Principal, Innovative Climate Finance at FSD Africa

OVERALL JOB PURPOSE

• This Principal, Innovative Climate Finance role will lead the innovative green and climate finance interventions, with focus on catalysing, supporting innovation and scale up of green and climate finance transactions across Africa.
• The Principal, Innovative Climate Finance will have an opportunity to influence strategy and develop a portfolio of innovative transactions. The role will support transactions in the collaborative initiatives around natural capital and carbon markets with transactions being developed to the point developed at which they are funded by the market (with or without the involvement of FSDAi).
• The role will lead in the identification of Africa market priorities, appreciate market needs and requirements, and determine opportunities for capital markets pillar to contribute to transformational change and improvement. The job holder will be accountable for the development and implementation of projects working directly with implementing partners and consultants in the delivery of the projects and ensuring the successful management of FSD Africa Capital Markets strategic and operational interventions.
• In addition, the role will provide thought leadership in the green/climate finance, providing strategic and tactical advice to partners and external stakeholders and driving the transformation of capital markets through effective influencing, advocacy, and communication. He/she will be responsible for managing complex projects with a team of Senior Specialists and consultants and will be a credible coach for the external stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Thought Leadership & Strategy Development

• To participate in the development of strategy and programmes for the Capital Markets pillar and support the Risk & Resilience, Digital Innovations and FSDA Investments pillar strategies on innovative climate finance:
• Pipeline & Portfolio Development

Financial management & fundraising

• Ensure sound financial management of Innovative Climate Finance by securing, managing, and safeguarding programme finances; ensuring that the practice achieves optimal financial efficiency, value for money and impact, all the while ensuring compliance with FSD Africa and donor policies.
• influencing & Communicating for Impact
• Drive the transformation of capital markets through effective influencing, advocacy, and communication strategies.
• Implementing partner engagement & capacity building
• Support the Director of Capital Markets in identifying, engaging, and empowering key implementing partners; so that they are equipped to operate effectively and contribute to the development of their respective Capital Markets.
• Team Leadership and Unit Management
• Lead the practice area in effective and efficient planning and management of programs and resources to deliver excellent standards of service delivery.

Qualifications and Education

• Master’s degree and 12 years of experience or Bachelor’s Degree and 14 years of experience in the areas of technical specialism, including at a senior level, in a financial markets’ environment.
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• A deal originator by temperament and experience – 7-10 years of transacting/raising capital/deal origination.
• Having good networks across financial intermediaries and other stakeholders in Africa; well connected to the global DFI community and to mainstream investors.
• Track record of managing relationships and influencing key stakeholders at leadership or specialist level
• A good understanding of how the full spectrum of finance providers relate to, and complement, each other (private sector asset managers at one end through DFIs to donors at the other) – and able to facilitate their involvement.
• Highly collaborative by nature – hungry for success but a committed team player working for the success of his/her colleagues.
• Significant experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative and trusted relationships with investors, investees, implementing partners, private sector players and government counterparts.
• Demonstrated track record of rigorous project management skills and achievement of results – a finisher of tasks, not a process manager.
• Ability to manage project portfolio of significant budget.
• Ability to manage project diversity and complexity
• Ability to manage significant complexity and conceptual sophistication
• Successful track record of delivery of results in the area of technical specialism and the provision of technical assistance
• Understanding of the development world and strategic MRM (preferred)

Desirable

• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment
• Knowledge of donor policies and procedures
• Previous experience of working in FCDO-funded projects
• Languages: French, local African languages