For more than 40 years, Action Education (formerly Aide et Action), an international development association through education, has ensured access to quality education for the most vulnerable and marginalized populations, particularly children, girls and women, so that everyone can take control of their own development and contribute to a more peaceful and sustainable world.
Missions
Reporting to the Regional Director of Operations, the Country Director contributes to the implementation of Action Education’s mandate and strategy in the country. They ensure the optimization of the quality and impact of activities in their country. More specifically, the Country Director is responsible for:
(i) Lead the Management Team
(ii) Coordinate the strategy and implementation of the program
(iii) Develop programs and new activities
(iv) Supervise financial management
(v) Managing personnel and organizational development
(vi) To ensure monitoring, evaluation and reporting
1. Main Responsibilities
RESPONSIBILITY 1: MANAGEMENT TEAM
He/She leads the operations of the national management team; participates effectively in management meetings to ensure the effective development, funding, and implementation of a financially sound and credible ACTEI program, both in field offices and at country headquarters; he/she is aware of issues relevant to the national management team and ensures that relevant reports and information are brought to the attention of team members; he/she maintains effective working relationships with all other members of the national management team to ensure effective coordination of all activities in support of the organization’s objectives; he/she ensures the adaptation, implementation, and ownership of all organizational policies, strategies, and procedures within the country.
RESPONSIBILITY 2: PROGRAM STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION
He/She directs the development and mid-term review of the country’s strategic plan; He/She directs the annual planning of the national program and ensures overall management and implementation to guarantee high-quality projects/programs; He/She ensures the updating of the country’s operational action plan to guarantee adaptation to changing circumstances and alignment with the regional strategic plan.
RESPONSIBILITY 3: PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND NEW ACTIVITIES
They are responsible for strategic engagement, building partnerships, and fundraising with businesses, national and international stakeholders involved in education and related issues in the country; they initiate project writing in response to various calls for proposals; they contribute to the implementation of regional and global fundraising strategies; they represent Action Education in various forums, stay informed of trends in the field of education, and promote the organization’s priority areas at the national level; they foster policy dialogue with key education stakeholders, which has an impact on long-term change; they maintain regular contact with partners and donors to keep them informed of progress and obtain feedback for continuous improvement; they develop and maintain excellent working relationships and strategic partnerships with relevant institutions and individuals in the country; and they contribute to donor mapping to identify potential donors who align with our programs.
RESPONSIBILITY 4: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
He/She directs the preparation of the country’s annual budget according to the following principles: 80% of the country’s budget for projects and 20% for general expenses (equalization costs), with the cost of human resources being less than 40%; He/She ensures the effective implementation of the budget within the framework of a coherent execution of programs; He/She signs purchases while ensuring that the best value for money is respected, as provided for in the purchasing policy.
RESPONSIBILITY 5: PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
He/She promotes a culture in the offices that reflects staff empowerment, matrix work supervision, a commitment to continuous innovation, high performance with a strong commitment and passion for Action Education’s vision, mission and core values, as well as a high degree of accountability; He/She leads, develops and motivates staff in a fluid working environment, demonstrating flexibility in direct reporting and functional lines, while ensuring that program results are achieved effectively; He/She orients new staff members in country and area offices to help them understand the national program and its activities, as appropriate; He/She facilitates knowledge exchange between countries, regions and international organizations; He/She participates in the recruitment and selection of staff in the country and areas, as appropriate; He/She is responsible for the administration of all staff hosted in the country.
RESPONSIBILITY 6: MONITORING – EVALUATION AND REPORTING
He/She regularly collaborates with regional function managers to review data and statistics to facilitate continuous improvement; He/She manages evaluations, ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources, timely implementation, timely reporting, and adherence to chosen evaluation processes; He/She prepares and/or revises and approves project and/or program reports for regional offices, donors, and governments.
Your profile
● Master’s degree (Bac + 5), Specialist in education, vocational training, international development
● Proven experience of at least 5 years in managing a national entity or operations department in an international NGO context.
● Proven experience in team management, organizational and strategic thinking
● Mastery of the country’s educational and political context
● Leadership and ability to influence
● Ability to take initiative and adapt to changing situations
● Strong interpersonal skills, active listening, availability, diplomacy, ability to work in a team, and writing skills
● Proficiency in computer skills
● Proficiency in French and English
Conditions
• Duration: Permanent contract
• Start date: April 15, 2026
• Location: Local post based in Cotonou (Benin)
How to apply
Send us your cover letter, CV and diplomas, specifying your salary expectations, to: aea.benin@action-education.org and indicating the reference BEN – DP022026
Application deadline: February 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM GMT
Please remember to include the reference number in the subject line of your email, as indicated, to allow your application to be processed. Only those selected for an interview will receive a response. Thank you for your understanding.