This position can be hybrid or office based in Kenya, Ethiopia, or Rwanda; WRI Africa Regional Office. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission. WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.
About the Program:
WRI is spearheading the African Cities Climate Resilience (ACCR) Project Accelerator to build resilience in African cities by promoting the use of community-led nature-based solutions (NbS) and integrated green-gray infrastructure. Using these strategies, cities can achieve resilience and conservation outcomes, for example: restore wetlands to reduce flood risk; clear invasive species to secure water supply; and, expand urban canopy and green space to combat extreme heat. Throughout our work, we ensure that NbS are designed to enhance community well-being and social equity. ACCR partners with cities in Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Africa, DRC, ROC, Burundi, and Ghana. WRI supports the partner cities in four main work streams: (a) identify and analyze climate risks and opportunities to integrate green and gray infrastructure, (b) design and implement socially inclusive and multisector project plans, (c) develop business cases and access financial resources, and (d) institutionalize NbS in city planning and policy. Taken together, these work streams help cities move ideas into plans and from plans into funded and implemented initiatives. The ACCR builds on the ongoing work of WRIโs Urban Water Resilience Initiative and Cities4Forests Initiative.
Job Highlight:
You will report to Director, Cities, WRI Africa
The Environmental Finance Lead, Africa Cities Climate Resilience Program, helps mobilize finance for climate-resilient, nature-positive urban initiatives by working with partners to move high-potential NbS projects from concept to transaction. The Environmental Finance Lead will provide engagement, technical analysis, and advisory support to develop financing strategies, policy solutions, and institutional arrangements necessary to advance NbS projects on the ground. You will collaborates with investors, donors, government agencies, NGOs, and communities across multiple countries in Africa.
What will you do:
Research and Program Management (70% of time):
- Work with partners to co-create financing strategies and investment frameworks for NbS projects
- Support project preparation by conducting or overseeing feasibility studies, financial analysis, policy analysis, or institutional analysis
- Work with partners to build policy actions, outline legal and regulatory frameworks, and standards to support development of bankable NbS/water and climate resilience projects
- Establish and grow existing partnerships with investors, donors, development and private sector banks, and funders
- Support partners to incorporate gender, social, and equity (GSE) into NbS financing / funding strategies
- Design and implement trainings and knowledge exchanges with key stakeholders with the support of local partners
- Conduct outreach and communications including authoring or co/authoring reports and articles, presenting at meetings and conferences, etc
- Collaborate across WRI programs and ensure linkages with WRI Africaโs New Climate Economy (NCE), AFR100, African Cities Water Adaptation Fund (ACWA), and Cities4Forests Initiatives
- Coordinate different WRI technical teams inputs and liaise with WRI global Urban water resilience and Cities4Forest teams
Fundraising and Operations (30%):
- Work with senior staff on the strategic development and management of the urban resilience and financing work in Africa
- Cultivate new project opportunities and prospective donors, and contribute to prepare funding proposals
- Liaise with internal staff and project stakeholders to problem solve and generate solutions to project implementation issues
What will you need:
- Education: You have a Masterโs degree in finance, public policy, economics, environmental management, or similar
- Experience: You have a minimum of 10 years of relevant, full-time work experience in the field of urban resilience, development finance, or sustainable infrastructure
- Subject matter expertise in at least one of these topics: urban climate resilience, water resilience, or nature-based solutions
- Demonstrated success in developing financing strategies and/or brokering deals for NbS or sustainable infrastructure projects (feasibility stage onwards)
- Experience leading early-stage project concepts to transaction
- Strong track record of engaging global funds and financial institutions such as the Global Climate Fund, Global Environmental Facility, World Bank, African Development Bank, or similar.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership management skills, particularly with cities and subnational governments
- Understanding of methods for ecosystem (or natural capital) valuation and natural infrastructure cost-benefit analysis
- Proven ability to drive sustainability outcomes across multiple countries across Sub-Saharan Africa
- Strong written and oral communication skills, particularly when it comes to communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences
- Experience consulting with public sector institutions, financial institutions, and/or private sector
- Willingness to travel 15-30% of the time
- Languages: Full fluency in English required and second language preferred
- Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization
Potential Salary: Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.
How to Apply: Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of November 27, 2023. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.
What we offer:
- A competitive salary
- Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
- The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
- A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
- The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
- Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours.
- Generous leave days that increase with tenure
About Us:
Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.
The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the worldโs greatest environment and international development challenges and improve peopleโs lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.
Our mission and values:
WRIโs mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earthโs environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.
Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence and Respect.
Our culture:
WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment; we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.
Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.