Head of Sustainability & ESG-Africa Private Credit

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Enko Capital

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London, United Kingdom

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Enko Capital Management LLP, an FCA-regulated investment firm, is part of the Enko Capital Group. Enko Capital is an elite, award-winning boutique asset management firm that focusses its investment strategies across the African continent. The group has offices and operations in London, Mauritius, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Rwanda. The group currently manages over $1.8 billion in debt, private debt, equity and private equity investments across the continent.


Enko is seeking an experienced Head of Sustainability & ESG to lead the design, implementation and continuous improvement of the Group’s environmental, social and governance management systems across the full investment lifecycle. This is a senior, high-impact role supporting Africa-focused private credit investments with a strong emphasis on sustainability, climate, job creation, gender equality and measurable development impact. Enko’s private credit strategy reached its first close in 2025 at $100 million and final close is early 2027. The fund is actively screening investments for deployment. The role is comprehensive in overseeing both initial screening and ongoing monitoring of investee companies.


The successful candidate will act as the Fund’s primary ESG and impact interface with Limited Partners, LPAC members, Development Finance Institutions, regulators and portfolio companies. They will play a central role in ensuring the Fund meets international ESG standards, delivers credible impact outcomes and differentiates its credit proposition in African private markets.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Lead ESG screening and assign independent environmental and social risk ratings for prospective investments, in line with IFC/DFI methodologies and the Fund’s ESGMS.
  • Assess alignment with the Fund’s impact objectives, including SDGs 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12, climate finance goals and 2X gender-lens investing criteria.
  • Identify exclusion-list issues, reputational risks and unmitigable ESG concerns early in the investment process.
  • Conduct ESG and impact due diligence on prospective borrowers, either directly or by managing specialist external consultants.
  • Produce ESG and impact risk findings for credit and investment memoranda presented to the Investment Committee.
  • Responsible for business integrity work in coordination with compliance, legal advisers and internal teams.
  • Develop Environmental & Social Action Plans, Climate Action Plans and 100-day ESG/impact integration plans for portfolio companies.
  • Ensure ESG clauses, ESAPs, climate commitments and impact targets are embedded in credit documentation and monitored throughout the investment period.
  • Design and maintain ESG and impact monitoring tools, dashboards and reporting processes across the portfolio.
  • Conduct or oversee ESG site visits, audits and remediation processes, including incident escalation and grievance mechanisms.
  • Prepare quarterly ESG and impact reports for internal management, LPs and LPAC meetings.
  • Lead ESG Sub-Committee engagement and present directly to the LPAC on ESG performance, incidents and impact outcomes.
  • Manage ESG-related DFI requirements, including questionnaires, site visits, covenant negotiations and ongoing reporting.
  • Advise on UNPRI, OPIM and other responsible investment frameworks, and benchmark the Fund’s ESGMS against evolving standards including IFC Performance Standards, TCFD/TNFD and IFRS S1/S2.
  • Train investment teams and portfolio company management on ESG integration, reporting obligations and sustainability best practice.
  • Coordinate technical assistance initiatives to strengthen portfolio company E&S systems, climate resilience and diversity practices.
  • Review and update range of ESG, impact, and business integrity policies and frameworks on an ongoing basis.


CANDIDATE PROFILE

A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree in sustainability, environmental management, finance or business is preferred. Relevant certifications such as GRI, SASB FSA, CFA ESG Investing Certificate or IFC sustainability training would be advantageous.


The ideal candidate will bring 10–15+ years of experience in ESG, sustainability, responsible investment or impact roles, including at least five years in private equity, private credit, DFIs or emerging markets finance.


You will have demonstrable experience conducting ESG and impact due diligence in Africa or other emerging/frontier markets, managing external consultants and engaging directly with DFIs, pension funds and impact investors. Experience preparing ESG reports for LPACs or similar governance bodies is highly desirable.


TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

Candidates should have strong knowledge of:

  • IFC Performance Standards and IFC Exclusion List
  • OPIM, UNPRI, GIIN/IRIS+ and 2X criteria
  • Climate and nature-related frameworks including TCFD/TNFD
  • ESAPs, Climate Action Plans and post-investment ESG integration
  • African environmental, labour, health and safety regulatory environments
  • ESG covenant design within private credit documentation


SKILLS

You will be an analytical, commercially minded ESG leader able to translate sustainability risks and impact opportunities into credit-relevant insights. Strong stakeholder management, excellent written and verbal communication, cultural fluency and willingness to travel across African markets are essential. Fluency in English is required; French language skills are a strong advantage.


This is a senior opportunity to shape ESG and impact strategy for a growing Africa-focused private credit platform and engage directly with leading DFIs, LPs and portfolio companies.


COMPENSATION

  • Highly competitive base salary
  • Discretionary bonus
  • Carried interest
  • Private medical, dental, vision


DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Minority and women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Enko has achieved a highly respected position within the asset management industry for the diversity of the team (90% of Enko's team are minority and 47% are women). Enko’s policy on diversity and inclusion: “Enko endeavours to recruit and retain from the broadest pool of qualified candidates. Employment opportunities are open and accessible to all. While primary evaluations are based on skills, education, experience, qualifications, and aptitude, Enko highly values candidates with demonstrable connection to, interest in, knowledge of, and passion for Africa.”


Interested candidates should submit a 1-page CV through LinkedIn. Please do not contact Enko directly. Candidates contacting Enko directly will be disqualified from further consideration. Qualified candidates will be contacted for further discussions.