Fellow – Conservation Finance, Africa – Kenya, South Africa or Liberia Consultancy

ABOUT THE POSITION: 

The Africa Field Division (AfFD) has established offices in five countries (Botswana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, and South Africa) and working relations with a further 12 countries in Africa – covering a continent with wide ranging economic conditions, a rich natural capital base as well as diverse socio-economic and environmental challenges.

There is a need to bring in an experienced Conservation Finance / Private Sector professional into the Africa regional team to lead the Conservation Finance unit, with primary responsibilities being:

• The development, management, and delivery of Africa Field Division’s strategic objectives in relation to conservation finance activities throughout Africa and
• Corporate/private sector engagement; particularly in relation to growing the role of the private sector in Africa’s sustainable development path, developing private sector partnerships/fundraising activities and develop engagement opportunities with the financial services sector in Africa

The position will also be committed to the expansion and commercial success of the AfFD across divisions and build on its leadership potential across geographies. S/he will be responsible for leading AfFD’s efforts to scale-up conservation finance mechanisms – in conjunction and collaboration with Ecosystem Finance + Markets Division (EFM) whilst liaising (in collaboration with Center for Environmental Leadership in Business Division (CELB)) with the Division Head of Sustainable Production, to support the Division’s effort in Sustainable Productions and Value Chains i.e. to promote sustainable business practices by working with companies to ensure their production of goods and services is increasingly sustainable, and connecting this to AfFD landscape/seascape programs

The position will report to the Head of Strategic Programmes of the AfFD and work closely with leadership in CELB and EFM.

S/he will also work closely with the AfFD team to cultivate local donors in the financial sector and assist in Africa Advisory Board Member cultivation as needed, thereby assisting regional efforts to establish and/or expand CI’s support base, donor base, audience participation and fundraising success.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Develop and explore opportunities for financing for conservation
• Smallholder agricultural/fisheries finance mechanism to support sustainable production:
• Support CI efforts, in conjunction with CELB and EFM, to assist companies to create incentives for widespread adoption of good farming/fisheries and conservation practices and landscape planning to protect and restore healthy ecosystems.
• Develop and explore opportunities for Carbon financing / markets in Africa
• Develop and drive growth of the ‘Accelerator Fund’ in Africa
• Create linkages to corporate partnerships opportunities in the AfFD and support growth of AfFD presence across Africa.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in economics/financing and more than 10 years of experience in fundraising, corporate partnership, sustainable financing, or Investment Banking.
• Program or project management experience, preferably in the global conservation, NGO, advocacy or related for-profit arena.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully cultivating gifts from assigned prospects.
• Demonstrated ability to work with key decision makers, corporate entities, and/or high-net-worth individuals
• A record of success in influencing and partnering with key stakeholders and establishing partnership.
• Advanced writing, editing, and verbal communication skills to cross both technical, cultural and geographical divides.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent technical and analytical skills.
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Team player and able to work effectively with diverse work groups in a multicultural environment.
• Proven ability to multitask and meet priorities.  Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and under minimal supervision.
• Fluency in English required.
• Working knowledge of French or Portuguese will be an added advantage

The following qualifications will be an added advantage:

• A Post graduate degree in economics, financing, environmental studies, development or similar.
• Prior knowledge and interest in conservation and environmental issues (particularly national and regional).
• Qualification or experience in science, conservation or other relevant science.
• A thorough grasp of the socio-economic and environmental challenges of Africa.
• Experience working in Africa

TO APPLY:

Go to the Careers tab on the CI website – www.conservation.org to access the full job description and application form for the position

Tagged as: business development, Climate, Energy, Environment, Grants Writer, Sanitation Fundraising, Water