World Resources Institute Careers

Activity 1: Identify, develop and harmonize datasets for spatial analysis and validating maps

• Identify data needs and develop a list of data required for the baseline assessment, restoration opportunity mapping and scenario development  
• Validate existing baseline data and their fit for scenario modelling
• Define land degradation in GRV context and identify the key drivers of land degradation (e.g. population growth, overexploitation of resources, increased food demand, climate change, etc.) and associated geospatial layers  
• Develop a spatial database of all collected data and results from spatial analysis, including LULUC data, soil degradation hotspots, water stress map, etc.  
• Validate produced data with WRI technical team, to verify the maps and spatial analyses produced and to determine accuracy levels.  

Activity 2: Develop BAU scenario and future projections  

• Assess and identify suitable method(s) for LULUC, scenario modelling and impact assessment in the landscape  
• Develop an empirical model between LULUC and drivers of degradation  
• Produce a future projection of the LULUC, land degradation and biophysical impacts by 2030 using BAU  
• Assess the change of ecosystem services in the degradation BAU to make a case for restoration  
• Validate produced maps with WRI technical team, to verify the maps and spatial analyses produced and to determine accuracy levels.  

Activity 3: Collect primary socioeconomic data for establishing the baseline and submit preliminary draft report on agronomic and restoration practices for food  

• Validate the data collection methods and protocols with WRI technical team.
• Lead field data collection activities for establishing a socioeconomic baseline in the current situation of land degradation, based on the socioeconomic data collection method and sample protocol developed by WRI technical team; the survey instrument and sample frame will be provided by WRI, while communities within the established frame are to be selected and engaged by the consultant.  
• Responsible for day-to-day management of the enumerators and carrying out household survey to collect disaggregated primary data from a total number of 2000 households in selected geographies. This comprises all hiring and logistic support as required, including providing tablets for data collection.  
• Submit raw data from primary household survey to WRI technical team for analyzing the causality between land degradation and socioeconomic impacts in terms of food insecurity, poverty, labor productivity and household income in the GRV, with a particular focus on historically marginalized and vulnerable communities.  
• Submit preliminary draft report on best bet practices for integrating food in restoration.  

Activity 4: Restoration opportunity mapping in GRV  

• Develop maps showing land degradation hotspots and restoration opportunities areas; learning from the scenario modelling.  
• Develop restoration priority maps in close consultation with WRI technical team, to determine priority areas (and restoration interventions) for specific restoration outcomes, such as water security, food security, carbon sequestration.  
• Develop an inventory of suitable restoration interventions for the intended restoration outcomes in identified priority areas and their associated costs.  

Activity 5: Data analysis and drafting technical report  

• Produce summary statistics to synthesize key insights from initial analysis of the biophysical and socioeconomic datasets, including trends on the trends of degradation, affected areas, impacts on land productivity, water resources, food security, income and other livelihoods, and draw recommendations on priority areas for restoration, suitable and cost-effective restoration interventions, expected improvement of ecosystem services, etc.
• Draft a summary report of the designated research, which should include, but not limited to, the model description, key assumptions, data used, as well as the findings of the analysis.  
• Provide technical backstopping support and technical guidance to ensure the database is appropriately installed in the GRV infrastructure and regular database updates are planned.  
• Contribute to the progress report of the project that is currently being developed by the WRI core team  

Activity 6: Engage in technical discussions and support other project staff as needed  

• Make recommendations for replicating the research and methodology in other anchor landscape  

Coordinate Outcome-Based Buyer Engagement in Three Restore Local Landscapes (65%):

• Lead Restore Local’s engagements with outcome buyers (government, private sector, investors, land owners, civil society, funders) in the Ghana Cocoa Belt, Lake Kivu Rusizi River Basin, and Kenya’s Great Rift Valley landscapes
• Develop and implement outcome buyer relationship management approach, based on WRI existing data and team coordination platforms (Asana, Airtable, Slack), working closely with WRI data teams and the Restore Local Invest team
• Map potential outcome-based payers in landscapes/with interest in landscapes, in close collaboration with the teams based in these landscapes (government, private sector, investors, land owners, civil society, funders)
• Work in close collaboration with WRI Invest, Monitor, Motivate and Enable teams to develop inspiring, data rich, context specific communication and engagement materials and strategies for the landscapes per investor category
• Build and maintain relationships with potential outcome payers, and scope viability of convening outcome buyer alliances in each landscape
• Facilitate negotiations and agreements between restoration champions and outcome buyers, ensuring transparency, compliance, and shared value for all parties involved
• Coordinate monitoring and verification activities and communications for outcome-based projects, leveraging TerraMatch and other tools to track progress and demonstrate impact to investors

