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Chief Investment Officer (CIO), accelerate prosperity astana

Title: Chief Investment Officer (CIO), Accelerate Prosperity (AP) Astana

Location: Astana (preferred). The CIO can also be based in Dushanbe, Bishkek or Tashkent with regular travels around the region.

Reporting Line: Fund Manager, AP Astana, on investment portfolio management to AP Global CIO.

1. BACKGROUND

Accelerate Prosperity (AP) is a global initiative which offers blended financial solutions and pre/post financing technical assistance to help entrepreneurs start new businesses and grow early-stage businesses. AP envisions an inclusive and prosperous society that is powered by entrepreneurs. Its mission is to inspire rising entrepreneurs in emerging regions to grow new markets, create sustainable employment and strengthen communities. It pursues its mission by providing pre and post financing technical assistance and tailored financing and investments to select startups, small and growing businesses, that enables them to start or grow their business ventures while contributing towards important development challenges in the target countries. Since its inception in 2017, it has expanded its activities and operations to Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Afghanistan and recently to Syria and Uzbekistan where it has started working through local partners.

AP is currently in a process of setting up “AP Astana” under Astana International Finance Centre (AIFC) in Kazakhstan, a startup investment fund being created in partnership with FCDO under the Green Inclusive Growth Fund (GIG) programme. AP Astana will operate as a regional investment facility that extends tailored financing instruments up to USD500k per business to select startups, small and growing businesses from Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. It will operate as a specialised investment entity with a lean structure, a strong post investment value creation mandate, and rigorous governance and reporting standards required by AP’s governance and aligned with AIFC regulations.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION

The Chief Investment Officer (CIO) will lead the investment and risk function, ensuring quality, compliance, and strategic alignment of all investment activities. As a senior member of AP Astana, the CIO will be responsible for sourcing, structuring, and monitoring investments into early-stage businesses, aligning with AP’s mission to catalyse entrepreneurship and economic development. Additionally, the CIO will also be responsible for achieving successful exits from various investments, manage investment risk throughout the investment lifecycle in line with AP policies and established frameworks. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of development and venture capital, with a strong focus on impact investing and inclusive growth.

The CIO will report to the Fund Manager on all investment activities, business planning, partnerships with financial institutions and associated day to day matters and overall performance. He/she will also report to the AP Global CIO on investment portfolio management, progress and quality related matters and participate in global meetings and initiatives.

The CIO will work in close coordination with a wide array of internal and external stakeholders to accomplish these objectives. She/he will be required to travel frequently to all target areas of AP Astana, mainly Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan as and when required and needed.

3. SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Investment Strategy & Execution

  • Lead the development and implementation of the investment strategy, in line with the AP Astana’s financial model, investment policy and strategy.
  • Identify and assess high-potential startups and SGBs for investment readiness.
  • Oversee investment pipeline development, ensuring alignment with sectoral and geographic priorities. Develop the required coordination and partnerships with the pipeline development institutions, including AP’s existing country units and their partners, to generate a sizeable pool of investment ready pipeline.

Due Diligence & Deal Structuring

  • Lead financial modelling, business analysis, and investment memorandum preparation for shortlisted investees. Ensure that the potential investees fall within the:
  1. Approved ticket sizes (up to USD 500k).
  2. Sector focus (technology based and enabled ventures).
  3. Geographic mandate.
  4. Parameters defined by the investment policy, environmental and social risk management frameworks, and results framework mutually agreed with the funding partner(s).
  • Coordinate and lead due diligence on the potential investees, including background and integrity checks, business, financial, legal and compliance checks etc.
  • Support legal counsel in structuring deals and drafting investment agreements and term sheets, ensuring compliance with all applicable policies, statutory and donor regulations.  
  • Defend investment cases in the board level investment committees, address their questions and concerns.
  • Work closely with the CFO of AP Astana to ensure timely disbursements. Overseeing investment drawdowns and disbursements and ensure milestone linked capital deployment where applicable. Maintain deployment discipline in line with the fund strategy pursued by AP Astana.
  • Structure partnerships with existing startup investment funds, venture capital, private equity, DFIs and the associated syndicates not only to source investment pipeline but also harness co-investments for AP’s potential/ existing investees primarily at the deal flow level, both when AP Astana is leading the investment round or intends to be one of the minority sources of investments. Building regional and international investor networks in order to achieve this ambition.

