Climate Advisor, Kenya at ACDI/VOCA

JOB SUMMARY

• The Climate Advisor will be based in Nairobi and will work across USAID Kuza objectives to support investment, policy, capacity development, and monitoring and evaluation initiatives on climate matters. This includes supporting the market assessment for and development the Impact for Northern Kenya Fund’s proposed Climate Finance Window, which may include drought response financing, conservancy investments and eco-tourism financing. The candidate will also support the development and implementation of county climate policies, implementation of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) initiatives, and designing and capturing climate indicators.

The position holder reports to the Deputy Chief of Party.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, management, and execution of USAID Kuza’s strategic initiatives related to climate change policies, implementation and measurement, the design of financing instruments, climate finance and carbon monetization strategies.
• Conduct a climate finance market assessment, including a study on access to finance mechanisms for drought response. Develop a pipeline of climate smart investees. Provide technical support to any additional relevant studies, assessments, or analyses.
• Support the establishment of a new Climate Finance Window, including will include drought response financing. This may include support in the development of contractual Agreements, Investment Processes, Impact Strategy, Metrics and measurement tools, and an investee pipeline of financial institutions (FIs) and small and medium enterprises in relevant sectors.
• Manage relationships with climate financiers, stakeholders and thought leaders. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of environmental trends, challenges, opportunities, and good practices in Kenya.
• Serve as key technical advisor on the development and implementation of target environmental policies and policy strategies.
• Support natural resource-related initiatives, including philanthropic investment facilitation and assessment of carbon credit investments for conservancies.
• Facilitate DRM and Climate Change and Forestry policy implementation, including ensuring that policies align with the World Bank Financing Locally Led Action Program (FLLoCA).
• Collaborate closely with county governments, conservancies and community groups to identify and prioritize key environmental issues to address under the project, which may include eco-tourism and carbon credits.
• Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning team to design measurable climate indicators and measurement tools, as well as assist with the data capturing process through existing and new methods and tools. This person will support evidence-based learning initiatives and collaborate with the MEL team to ensure climate and environment data is adequately tracked, monitored, and analyzed.
• Facilitate environmental knowledge and capacity development.
• Prepare analytical reports, briefing notes, background papers, and talking points, as required.
• Ensure compliance with donor and host government environmental regulations.

Qualifications

• University degree, ideally at a master’s level or higher, in a finance and/or sustainability-related field
• Relevant knowledge of climate finance, climate policy and/or corporate sustainability
• A minimum of 8 years’ experience working in the field of climate finance and climate policy or sustainability.
• Experience in institutional strengthening and working with rural communities required.
• Demonstrated experience working in collaboration with multiple stakeholders and project implementation teams.
• Demonstrated experience in policy development, analysis, and implementation.
• Outstanding planning and coordination skills, with ability to handle multiple activities concurrently, work under pressure, and meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal, diplomatic, and negotiating skills, including the ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Excellent critical thinking skills and judgment. Proven willingness to make timely and sound decisions.
• Strong written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to write required documents in a clear, concise, well-organized manner.
• Experience with USG-funded programs is preferred.
• Ability to travel independently within the country.
• Fluency in English and Swahili (written and oral).