Coordinate Restore Local monitoring for adaptive management and Support Funder Mobilization and Engagements (35%):

• Support completion of WRI’s monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks, ensuring the project theory of change in each landscape is clear, with realistic indicators set that can drive adaptive management of the Restore Local work
• Support convening of annual learning and planning team meetings
• Develop proposals and business cases for new restoration projects and financial mechanisms that align with funder priorities and the Global Restoration Initiative’s goals
• Support engagement with donors and investors to communicate project impacts, lessons learned, and future funding needs, maintaining WRI’s reputation as a reliable partner in restoration finance.

What will you need:

• Education: You have completed a bachelor’s degree in finance, public policy, economics, environmental management, or a similar field. Relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted.
• Experience: You have 7+ years of full-time relevant work experience in the field of sustainable private sector development, conservation finance, nature-based solutions or climate change resilience
• Demonstrated success in developing financing partnerships and strategies or brokering deals for environmental projects in Africa
• Experience with fundraising
• Demonstrated success in convening stakeholders from multiple backgrounds with diverse interests around a shared vision
• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary and intercultural team
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills, with experience communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences
• Willing and able to travel frequently regionally and internationally
• Languages: Written and spoken proficiency in English, with French skills desirable
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.

Specific tasks

• Lead in defining what green jobs entail (primary, secondary and tertiary) in circular economy for food and the metrics for measuring and tracking them with a lens on regenerative agriculture, food loss and waste, productive use of waste and productive use of renewable energy. 
• Conduct a scoping analysis of potential pathways for creation of green jobs for young women in circular economy for food focusing on regenerative agriculture, food loss and waste, productive use of waste, and the application of productive use of energy across the aforementioned areas.
• Conduct a scoping analysis to provide granular level statistics of the sectors, value chains, and landscapes producing green jobs including the type of jobs, relative numbers and stratification by gender, skills, and capabilities. 
• Analyse the potential gaps and opportunities within agri-food value chains and adjacent sectors, providing insights into the implications for green jobs, as well as constructing informed projection of the number of green jobs that can be created for young women. 
• Map out other projects, programs, and investments within circular economy for food that are creating jobs for young women in the three counties (Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda)
• Determine the costs of creating and sustaining green jobs (value for money) and the potential cost reduction strategies in the focus area and the target countries above based on analysis of past programs in Africa or elsewhere (e.g.., Asia). 
• Map the relevant stakeholders and potential local (including regional partners with local presence in the Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda) who would be critical for investments targeting jobs creation jobs for young women focusing on regenerative agriculture, food loss and waste, productive use of waste, and the application of productive use of energy across the aforementioned areas. 
• Participate in a validation workshop to share findings of the consultancy assignment. 

Deliverables 

• Deliverable I. Inception report outlining the methodology and approach for delivering the assignment. 
• Deliverable II: A comprehensive scoping report outlining  
• Definition and metrics for measuring and tracking green jobs.  
• Pathways for creating green jobs for young women in the target sectors and countries 
• Granular level statistics on the sectors, value chains, and landscapes producing green jobs including the type of jobs, relative numbers and stratification by gender 
• Potential gaps and opportunities for creating green jobs for young women with informed projection of the number of green jobs that can be created in the target sectors/countries. 
• Deliverable III: Stakeholder mapping report outlining  
• Projects, programs and investments within circular economy for food that are creating jobs mainly for young women and the potential synergies  
• Stakeholders and potential local (including regional partners with local presence in the countries) who would be critical in creating jobs for young women in circular economy for food. 
• Costs of creating and sustaining green jobs (value for money) and the potential cost reduction strategies. 

Duration of the assignment

• This is a one-month assignment scheduled to take place in between October and November 2024 for a duration of 30 direct engagement days spread across 2 months.  

Required qualifications.