Portfolio & Risk Management

  • Monitor the overall performance of the investment portfolio and ensuring timely repayments.
  • Assist portfolio companies in raising the next round of sizeable investment leading to a successful exit for AP Astana.
  • Provide and/ or facilitate post-investment support to businesses, including mentorship, advisory, facilitation of market linkages etc. Ensure the integration of fund level post investment TA tools, including digital and AI enabled advisory and data management systems.
  • Ensure strong governance and financial management practices at investee level.
  • Proactively manage risks through strong internal controls and compliance with investment governance framework. Implement and align activities with the AP’s risk management framework.
  • Restructure/ refinance businesses as and when necessary subject to the approval of the Investment Committees.

Governance Reporting and Stakeholder Engagement

  • Ensure timely reporting on overall investment performance to the investment committees (local and global with the global CIO).
  • Liaise with the risk/ investment committees, providing timely and strategic investment recommendations.
  • Support donor/financier coordination and reporting requirements related to investments.
  • Represent the investment facility in investor forums, networking events, and partnership development opportunities.

4. Required Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

  • Senior‑level experience (8+ years) in venture capital (VC, private equity (PE), or impact investing (II), with significant experience in effectively managing fundamental fund metrics and KPIs.
  • Proven track record (8+ years) in managing a diverse portfolio of investments (min. > £15m) especially constituting pre-seed, seed stage investments and the associated analysis/ fund metrics for VC, PE or II.
  • Strong understanding of the market dynamics and opportunities in Central Asia especially early‑stage technology or enabled businesses and merging market investment risks.
  • Senior experience (5 years) in fund governance and regulatory compliance, especially demonstrating knowledge of the AIFC rules and requirements, and preferably in reasonable understanding of the regulatory ecosystem around startups in most of the target countries – Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan.
  • Expert in written and spoken English and Russian.

Desirable:

  • International exposure in education and/or work experience in a similar industry
  • Professional qualifications and certifications such as CFA, ACCA, FMVA or equivalent in investment banking sector are highly desirable.
  • Experience with AIFC or similar financial centres
  • Exposure to development sector, its funding streams and modalities
  • Background in development finance or blended finance
  • Strong network of regional and international investors
  • Expert level written and verbal communication skills in English and Russian. Expertise in at least one of the local languages in Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan and/or Kazakhstan.

5. Nature of Engagement

  • Full time executive position, with the initial probation period of 3 months, extendable subject to performance review.
  • Performance linked remuneration and incentives (as per AP policy)

8. Term & Review

  • Initial appointment subject to a defined term
  • Annual performance review linked to fund KPIs
  • AP Astana is still under process of incorporation. Therefore, the contract offer to the selected candidate for this position is subject to the completion of the intended incorporation process.

AP offers a competitive remuneration package and conducive working environment. We are an equal opportunity employer – women are encouraged to apply.  

 

Interested candidates should submit their cover letter (one page), CV (two page) with a subject line “Chief Investment Officer” by 1st May, 2026 to the email address: hr@accelerateprosperity.org   

 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited for interviews.  

 

Accelerate Prosperity (AP) is committed to safeguarding, which means it promotes respectful relations with and between all staff, associates, beneficiaries and wider communities with whom it works, and takes all reasonable measures to prevent harm, including all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment (PSEAH), bullying, discrimination, harassment and abuse of power that may arise from contact with its staff, programmes or operations. AP also adheres to child safeguarding principles, as set out by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

 

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s), employment history and any potential history of misconduct. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a full background check. 

 

By sharing their cover letter and resume with AP in response to this job application, applicants consent for AP to keep this information on file for recruitment and human resources management purposes.

 
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