Green Bankable Projects (BP) Originator World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Are you a dynamic, innovative and impact driven individual who would like to contribute to sustainable conservation through sustainable   investment  that delivers a green development future. Then you are the candidate that WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) is looking for. WWF is an International Non-Governmental Organization that deals with conservation of nature. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. WWF-Zambia Country Office (WWF-ZCO) is seeking to hire a competent and highly motivated Bankable Projects (BP) Originator for a new  project to catalyse private sector companies and producers to transition from unsustainable production to green and sustainable investments in Zambia with a focus on delivery of bankable projects in  the Kafue Flats in Zambia.

TERMS OF REFERENCE  

Position Title: ​ Green Bankable Projects (BP) Originator

Nature of Job: ​Full Time Job

Duration: ​ 1 year

Reports to: ​WWF Zambia Private Sector Engagement Manager

Location: ​ Lusaka, Zambia

ABOUT WWF  

The World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is the world’s leading independent conservation organization with a global network in over 100 countries. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. We have been working in Zambia since 1962 organizing our efforts across Freshwater, Wildlife, Forests and People.

BACKGROUND-DUTCH FUND FOR CLIMATE AND DEVELOPMENT 

Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to humanity in the 21st century. With notable shortfalls in funding  and a dominant focus on climate mitigation by global financing parties to date, Dutch development bank Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (“FMO”) has partnered with Climate Fund  Managers (“CFM”), Worldwide Fund for Nature Netherlands (“WWF”) and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (“SNV”) to manage the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD). The Netherlands based consortium will be led by FMO and (i) provide finance and Technical Assistance (TA) to projects with a focus on climate change adaptation; (ii) mobilize external private sector funding at scale; and (iii) align directly with DFCD Theory of Change (ToC). A substantial allocation of investments will be reserved for OECD DAC Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and other Netherlands development cooperation priority countries (collectively, ‘the focus countries’).

Investments made by the consortium parties will seek to improve the wellbeing, economic prospects and livelihoods of vulnerable groups – particularly women and children – and, enhance the health of critical ecosystems – from water basins to rivers, tropical rainforests, marshland and mangroves. The consortium’s activities will also help protect communities and cities from the increasing frequency of extreme weather events  and benefit depleting biodiversity in areas that provide people with water, food, medicine and economic opportunity. To achieve the DFCD mandate the consortium will be structured with three separate but operationally linked ‘Facilities’ each with a unique role across the project lifecycle; each with a unique thematic  sub-sector focus.

The Origination Facility (OF) will be managed by WWF-NL and SNV collectively. The OF is positioned exclusively for  project identification and (pre-)feasibility development activities with a cross DFCD thematic subsector focus. This  window will seek to leverage the landscape strategy for activity sourcing and develop opportunities into viable business cases for the other two investment facilities. The OF will provide grant funding and TA for its activities.

The Opportunity  

The Bankable Project Originator/ Expert will focus on developing green business propositions, catalyzing large scale green bankable projects that will contribute to a sustainable landscape vision  and plan. These would include innovative and concrete projects on climate-smart agriculture, sustainable water management, food security and ecosystem restoration solutions that deliver measurable economic, sustainable and environmental returns. These should contribute to climate resilient and inclusive developments in the landscapes where they are proposed. The role will support the WWF office in the process of identifying and securing the private sector to lead these projects.  This process has started. WWF facilitates public-private collaboration and attraction of investments that will scale up such climate action projects at the landscape level and attract investments both from investors within and outside of the landscape, while tackling the impacts of climate change. The Originator will also analyze business opportunities and existing bottlenecks and contribute to improving the enabling environment   to promote private sector investment in green technologies.

By identifying the right type of projects and supporting those through the process towards getting realized (incl. connecting to adequate funders), WWF helps to create a direct positive net impact on the river basins and forestry landscapes that these businesses depend on to make profit and thrive. This role will also lead the development of a green outcomes fund for Zambia that will support build a new generation of green smallholder producers and SMEs.  Eventually, via proven green investment, we hope to inspire others to take a similar approach to creating impact. Also, directing funding into improvements in basins and landscapes puts pressure on local authorities to improve the governance.

You’ll be reporting to the Corporate Engagement Manager in WWF Zambia and will closely coordinate with the DFCD team in WWF NL.

Role and responsibilities  

The main tasks of the BP Originator will include the following:

• Identify and secure the right type of green projects to promote at landscape level that contribute to the landscape finance and investment plan and vision
• Analyzing business opportunities and existing bottlenecks in order to promote private sector investment in green technologies
• Build relationships with Local business and secure a pipeline development in following sectors: water, environmental protection, forestry and agriculture aligned with DFCD mandate and WWF national strategies.
• Project management, incl. coordination, planning, implementation and reporting of DFCD projects.
• Build relationships and partner with relevant partner organisations in the financial, business and development finance sectors.
• Regularly monitor and report progress on implementation progress and collect data on indicators and results.
• Ensure the project is delivering results and contributing towards the objectives and strategies of DFCD
• Support local WWF office on project origination, engagement with investees, investors and other financial institutions.
• Training colleagues in conservation departments in the region on concepts of landscape finance and bankable projects.
• Provide WWF Zambia input into the freshwater, finance and markets practices
• Support development of business cases for conservation related bankable projects and enabling environment to secure support from   financial markets and financial sector players on green financial solutions
• Identify and lead efforts to secure collective actions by private sector to secure nature or water at catchment levels

Who are you?  

The BP Originator must bring a combination of project development and management experience; including experience in finance, investments or business corporate sustainability.

Qualifications, experience and competencies required: 

• Master’s degree in the field of Economics, Finance or Business
• Minimum 5 years of experience in business development, private sector finance and/or impact investment
• Strong local private and financial sector investments experience
• Strong financial and budgeting experience
• Fluent in English.
• Preferably experience with public donors

Desired Skills and Competencies  

• Analytical, strategic; sees the big picture
• Proven organizational, diplomatic and negotiating skills that yield positive results on the sustainability agenda, especially as it relates to the finance and business world
• Strong ability to lead the implementation of large-sized projects, including working with and coordinating funding partners, third parties and users
• Ability to work effectively as a team member with a wide range of individuals across cultures and time zones
• Independent worker, pro-active in thinking about opportunities to further improve the work
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• Experience of working in emerging markets is an asset
• Strong interest in nature conservation and the mission of WWF
• Prior experience in assessing financial institutions and climate risks would be an advantage