• A master’s degree or above in social science, development studies, labour economics, environmental economics, Agricultural economics, Energy economics, or a related field. 
• Extensive experience in conducting research in the agricultural sector, specifically jobs creation in the agri-food and adjacent sectors including productive use of renewable energy.  
• Strong analytical skills (qualitative and quantitative) and ability to synthesize large amount of data to produce desired outputs. 
• Knowledge of Africa’s agri-food sector with a strong understanding of circular economy and productive use of renewable energy. 
• Experienced researcher with ability to work multiple stakeholders including public and private sector. 
• Proven track record of producing high-quality, policy-oriented research papers. 
• Excellent English writing and oral communication skills 
• Good work ethics 

SCOPE OF WORK AND OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES
WRI is seeking an individual consultant based in Nairobi/Kigali/Addis Ababa/Johannesburg to support the implementation of the ACWA Fund pilot phase as well as other related programs and projects within WRI Africa Climate Resilience Cities Program for a period of 9 months. The bidders should be able to:

• Provide engagement, technical analysis, and advisory support to develop financing strategies, policy solutions, and institutional arrangements necessary to advance the ambitions of the ACWA Fund and its related mechanisms.
• Collaborate with investors, donors, government agencies, NGOs, and communities across multiple countries in Africa to advance the ACWA Fund’s ambitions including its financial resourcing. In the same vein, the person shall also support other programs within WRI.
• Work under the Arican Climate Resilient Cities (ACRC) Program, directly reporting to the Environmental Finance Lead, WRI Africa.

The tasks that the individual contractor will undertake shall include:

• Work with partners to (1) refine the identified pilot projects of the ACWA Fund and (2) oversee their initial implementation/roll-out.
• Work with partners to co-create financing strategies and investment frameworks for the ACWA Fund and other programs.
• Support pilot projects 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 water and climate resilience projects.
• Establish and grow existing partnerships with investors, donors, development and private sector banks, and funders.
• Design and implement training and knowledge exchanges with key stakeholders with the support of local partners to advance ACWA Fund’s ambitions.
• Conduct outreach and communications including developing relevant knowledge products reports and articles, presenting at meetings and conferences, etc.
• Collaborate across WRI programs and ensure linkages with WRI Africa’s New Climate Economy (NCE), AFR100, and Cities4Forests Initiatives.
• Work with senior staff on the strategic development and management of urban resilience and financing work in Africa.
• Liaise with internal staff and project stakeholders to problem solve and generate solutions to project implementation issues.

WRI will provide guidance on:

• The background information on the ACWA Fund among other programs and projects which includes the architecture, focus areas and priorities.

DELIVERABLES
The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

• An inception report outlining the proposed methodology and work plan within 2 weeks of signing the contract.
• Regular monthly reports on work undertaken (based on the agreed workplan) including on the refinement of the pilot projects and their implementation.
• PowerPoint slides for presentation to potential investors, donors and city stakeholders
• Participation on weekly team meetings

QUALIFICATIONS:
Education

• A master’s degree in finance, public policy, economics, environmental management, or similar

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant, full-time work experience in the field of urban resilience, development finance, or sustainable infrastructure in Africa.
• Subject matter expertise in at least one of these topics: urban climate resilience or water resilience
• Demonstrated success in developing financing strategies and/or brokering deals for sustainable infrastructure projects (feasibility stage onwards)
• Experience leading early-stage project concepts to transaction
• Experience in assisting project financial structuring in the water sector, green infrastructure in particular
• 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, sub-national governments and water utility companies.
• 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 sect

About WRI’s ACWA Fund

The World Resource Institute (WRI) founded the African Cities Water Adaptation Fund (ACWA Fund). The ACWA Fund uses an integrated approach to finance innovative urban water resilience solutions at scale. The Fund has the ambitious goal of deploying over $500 million in funding by 2032 to support scalable urban water resilience solutions across 100 African cities. The ACWA Fund offers full project lifecycle support to help local leaders understand their climate and water risks and socioeconomic impacts; identify, prioritise, and prepare projects; structure deals and mobilise capital; and scale delivery by standardising project development manuals, deals, and contracts. It achieves this through three core services: developing city-scale resilience investment plans, offering project preparation support, and providing finance for catalytic projects. The focus is on a low-cost, innovative approach to assessing needs at a city level and responding rapidly. The ACWA Funds complements other ongoing programmes including SUNCASA[1] ,Green-Grey Infrastructure (GGI) Accelerator[2] and the Arican Climate Resilient Cities (ACRC) Program[3]. To date, the ACWA Fund has made significant strides, securing $7 million in commitments, engaging with cities to develop action plans and identify projects, and developing pilot project portfolios. The Fund is now seeking an additional $8 million to begin its pilot phase, which includes delivery of projects in the two pilot cities and further fund design. 

