This role involves managing the delivery of FSD Africa’s work on nature-related risk and opportunity within the context of the organization's strategy and the Nature Centre of Expertise’s focus. The primary goal is to ensure that the programme results in meaningful real-sector outcomes.
Key Responsibilities and Role Requirements
Nature Programme Delivery Support
- Scope out existing research (and undertake additional research if agreed upon) to gain a deep and comprehensive understanding of how to catalyse finance to better manage and transfer nature-related risk and develop nature-related opportunity.
- Share learnings associated with strategy development and programming with the broader FSD Africa organisation and partners.
- Support broader fundraising efforts underway across FSD Africa, including through co-drafting applications with the Fundraising Committee and Pillar Heads, offering perspectives on where nature-related ‘angles’ could be incorporated into proposals, and developing project concepts with consortia of partners as needed.
- Work collaboratively with the Development Impact function to devise and manage results measurement and learning frameworks that will yield important insights into the development of effective long-term strategies, approaches, and interventions.
Project Origination and Planning
Assist the Head of ANCA Secretariat & Lead, Nature Finance and TNFD in developing a portfolio of nature-related projects and work with implementing partners to collectively drive impact and systemic change:
- Identify and select potentially impactful implementing partners, supporting them where necessary through the due diligence and procurement processes (including the development & signing of MOUs/contracts).
- Collaborate with implementing partners and relevant technical experts to develop project proposals that comply with Investment Committee standards.
- Provide policy and compliance leadership by ensuring compliance with FSD Africa and donor policies and processes in the context of new and evolving projects, including drafting project documents (e.g., project summaries, procurement memos, etc) for approval.
- Ensure that all staff, consultants and implementing partners involved in nature-related projects are fully briefed concerning expectations; especially on project milestone targets, quality standards, data collection/reporting, and compliance with accountability requirements.
- Develop detailed implementation plans, budgets and cash-flow forecasts that will ensure project success – where necessary, address nature-related capacity gaps of partners.
Project Implementation
Co-ordinate the roll-out of the Nature Centre of Expertise’s nature-related projects so that results are achieved, timelines are managed, and quality projects are delivered; ensuring that ongoing learning from projects is fully utilised to maximise impact and innovation. The Manager, Nature Programmes must particularly index towards exceptional programme management skills with a demonstrated ability to organize multiple tasks effectively:
- Work with implementing partners to assist them in disseminating messaging and deliverables according to agree upon project plans, maintaining strategic clarity, focus on impact, and collaborative approaches always.
- Support the Head of ANCA Secretariat & Lead, Nature Finance and TNFD and respective Nature Centre of Expertise colleagues to run the affairs of the ANCA Secretariat, including support for member onboarding and engagement.
- In case of an implementing partner having challenges, provide analytical support, or organise the provision of support to ensure project success.
- Co-develop and engage other FSD Africa Pillars and Centres of Expertise as appropriate in other nature-related work, including, investments and private capital mobilization, development impact-linked research, communications and advocacy campaigns, and guiding nature and biodiversity related investments.
Review the Quarterly monitoring and evaluation reports for any allocated projects and take appropriate action based on results and analysis:
- If desired results have been achieved, initiate strategies for widespread awareness-raising and ‘crowding in’, focusing on applying leverage, replication of the project, and scaling.
- If desired results have not been achieved, either manage performance of the implementation team or adjust the strategy/approach.
- Identify, report on and mitigate project risks in a timely manner (project delivery and partnership management).
- Draft quarterly donor project reports as well as FSD Africa monthly and quarterly reports (including contributing to monthly and quarterly funder reports and quarterly Development Impact reports).
Communicating for Impact
- Actively participate in the development and implementation of an advocacy and communications plan for the nature-related risk management project portfolio; ensuring that the outcome is extensive awareness-building, engagement around topics of resilience financing, portfolio risk analysis & proactive tracking of environmental risk, and behavioural changes of stakeholders in both private and public spheres.
- Manage relationships with key sponsors including TNFD, HMG DEFRA & FCDO, consultants, financial institutions, and public stakeholders such as Finance Ministries and Regulatory bodies, engaging in advocacy for nature-related action, building stakeholder awareness and aiming to influence policy at the highest levels of public-sector decision making.
- Consult and collaborate with the wider FSD Africa pillars, Centers of Expertise and Strategic Communications team to identify how stakeholders need to be influenced to support the success of interventions for nature-related risk management; this may include a need to advocate for legislative/policy reform or to incentivize (or some other supporting mechanism) greater action amongst potential beneficiaries for mindset change.
- Work collaboratively with the Strategic Communications team and Development Impact function to develop and implement work plans and budgets; ensuring that efforts are monitored and evaluated to ensure impact, and this impact is articulated.
- Contribute to the implementation of the Strategic Communications agenda (e.g., by developing content for written materials – blogs, editorials, op-eds, contributing to content development on the FSD Africa and ANCA websites; participating in advocacy campaigns, attending conferences and events etc.).
- Support the successful participation at in-person events associated with the green and nature-related agenda (e.g., ANCA Summit, COPs, London Climate Action Week, Africa Climate Week, Ministerial meetings, etc) and taking ownership of key communications artefacts required.
- Participate in and contribute to the development of annual and quarterly reports, including our publicly facing strategy documents and impact assessments.
Lead Support
- Provide programme and operational management support to the Programme Lead, Nature Finance as required in support of the CoE’s strategy and programming.
- Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.
Competencies
This position requires competency at Specialist Level (Level 3) for all FSD Africa’s core competencies, demonstrating key behaviours that drive success.
Person Specifications
Qualifications and Education
- Master’s degree and 6 years of experience or Bachelor’s Degree and 8 years of experience.
- Relevant postgraduate qualifications preferred.
- Excellent skills in written and spoken English.
Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills
- At least 6 years of professional experience, working in a field relevant to financial risk market development across multiple countries and institutions, including in Africa.
- Experience working in a complex and pioneering environment.
- Track record of managing relationships and influencing stakeholders in the financial sector in Africa; good influencing/ interpersonal skills.
- Good level of project management skills and experience of implementing projects with timeframes of 2-5 years.
- Track record of effectively managing people; including ability to motivate and coordinate teams.
- Ability to engage & influence convincingly at a senior management level.
- Ability to manage a project using digital platforms or tools to communicate.
- Ability to manage data/ documentation electronically.
- Ability to manage project portfolio with middle-level budget.
