How to apply for Chief Financial Officer, The AI Access Initiative

About Evidence Action

Evidence Action scales cost-effective, evidence-based programs that reduce poverty for millions across Africa and Asia. The AI Access Initiative (2AI) is incubated there and focuses on scaling AI-enabled programs in agriculture and health for people in low- and middle-income countries. It is led by former Evidence Action CEO Kanika Bahl and advised by Nobel Laureate Michael Kremer and Dario Amodei.

About the role

This chief financial officer role builds and runs the financial infrastructure for a new organization scaling AI programs in LMICs. You will set up budgeting, reporting, compliance, and financial controls while the portfolio expands from two programs to more. The work directly supports getting AI benefits to billions of people in poverty.

A typical day

A typical day may involve setting up budgeting and reporting processes, meeting with program leads on AI in Agriculture and AI in Health, and preparing financial updates for leadership and advisors. The exact routine depends on how 2AI is structured within Evidence Action, so ask about team setup, reporting lines, and existing systems during interviews.

Who Evidence Action is looking for

• Has served as a CFO or senior finance leader at a nonprofit, foundation, or mission-driven organization, ideally with international operations in Africa or Asia.
• Has built finance functions from scratch, including budgeting, forecasting, audit, compliance, and grant or donor reporting.
• Understands restricted funding, multi-currency operations, and compliance requirements for US-based nonprofits operating abroad.
• Can work with program teams on AI in agriculture and health and translate financial data into decisions for a growing portfolio.
• Is comfortable with remote work and with the ambiguity of an incubated organization that is still scaling.

Tips for this application

• Reference the two initial program areas, AI in Agriculture and AI in Health, and explain how your finance experience fits a portfolio that is expected to expand.
• Name specific funding models you have managed, such as restricted grants, multi-year donor agreements, or multi-currency budgets.
• Mention Evidence Action's cost-effectiveness and evidence-based approach, and connect it to how you would build 2AI's financial systems.
• Note that 2AI is incubated at Evidence Action and led by Kanika Bahl; show you understand the difference between a new initiative and a standalone organization.
• Avoid generic nonprofit finance language. Describe concrete systems, controls, or reporting processes you have built.

What to cover in your cover letter

Explain why you want to build finance operations for a new AI-for-development organization rather than join an established one. Describe your experience with restricted funding and compliance for international programs. Show how you would support two initial programs while preparing for a larger portfolio. Connect your financial leadership to the goal of reaching people in poverty in LMICs.

Research before applying

• Read Evidence Action's website to understand its cost-effectiveness and evidence-based approach and how 2AI fits within it.
• Research Kanika Bahl's background, including her role as a founding member of Anthropic's Long-Term Benefit Trust.
• Look into Michael Kremer's work and Dario Amodei's public statements on AI and global development.
• Find public information on AI in Agriculture and AI in Health programs in LMICs to understand the program context.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you build the finance function for an incubated organization that expects its portfolio to expand substantially?
• What is your experience with restricted grants, multi-currency accounting, and compliance for US nonprofits operating in Africa and Asia?
• How would you budget for AI in Agriculture and AI in Health programs, where costs and timelines may be uncertain?
• How do you work with program leaders and researchers who may not have finance backgrounds?
• What financial controls and reporting would you put in place in the first six months?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating this as a standard CFO role at an established nonprofit instead of a build role at an incubated initiative.
• Ignoring the AI and LMIC context and writing only about general financial management.
• Assuming the organizational structure, team, or daily routine without asking about it, since those details are not provided.