SCOPE OF WORK AND OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES

WRI is seeking an individual consultant based in Nairobi/Kigali/Addis Ababa/Johannesburg to support the implementation of the ACWA Fund pilot phase as well as other related programs and projects within WRI Africa Climate Resilience Cities Program for a period of 9 months. The bidders should be able to:

• Provide engagement, technical analysis, and advisory support to develop financing strategies, policy solutions, and institutional arrangements necessary to advance the ambitions of the ACWA Fund and its related mechanisms.
• Collaborate with investors, donors, government agencies, NGOs, and communities across multiple countries in Africa to advance the ACWA Fund’s ambitions including its financial resourcing. In the same vein, the person shall also support other programs within WRI.  
• Work under the Arican Climate Resilient Cities (ACRC) Program, directly reporting to the Environmental Finance Lead, WRI Africa. 

The tasks that the individual contractor will undertake shall include:

• Work with partners to (1) refine the identified pilot projects of the ACWA Fund and (2) oversee their initial implementation/roll-out. 
• Work with partners to co-create financing strategies and investment frameworks for the ACWA Fund and other programs. 
• Support pilot projects 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 water and climate resilience projects. 
• Establish and grow existing partnerships with investors, donors, development and private sector banks, and funders. 
• Design and implement training and knowledge exchanges with key stakeholders with the support of local partners to advance ACWA Fund’s ambitions. 
• Conduct outreach and communications including developing relevant knowledge products reports and articles, presenting at meetings and conferences, etc.
• Collaborate across WRI programs and ensure linkages with WRI Africa’s New Climate Economy (NCE), AFR100, and Cities4Forests Initiatives.
• Work with senior staff on the strategic development and management of urban resilience and financing work in Africa. 
• Liaise with internal staff and project stakeholders to problem solve and generate solutions to project implementation issues. 

WRI will provide guidance on:

• The background information on the ACWA Fund among other programs and projects which includes the architecture, focus areas and priorities.

DELIVERABLES

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

• An inception report outlining the proposed methodology and work plan within 2 weeks of signing the contract.
• Regular monthly reports on work undertaken (based on the agreed workplan) including on the refinement of the pilot projects and their implementation.
• PowerPoint slides for presentation to potential investors, donors and city stakeholders
• Participation on weekly team meetings

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education

• A master’s degree in finance, public policy, economics, environmental management, or similar

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant, full-time work experience in the field of urban resilience, development finance, or sustainable infrastructure in Africa.
• Subject matter expertise in at least one of these topics: urban climate resilience or water resilience
• Demonstrated success in developing financing strategies and/or brokering deals for sustainable infrastructure projects (feasibility stage onwards)
• Experience leading early-stage project concepts to transaction
• Experience in assisting project financial structuring in the water sector, green infrastructure in particular
• 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, sub-national governments and water utility companies.
• 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

Please note that WRI is an IRS-registered 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization. WRI is not VAT exempt. All prices or quotes should include VAT and tax, as applicable. 

GUIDELINES FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Requirements 

• The selected vendor should be able to demonstrate the required expertise to execute the task.
• The selected vendor should possess relevant work authorization where this position shall be based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization 
• The selected vendor should be available for multiple in-person engagements with the WRI, and partner teams based in Nairobi/Kigali/Addis Ababa/Johannesburg during the period of this consultancy.

Proposal content 

Prospective candidates should submit: 

• A short statement of interest that demonstrates how they are suited for this project based on the requirements.
• Samples of and references for similar previous work.
• An up-to-date CV
• A well explaining strategy & approach of executing the highlighted tasks

SCOPE OF WORK AND OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES
The team of consultant or consulting firm will work closely with WRI’s TerraFund and WRI Africa teams to develop the operational framework, focusing on the following key functions:
Accounting

• Review, enhance and adapt existing accounting policies and procedures.
• Establish internal controls to safeguard assets and ensure financial integrity.
• Develop guidelines for cash flow management and liquidity planning.

