Graduate Trainee – Partnerships & Business Development

Fresh Life is founding partner of The Sanergy Collaborative and an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to transforming urban sanitation in fast growing cities in Africa. Operating in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Eldoret, and Lusaka, Zambia, we provide non-sewered, end-to-end sanitation solutions that ensure urban residents living in informal settlements can access dignified sanitation services. Our work is aligned to SDG 6 and we partner with the government to develop and deliver safe sanitation and waste management for urban residents.

The Graduate Trainee will support the Fundraising team in identifying funding opportunities, developing proposals, coordinating donor engagement activities, and maintaining grant and donor information. The role is designed to provide practical experience in fundraising, grant management, and resource mobilization while contributing to the organization’s sustainability and growth.

1. Remain abreast of funders’ trends, build organizational understanding of new funders and contribute information for prioritization of funding opportunities.
2. Generate leads, identify co-funding partners, analyze opportunities, pitch ideas and develop internal stakeholder buy-in to go after opportunities.
3. Craft strong business rationale and a tailored message to partners and funders.
4. Support the entire proposal development process for identified funding opportunities, working closely with the fundraising, Operational and Finance teams to develop high quality funding applications. This includes developing narrative, budgets, log frames and theory of change in accordance with funder guidelines.
5. Gather information from Operational teams, prepare narrative reporting and liaise with partners with regular high quality updates. Ensure reporting requirements for all funders are met and reports are completed to deadlines.
6. Organize and lead site visits with funders.
7. Expertly speak on behalf of the organization to funders and visitors.
8. Support other areas of business development as required in the organizational strategy, especially to improve business development tools and impact reporting.

1. Bachelor’s degree in project management, community development, sanitation, social sciences or any related field.
2. Graduated within the last two years
3. Previous internship or volunteer experience in fundraising, business development, proposal writing, or nonprofit work is an added advantage.
4. Excellent external communication and writing skills.
5. Highly organized team player, with pro-active and flexible work style.
6. Demonstrated understanding of and experience in international development or the social sector more broadly. Knowledge of the sanitation sector is a plus.