DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and implement, with partners, innovative sustainable financing programs for scaling water innovations to support climate adaptation and/or mitigation of food, land, and water systems.
• Evaluate the effect of climate change on actors’ risk perceptions and investments impacting water innovations at scale in the food, energy, and environmental sectors.
• Analyse and evaluate existing practices, evidence, and frameworks to build a comprehensive understanding of effective sustainable financing mechanisms, identifying key factors for success and areas for improvement.
• Investigate and establish appropriate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress, monitor emerging benefits and risks (both intended and unintended), and facilitate learning from accelerating the scaling and impact delivery.
• Coordinate scaling activities aimed at accelerating water innovations for climate adaptation and mitigation within IWMI, including developing processes and mechanisms for coordinating partnerships, implementation, and impact across offices, programs, and initiatives.
• Establish scaling networks and multi-stakeholder dialogues for financial accelerators, investors, and institutions reflecting the scaling needs in IWMI’s projects and initiatives.
• Engage with IWMI’s scaling team and relevant private sector partner networks to support scaling water innovations in the energy, food, climate, and environment sectors.
• Work across IWMI offices in multi-disciplinary teams to incorporate innovative financing thinking and scaling science.
• Develop and contribute to the publication of research results, including scientific articles, policy briefs, technical reports, and other products.
• Contribute to relevant fundraising efforts for sustainable financing and related research, as required.
• Communicate lessons and insights to internal and external audiences.
• Represent IWMI in the CGIAR Impact Finance Group and work together with the CGIAR’s sustainable finance team.
• Allocate and manage knowledge resources and evidence of impact around scaling innovations and sustainable financing mechanisms.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Essential,

• PhD in finance, business, agricultural economics, natural resource management, international sustainable development/management, development economics, or closely related fields, coupled with a minimum of 5 years of relevant post-doctoral experience; OR
• Master’s degree in the aforementioned fields, with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.
• Proven track record in co-designing financing mechanisms (e.g., blended finance, result-based finance, etc.) with the aim to scale innovations with public and private sector partners.
• Proven track record in developing quality assurance frameworks for third-party verification.
• Experience and technical expertise at the intersection of the public sector, private sector, and academia.
• Proven experience working with digital or other types of startups/joint ventures or incubators in the field of agricultural and/or water innovation, agricultural value chains, climate adaptation/mitigation, women and youth entrepreneurs, and/or research-to-impact initiatives.
• Experience in interdisciplinary approaches, such as climate change, nexus, integrated natural resource management, action research for sustainability and impact delivery, and some field experience in Africa/Asia.
• A good track record of relevant publications, whether scientific, communication products, or other materials.

Desirable,

• Experience conducting action research with private sector actors and agricultural financial investors.
• Experience managing research for development projects with multiple partners in complex political and social environments.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Essential,

• Deep understanding of the structure, financial businesses and practices, challenges, and opportunities in the financial ecosystems in low-income countries and emerging economies.
• Ability to provide technical backstopping during the implementation of financing mechanisms to government/third parties.
• Ability to engage, establish, and facilitate partnerships and networks with actors and stakeholders in the agri-financial sector.
• Driven curiosity in bridging research and private sector thinking, interest, and investment.
• Transformational thinker, comfortable with new and pioneering approaches,
• Ability to be a great team player, work internationally with organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written language skills in English, including effective listening and strong verbal and written communication abilities.

Desirable,

• Good understanding and experience in climate financing concerning the water, energy, food, and environmental sectors.
• Experience working in Africa or Asia, particularly in low and middle-income countries.
• Fluent written and verbal communication skills in French are beneficial.