Consultant - Coorporate Water Strategy at International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

SCOPE OF WORK:

The consultant will work closely with IWMI’s project team and SunCulture’s staff to carry out the following tasks:

Task 1: Analysis of Relevant Documents and Data Collation (Week 1)

• Review SunCulture’s policies, business strategy, ESG strategy, and other relevant documents.
• Review relevant policy documents, guidelines, and regulations related to groundwater use and the expansion of solar irrigation in Kenya (e.g., water abstraction permits, national water management guidelines, etc.).
• Analyze how data analytics on water use and sustainable water limits could support and inform the development of the Water Strategy.
• Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement: Identify for whom and how water matters to SunCulture, their partners, and the broader enabling environment in Kenya and other key target countries.

Task 2: Stakeholder Engagements (Week 2)

• Conduct key informant interviews and focus group discussions with SunCulture employees, investors, and business partners to understand current approaches to client identification, market segmentation, market expansion strategies, business operations, partnerships and service delivery, technical support, financing modalities, ESG reporting, and the role of water in these processes.

Task 3: SWOT Analysis and Risk Assessment (Week 3)

• Analyze collected data to identify water-related risks to and from business operations.
• Conduct a SWOT analysis of SunCulture’s business to identify challenges and opportunities for the sustainable development of solar irrigation.
• Identify water resource risks associated with SunCulture’s business strategies (e.g., market expansion, customer targeting, equipment selection) and client decisions (e.g., crop choices, irrigation practices). Consider both controllable risks (within SunCulture’s influence) and external risks.
• Develop a water risk matrix, categorizing and prioritizing identified risks based on their likelihood and potential impact on SunCulture’s business.
• Review existing practices or measures used by SunCulture and its clients to mitigate water risks and identify gaps that require further action

Task 4: Develop Components of the Water Strategy (Week 4)

• Support Strategy Development:
• Co-develop with SunCulture the vision, goals, and strategic pillars of the Water Strategy.
• Co-design solutions to help embed sustainable water management into SunCulture’s operational and financial models.
• Provide recommendations for mitigating identified water risks to business operations and develop sustainable water management approaches for impact investors.
• Identify potential pathways to leverage mitigation strategies and co-design solutions to attract new financing and other business-enhancing opportunities for SunCulture.
• Business Case and Funding Model:
• Articulate the value proposition.
• Illustrate a potential funding model (e.g., PPPs, impact investment) and identify revenue streams for integrating water management into business operations.
• Provide written input to the Water Strategy and develop a slide deck to effectively communicate key components.

Task 5: Validation Workshop and Finalizing the Strategy (Week 5)

• Reporting and Validation: Present and discuss the draft Water Strategy with SunCulture’s leadership and key stakeholders; refine the strategy based on feedback.
• Implementation Roadmap: Create a phased plan for incorporating and operationalizing the Water Strategy, including immediate, short-term, and medium-term actions. The roadmap should include timelines, milestones, responsibilities, KPIs, and risk mitigation strategies. This may also include recommendations for the future integration of water-related elements into ESG reporting.

DELIVERABLES:

• Inception Report
• Draft Technical Report
• Final Strategy Document

Requirements

MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Essential:

• A minimum of a master’s degree in business, Finance, or Economics.
• Demonstrated competencies in analytical thinking, financial modeling, project management, leadership, collaboration, and effective communication.

Desirable:

• A Master of Business Administration (MBA), or specialization in Sustainable Finance.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

Essential:

• Proven experience in business strategy development, stakeholder engagement, and co-creation processes, particularly within the water management sector.
• 5–10 years of post-master’s experience in developing corporate strategies, finance, and management consulting.
• Demonstrated experience working with impact investors, with an understanding of environmental risk implications and environmental reporting requirements for business operations.