Grants and Contracts

• Co-develop a comprehensive grant management framework, including application, evaluation, disbursement, monitoring, and reporting processes.
• Adapt exiting and create, when needed, templates and tools for due diligence, grant budgeting, contracting, financial reporting, and compliance monitoring.
• Establish a project grievances and complaints mechanism, including a hotline.

Finance Management

• Develop financial management procedures, including budgeting, accounting, and reporting.
• Enhance internal controls and establish guidelines for financial transactions and liquidity management.

Information Technology

• Develop procedures for the tools and systems to support financial and grant management (e.g., Salesforce, Docusign, Airtable, Monday.com) to ensure efficient processes.
• Ensure IT systems are secure and comply with data protection regulations.

Human Resources + Safety and Security

• Develop HR policies and procedures, including recruitment, performance management, and staff development.
• Develop guidelines and procedures to ensure the safety and security of staff and assets.
• Establish emergency response plans and protocols.

Risk Management:

• Develop a risk management framework to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks to the Foundation's operations.
• Establish procedures for regular risk assessment and management, including financial, operational, and strategic risks.
• Create tools for risk monitoring and reporting.

Sustainability

• Develop policies and procedures to ensure the sustainability of operations.
• Integrate environmental considerations into all aspects of the foundation's operations

Requirements
Prospective vendors should submit or have the following competencies at a minimum:

• At least 10 years of proven experience in developing operational frameworks for foundations or similar organizations.
• Strong knowledge of financial management, grant management, organizational development, and risk management.
• Experience working with international organizations and understanding of donor requirements.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and incorporate feedback.
• Excellent communication and reporting skills.
• Knowledge of landscape restoration, conservation or natural resources management will be an advantage.

The consultancy will undertake the following tasks:

Situational Analysis: 

• Conduct a comprehensive stakeholder review of the current organizations working in areas that intersect with WRI Africa Cities strategy. 
• Assess the relevance of the current WRI Africa cities partnerships and their alignment with the WRI strategy 2024-2025. 
• Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) in the current WRI partnership approach

Partnership Strategy Development:
 Identify potential strategic partners including:

• Donors (including institutional funders (bilateral, multilateral donors), foundations as well as non-traditional funders), and
• NGOs (specifically strategic peer organizations, with complementary expertise, that WRI could effectively collaborate with to advance work in African cities).
•  Develop strategies for engagement, collaboration, and partnership building. 
•  Outline mechanisms for maintaining and managing partnerships. 
•  Support the Africa Development and Cities team with the organization/preparation of one urban-focused partners roundtable (one engagement session) (including by identifying key donors, developing agenda etc.)

 Capacity Building:

•  Conduct training sessions for the WRI Cities team in Africa on effective fundraising and partnership building. 
•  Develop a resource toolkit for ongoing use by the team

 Monitoring and Evaluation:

•  Work with the Africa Development and Cities team to develop targets and metrics for the fundraising and partnerships plan. 

WRI will provide guidance on:

• WRI Africa Cities team’s existing strategy, pillar narratives and existing partnerships. 
• Team members to be consulted. 
• WRI editorial style guide, branding and visual style guidelines. 

DELIVERABLES :

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

• An inception report outlining the proposed methodology and work plan within 1 week of signing the contract. 
• A comprehensive situational analysis report within one month of signing the contract. 
• A draft detailed Fundraising and Partnership Strategy document within one and a half months of signing of the contract. 
• A final WRI Africa Cities Partnership and Engagement Plan (2024-2029), (summarized to a maximum of 20 pages), incorporating feedback by September 3o, 2024. This plan should also include a resource toolkit and a monitoring and evaluation framework. 
• A 4-page summarized document, and a brief PowerPoint deck that is externally facing (for use in future donor and partnership engagement) by September 30, 2024. 
• A report on 1st donors/partners meeting with clear follow up plans by October 2024. 

BUDGET:

• The maximum value of the proposed contract is $12,000.
• Please note that WRI is an IRS-registered 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization. WRI is not VAT exempt. All prices or quotes should include VAT and tax, as applicable.

