Wikimedia Foundation Seeks Senior Program Officer, Sub-Saharan Africa: Remote Opportunity | Apply Now

Overview

The Wikimedia Foundation is seeking a Senior Program Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa to join its Community Resources team. This role supports funding programmes and strengthens relationships with volunteer contributors, affiliates, and organisations across the region. Responsibilities include managing regional grant portfolios, supporting participatory funding decisions, building partnerships, and helping community organisations develop their operational capacity.

Who can apply

This position is open to professionals with experience in trust-based philanthropy, international grantmaking, community engagement, nonprofit development, and strategic programme management. Applicants must be based in an approved hiring country within Sub-Saharan Africa. The Wikimedia Foundation currently lists Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa as eligible locations in the region. Candidates based in Zimbabwe are not eligible under the current hiring list.

Requirements

Candidates are required to have a background in international grantmaking, trust-based philanthropy, or community-based grantmaking, alongside experience with participatory decision-making structures. Applicants must demonstrate expertise in nonprofit capacity building as a leader, funder, or consultant, as well as strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving, and project management abilities. The role requires excellent written and spoken English, effective public communication skills, strong facilitation and negotiation capabilities, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and a global perspective gained through international work or living experience. Additional advantages include experience with online communities or the free knowledge movement, familiarity with Wikipedia or Wikimedia projects, and knowledge of languages other than English.