This position can be based in Addis Ababa, Kigali, or Nairobi. 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) Program, a major initiative to build urban resilience in African cities by promoting the use of nature-based solutions (NBS). ACCR will reduce climate-induced heat and water risks and shocks, boost social equality, and protect biodiversity by improving the health and coverage of ecosystems that provide resilience benefits to communities.

We provide:
1. Customized technical assistance and capacity building to city leaders and partners, for example including: – NBS opportunity identification and planning, utilizing cutting-edge geospatial analysis and technical feasibility analytic approaches;- – Gender, social inclusion and equity plans to maximize the benefits of NBS projects to vulnerable and marginalized communities; – Spearheading multisector partnerships that engage city leadership, civil society, business, government, communities, and researchers to move on large-scale NBS opportunities; – Business case development and financial strategies to unlock investment in NBS; -Plans to institutionalize NBS in city planning and development, including development of policy agendas, and the improvement of relevant regulations and incentives.
2. Proof of concept implementation projects, orchestrating and managing NBS implementation projects at the community and basin level in priority cities and attracting scaled finance for city-wide NBS deployment.
3. Regional peer learning, capacity building, and trends analysis to set enabling conditions in place and to prime a pipeline of NBS investment projects that utilize resilient NBS and green-gray infrastructure.
4. A regional workgroup of funds, facilities, and financial institutions that are keen to support and invest in NBS and green-gray infrastructure. We facilitate dialogue on NBS across projects and investors, and work to scale up resources for the ACCR cohort of projects.
We currently partner with cities in Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Africa, as well as cities in DRC, ROC, Burundi, and Ghana. This initiative builds on the ongoing work of WRI’s Urban Water Resilience Initiative and Cities4Forests Initiative. Cities4Forests is an alliance of 95 cities, representing more than 297 million residents, acting to conserve, restore and sustainably manage nature for human well-being. Cities4Forests supports local champions to influence policy, prepare projects, and unlock finance for nature across the world. The initiative has developed world-class guidance on NBS project preparation, social equity plans, and financial analysis approaches, and has piloted new financing models and institutional structures to advance NBS on the ground. It runs NBS project accelerators in three world regions. The WRI Urban Water Resilience initiative works with city stakeholders to help address their water risks and vulnerabilities through research, technical assistance, and capacity building to undertake strategic planning, identify place-based interventions, and secure funding and financing resources to implement solutions. It champions the Africa Cities Water Adaptation Platform, a partnership of 25 organizations dedicated to supporting cities to achieve water resilience. Together, these initiatives and teams bring ample experience in creating accessible, equitable, healthy, and resilient urban areas for people, businesses, and the environment. We work with governments, financial institutions, and civil society to ensure a climate-resilient future by harnessing the multiple benefits nature provides in and around cities.

Job Highlight:

The Senior Associate for Environmental Finance will lead the development of finance and funding strategies for climate resilience initiatives in 5+ priority cities across the ACCR Program. The Senior Associate will work with city stakeholders and WRI program leads to scope technical assistance, identify and manage partners, and prepare detailed analysis to advance projects towards investment. The position will conduct and/or oversee investment prioritization exercises, cost-benefit analysis, financial landscape analysis, identification of revenue generation opportunities, and the evaluation of a range of financing approaches. The Senior Associate will lead the team in mobilizing investment in resilient urban projects, frequently interfacing with potential investors and donors, advising financial structuring, and supporting governments and development partners to improve access to finance.

What will you do:

Research and Program Management (70% of time required):

• Provide technical support and advice to city officials and key partners to develop a pipeline of bankable NBS and green-gray infrastructure projects for urban resilience and to move projects from concept to transaction. This includes scoping feasibility studies, conducting cost-benefit assessments, and identifying suitable financing instruments
• Establish partnerships with African investors, donors, development and private sector banks, and funders to increase institutional awareness, improve policies / practices, and improve deal flow for green-gray infrastructure projects
• Partner with governments, utilities, and development institutions to build policy actions, legal and regulatory frameworks, standards to improve fiscal capacity of local institutions (local governments, utilities, basin authorities, banks etc.) to support development of bankable urban water and climate resilience projects
• Work with partners incorporate gender, social, and equity (GSE) into NBS financing / funding strategies
• Advise the development of monitoring and reporting systems corresponding to the NBS investment plans for each city
• Author/Co-Author knowledge products (e.g., reports, policy briefs, case studies) on best practices in improving financial sustainability of urban water resilience initiatives and interventions that have applicability for the African context
• Design, organize and implement trainings and knowledge exchanges (webinars, convenings etc. inviting the right stakeholders, donors, experts) to build awareness and capacity stakeholders in developing bankable urban water resilience initiatives
• Provide technical inputs and oversight to colleagues/partners/experts engaged to support city governments and ensure linkages with WRI Africa’s New Climate Economy (NCE), AFR100, African Cities Water Adaptation Fund (ACWA), and Cities4Forests Initiatives
• Conduct outreach and communications including presenting at internal/external meetings and conferences, co-authoring blog posts, and other activities

Fundraising and Operations (30% of time required):

• Work with senior staff on the strategic development and management of the urban resilience and financing work in Africa
• Develop relationships and manage multi-sector partnerships to produce project outcomes
• Support fundraising, including cultivating new project opportunities and prospective donors as well as preparing proposals
• Organize internal and external meetings, workshops, and other data gathering and research dissemination activities
• Liaise with internal staff and project stakeholders to problem solve and generate solutions to project implementation issues

What will you need:

• Education: Master’s degree in economics, finance, business administration, or similar
• Experience: Minimum of 10 years of relevant, full-time work experience in the field of urban resilience, infrastructure finance, or urban nature-based solutions
• Demonstrated success in developing financing strategies and/or brokering deals for environmental, water, or urban development projects
• Experience with ecosystem (or natural capital) valuation, natural infrastructure project analysis, and cost-benefit analysis
• Experience working with cities is an asset
• 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
• Full fluency in English required and second language

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 September 7, 2023. You mustapply 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 world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s 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:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s 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, 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.