Requirements:

• The selected vendor should be able to demonstrate the required expertise and the equipment to execute the task. 
• The selected vendor should be available for engagements with the WRI teams supervising this assignment during this consultancy period. 

Qualifications and Experience:

The selected consultant(s) should have:

• Proven experience in fundraising and partnership development, preferably within the context of urbanization or cities. 
• Strong understanding of the funding landscape and donor environment in Africa. 
• Excellent research, analytical, and strategic planning skills. 
• Experience in capacity building and training. 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills. 

Job Highlight:

• Africa’s role in the global energy transition is unique as the least electrified yet fastest-growing continent, critically in need of resilience investments. To achieve ambitious goals and commitments for Africa, robust evidence-based positions and leadership from the continent are essential, requiring knowledge brokering with key stakeholders.
• Reporting to the Director of the Energy Program, you will lead our research and engagement with partner organizations for analytical work and will be responsible for designing and overseeing analyses that address some of the most complex and challenging questions for Africa’s power sector and identifying what is needed to deliver universal energy access and support economic development. You will have a background in energy modelling or a related field and a solid grasp of energy science and experience in managing sub-grant partners and in-house analytical teams to ensure high-quality output. You can leverage advanced analytical tools to deliver greater clarity and inform decision-makers. You have expertise in integrating geospatial mapping tools with various modelling techniques and has experience working at the nexus of energy with other sectors (e.g. food, water, agriculture), are committed to promoting solutions tailored to specific contextual conditions; and have experience in building highly collaborative working relationships with multidisciplinary research teams. You will work closely with different teams and programs including the global Clean Energy Transition Team, the African Energy Dialogues platform team, the Energy Access Explorer team, and other colleagues within the WRI Africa and Washington DC office.

What will you do:

Research and Analytical Program Management (60%):

• Structure the energy transition analytical program for Africa, developing appropriate methodologies and approaches
• Manage and supervise external sub-grant partners and an in-house analytical team to ensure high-quality output
• Oversee, in collaboration with WRI’s analytical partners, the development of well documented, ideally open-source models that reflect the intricacies of energy challenges in Africa, providing insights into country-tailored energy transition opportunities and pathways
• Synthesize analytical insights from model results to bring clarity and structure to complex and disparate energy transition topics to enhance decision-making for program partners, government institutions, policymakers, and industries
• Collaborate with WRI’s EAE team to link capacity expansion modelling with geospatial tools (e.g. EAE, OnSSET, OnStove or similar)
• Work closely with the African Energy Dialogues platform to ensure engagements are informed by the most available evidence and ongoing research activities
• Keep abreast of global and continental policies and regulations impacting energy, with a particular focus on energy transition, climate, and sustainability

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement (40%):

• Produce knowledge products - workshop materials, policy briefs, technical papers, long-form reports, and other relevant materials in collaboration with research partners, WRI programs, as well as public and private institutions
• Leverage existing or establish new partnerships with local academic institutions to engage in capacity building activities
• Work with the WRI communications team and partners to develop communication assets suitable for a broader audience, leveraging the team’s analysis and insights
• Coordinate with targeted key data and research institutions or government agencies and manage the work and outputs of sub-granted local partners
• Contribute to research and fundraising proposals and the fundraising process
• Ensure sound donor stewardship, good grant management, and timely communication and reporting.

What will you need:

• Education: You have completed a master’s degree in in engineering, physics, energy systems, or a related field
• Experience: You have 7+ years of relevant, full-time work experience, including experience related to energy planning (in academia, research industry, public sector, or international organisations)
• You have experience working at the science-policy interface
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in energy systems modelling as well as with integrating geospatial mapping tools with various modelling techniques
• Technical knowledge and working experience with computer programming languages such as Python and R
• A track record of academic publishing is desirable
• Demonstrated understanding of key issues impacting the global energy industry, Africa’s role in the global energy transition, the energy and developmental challenges in Africa, and how low-carbon energy technologies can play a role in a global sustainable energy system
• Experience working in and building multi-disciplinary research teams and the ability to engage and communicate with different stakeholders, including policymakers
• Ability to translate and inform policy and industry actors at the nexus of policymaking and energy modelling, leveraging advanced analytical tools
• Experience working at the nexus of energy with other sectors (e.g. food, water, agriculture)
• Languages: Written and spoken proficiency in English. 

