The British High Commission in Kigali is recruiting a Policy, Programme and Partnership Manager for Strategic Partnerships and Innovation. The post shapes the UK’s innovation, science and technology work in Rwanda, with a focus on artificial intelligence, and manages partnerships between UK and Rwandan public institutions. It suits policy and programme professionals with a strong interest in technology who can legally live and work in Rwanda.
At a glance
- Duty station: British High Commission, Kigali, Rwanda
- Grade and type: Higher Executive Officer (HEO), permanent, locally employed; start date 4 January 2027
- Pay: RWF 2,911,559 a month (base salary, before tax and statutory deductions)
- Reference: 27693
- Deadline: Thursday 5 November 2026 (the advert gives no time; we show 11:59 PM EAT, so apply earlier)
About the role
The postholder sets the direction of the High Commission’s strategic partnerships and innovation agenda. Most of the time goes to innovation, science and technology, including analysis of Rwanda’s innovation ecosystem and the innovation part of the High Commission’s programme. The rest covers institutional partnerships such as HMRC with the Rwanda Revenue Authority and the Office for National Statistics with the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, and programme management under FCDO rules. There is no line management, and programme spending is expected to be under £500,000 a year.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the High Commission’s innovation, science and technology work, including technology and AI
- Analyse Rwanda’s innovation ecosystem and turn the findings into policy advice, briefings and activities
- Drive the innovation component of the High Commission’s programme portfolio
- Manage UK–Rwanda institutional partnerships, including those with the revenue authority, the statistics institute and the auditor general, and broker new ones
- Manage the peer-to-peer partnership, programme-funded post and innovation components under the FCDO Programme Operating Framework: finance, forecasts, risk, value for money and results
- Build stakeholder networks, convene partners and contribute to wider High Commission priorities
Qualifications and experience
- Strong analytical and policy skills, able to turn complex issues into practical recommendations
- A record of building relationships and influencing across government, business, academia, civil society or international organisations
- A strong interest in innovation, science and technology, including AI, and their role in development
- Project or programme management experience, including budgets, risks and results
- Clear writing and speaking for senior audiences
- Desirable: experience in digital transformation or AI policy, knowledge of Rwanda’s innovation ecosystem, and Kinyarwanda or French
How to apply
Apply only through the FCDO recruitment site (tal.net) by Thursday 5 November 2026; applications sent any other way are not received. Applicants must already have, or be eligible for, the right to live and work in Rwanda, and the successful candidate arranges and pays for any permit and relocation. Applications are assessed against the Civil Service Success Profiles, must be your own work, and are subject to reference and security checks. The High Commission never charges fees at any stage.
Source: FCDO vacancy page. The British High Commission in Kigali represents the UK government in Rwanda and is part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.