DRR, EWS, Adaptation, Mitigation)
- Market Systems Development
- Humanitarian-Development Nexus Programming
- Air Quality Management and GHG Emissions Calculation
- Carbon Market Programming
- Artificial Intelligence in Development Programming
- GEDSI
- Localisation And Locally Led Development
- Circular Economy in Waste Management
- Youth Engagement and Economic Empowerment
- Conducting feasibility studies for climate projects
Once engaged for a specific assignment, consultants will be expected to:
- Provide expertise in their respective fields to support business development, project design, and implementation.
- Conduct various assignments, including but not limited to studies, research, assessments, and evaluations as required.
- Deliver high-quality outputs in line with agreed deliverables and timelines.
- Collaborate effectively with Practical Action Africa teams and maintain professional standards.
Consultant qualifications and requirements
Consultants applying to join the network must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Proven expertise in one or more of the targeted sectors
- Strong understanding of the African context and demonstrated experience working in the targeted field in the Africa Region
- Skills in business development, project design, proposal writing and delivery.
- Previous experience with international organizations is preferred.
Selection and engagement
- Applications will be reviewed based on relevance, expertise, and alignment with Practical Action’s goals.
- Shortlisted candidates may be invited for interviews.
- Selected consultants will be added to the Africa Consultants Network and engaged as opportunities arise.
Application process
Interested consultants are invited to submit their applications by completing an online form by 30 June 2025.
Click on the following link to submit link to submit your application: https://forms.office.com/e/gmKpa3h8G2
For any inquiries, please contact info.africa@practicalaction.org
Practical Action is committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults, and as such, applicants will be subject to pre-engagement checks, including criminal checks and terrorist financing.
By joining the Africa Consultants Network, you become part of a dynamic community of experts driving impact across Africa. We look forward to working with you!
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