What will you do:

Strategic and Operational Leadership

• As a true business partner to the CEO and Global Executive Team, assess organizational performance against both the annual budget and WRI’s long-term strategy. Develop tools and systems to provide critical financial and operational information to WRI’s leadership and make actionable recommendations on strategy, operations, and policy matters.
• Serve as the management liaison to the Finance & Investment and Audit & Risk Committees; effectively communicate and present critical financial and operational risks/matters at Board of Directors and committee meetings.
• Provide leadership on the alignment of WRI’s endowment with a 1.5 degree C pathway and ESG investment principles, including managing an Outsourced Chief Investment Officer that oversees the endowment’s investment portfolio.
• Contribute to the development of WRI’s strategic goals and objectives as well as the overall management of the organization.
• Maintain continuous lines of communication, keeping the Managing Director and CEO informed of all critical issues.
• Represent the organization externally, as necessary, particularly in banking, lease arrangements, and donor requirement negotiations.

Team Development

• Oversee, direct, and organize the work of the finance, accounting, project management, grants and contracts, teams.
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
• Ensure staff members receive timely and appropriate training and development.
• Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach: assign accountabilities; set objectives; establish priorities, and monitor and evaluate results.

Operational Excellence - Financial Planning, Analysis, and Modelling

• Lead annual budgeting and planning process including all financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes and keep the Global Executive Team abreast of the organization’s financial trends and status.
• Lead quarterly financial and performance reviews with Programs/Centers and Country Offices.
• Upgrade and implement appropriate systems, policies, internal controls, accounting standards, and procedures such that all offices are seen as low risk by donors.
• Serve as a strong voice in risk assessment on project funding, allocations, and ability to meet goals/outcomes given financial health throughout the project life cycle.
• Conduct periodic internal reviews of policies, procedures, and systems, comparing with best practices across peer organisations.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute the annual budget process and NICRA (negotiated indirect cost rate agreement) negotiation.
• Oversee management of programs and overhead costs/indirect rates to ensure full financial recovery and achieve efficiencies.
• Provide analytical and decision support to WRI’s leadership including development of internal management reporting capabilities in partnership with WRI’s Managing for Results team.
• Improve administrative/operational and financial services such as treasury management, benefits (403-B plan, medical, other insurances, etc.), grants and contracts and payment processing, payroll, accounts payable, purchasing, systems.

 What will you need:

We are looking for someone who is results-oriented with the necessary business astuteness, demonstrated analytical and forecasting skills, and the ability to make difficult decisions. Success is defined by the ability to establish strong working relationships with colleagues, peers, subordinates, and staff outside a hierarchical structure. Key competencies will include the ability to identify information, be forward-thinking, always aware of the Institute’s needs and a commitment to its mission and values, and ability to be flexible. Collaborative management and working style; ability to achieve goals using influence and negotiation skills also important.

• Education: Master’s degree in business or accounting. CPA and/or CMA are strongly preferred
• Experience: Minimum of 15 years of experience working in international matrixed organization with a minimum of 8 years in a senior management role. Some nonprofit experience is preferred
• Experience running financial systems for internationally matrixed organisations with a varied configuration of country offices highly desirable
• Experience working with a diverse mix of donors, including multilateral donors, governments, foundations an advantage
• Experience working with a diverse mix of financial stakeholders and demonstrated ability to  distinguish and meet their differing requirements highly desirable
• Knowledge of US and other donor contracts and grants management and regulations and reporting requirements governing non-profits
• Experience of US GAAP and IFRS
• Experience with WRI’s legacy financial systems (TM1 Costpoint),  future ERP (Workday) and IT system transition is highly desirable
• Proven track record of success facilitating progressive organizational change and development within a growing international organization
• Entrepreneurial team player with an ability to influence and engage multiple stakeholders
• Energetic, collaborative, and proactive; a team leader who can positively and productively impact both strategic and tactical finance and operational/administrative initiatives.
• Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with outsiders such as bankers and donors as well as senior management, WRI’s board of directors, and staff
• Ability to operate as an effective tactical as well as a strategic thinker
• Passion for WRI’s mission