Nature Finance Advisor at The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD

The Position

• We are seeking a dedicated individual to join the sustainable finance team as part of IISD’s Infrastructure and Finance Program. The chosen candidate will support the Scaling Urban NbS for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SUNCASA) project, with a focus on the economic assessment and financing of nature-based solutions (NbS) in urban areas. The SUNCASA project is about engaging local partners and communities to design and implement NbS to support climate adaptation and biodiversity protection in urban communities and watersheds in sub-Saharan Africa. The project also aims to enhance gender-responsive and inclusive governance of NbS in these communities. A notable part of the Nature Finance Advisor’s contribution will involve using IISD's Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology for projects in Rwanda, Ethiopia, and South Africa. This role will encompass contributing to assessments of nature-based infrastructure projects and building spreadsheets for delivering financial and cost-benefit analyses. The candidate will be part of a multidisciplinary team, working closely with IISD affiliates, consultants, and interlocutors in different parts of the world. The SUNCASA project is a collaboration with the World Resources Institute.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate’s key areas of responsibility will include but not be limited to the following:

Research

• Undertaking substantive reviews and background research on financing policies, plans, schemes, and strategies related to NbS.
• Preparing papers and presentations that accurately synthesize and assess research findings.
• Following and summarizing news and events pertaining to finance for NbS.

Project Implementation and Management

• Organizing training sessions and workshops on integrated cost-benefit analysis and finance for NbS.
• Coordinating with local partners on the delivery of economic- and finance-related activities.

Communications

• Writing reports, briefs, blogs, and case studies that are “publication ready” with limited oversight and editing.
• Sharing research results through webinars, workshops, conferences, and other events.

Business Development

• Supporting the team with the development of new project ideas and proposals to help IISD expand its engagement with funders, national governments, and international organizations on various sustainable finance topics.

Engagement

• Working collaboratively with partners in government, the private sector, and research and non-governmental organizations, as well as with consultants.
• Establishing and actively maintaining a network of partners and contacts engaged in efforts in sustainable finance, including individuals from governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, and academia.

Representation

• Representing IISD at relevant forums and expert groups.

Required Skills

Candidates are expected to have the following set of skills:

• In-depth understanding of the financing of NbS, including familiarity with financing mechanisms and best practices, also as they relate to developing countries and policy and planning processes.
• Experience in the economic valuation of NbS would be an asset.
• Knowledge of infrastructure finance and preferably the measuring and valuing of sustainability impacts.
• A good understanding of climate finance and just transition, including challenges and solutions to mobilize investment, would be an asset.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, ideally with experience in financial modelling, and the ability to create complex spreadsheets for decision
• Strong research skills and analytical capacity, and the ability to become familiar with new topics quickly.
• Excellent writing skills and strong oral communication skills; capacity to clearly and succinctly communicate research findings to different audiences.
• Motivated self-starter with an ability to work independently and to manage and prioritize multiple tasks.
• The ability to prioritize and work quickly and accurately to meet tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated organizational and planning skills, including the ability to facilitate training sessions and events.
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills.

Qualifications

Candidates are expected to possess the following qualifications:

• A master’s degree or equivalent in finance, economics, public policy, or environmental sciences.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in finance or economics and sustainable development.
• Fluent in written and spoken English. The ability to work in French would be considered an
• Knowledge of international development and experience working in developing countries.
• Availability to travel internationally.