Consultancy Opportunity - CFA Incubator Manager

The Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA) is the leading global alliance of conservation practitioners and organizations with the mission of promoting awareness, expertise, and innovation in conservation finance globally. The CFA has more than 2500 individual members and more than 40 institutional members.

The CFA Incubator is a recurring program of the CFA and has run two rounds with a total of over 22 projects and companies supported through a combination of finance, technical support, and mentorship. Past CFA Incubator partners have included Conservation International Ventures, Mirova, BNP-Paribas, and others. The third round of the CFA Incubator will run during 2025 with financial support from the Nature Transformation Fund run by Milkywire, in collaboration with Klarna.

Consultancy Summary

The CFA Incubator Manager is a part-time consultant position supporting the Conservation Finance Alliance on the implementation of the CFA Incubator program. The Incubator Manager will be responsible for coordination, management, and technical support for the CFA Incubator, in close collaboration with the CFA Executive Director, including providing strategic, business, and financial modeling support to the 10 projects or companies that will be selected for round 3. The CFA Incubator will conduct a global open call for proposals in two stages. The first stage involves providing rapid feedback for ideas at the concept level. The second stage is the full proposal submissions. Proposals are reviewed by a Technical Review Committee. Five projects will receive incubation with subgrants and five additional projects will receive incubation only - a combination of technical support and mentoring. The mentorships will occur over the course of 2025 with mentors coming from the CFA membership and partners. Projects will conduct final presentations to potential donors and investors as well as the CFA members and partners.

Principal Responsibilities

Calls for Proposals and Review of Calls

• Management of CFA Incubator Call for Proposals.

• Management and support of Technical Review Committee (TRC).

• Initial concept review and advice.

• Consolidation of review results in coordination with the Executive Director and the TRC.

Subgrants and Support Program

• Support establishment of milestones with projects.

• Manage CFA Incubator support program.

Mentorship Program

• Provide technical, strategic, and practical expertise to Cohort 3.

• Manage mentors.

• Share lessons learned.

• Presentation and Promotion

• Support Cohort with the development of their presentations.

• Review and provide feedback on interim and final reports.

Other Tasks

• Provide input for all CFA Incubator communications.

• Track overall progress of the projects and the Incubator program.

• Assure effective communication with donor including monthly media updates.

• Draft Final Report to donor in collaboration with the CFA Executive Director

Qualifications

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an area related to conservation finance: e.g. business, management, economics, sustainability, or biological sciences.

• Four years post-graduate work experience in appropriate field or with an international organization; or business degree at the Masters level or above.

• Fluent English language skills (writing and speaking) and ability to communicate well with a globally-located, culturally-diverse team.

• Very strong writing and communication skills as documented by examples.

• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills; ability to set and follow priorities and meet deadlines

• Ability to work independently and without daily instruction and monitoring.

• Proficiency with standard productivity software such as Microsoft Office, Google applications, etc.

• Passion for nature finance or conservation.

Highly desired qualifications

• Masters of Business Administration (MBA) or equivalent.

• Working knowledge of a second UN language in addition to English.

This is a part-time, remote consultancy for up to 100 days over 12 months. This position will report to David Meyers, Executive Director, CFA. Preference for some working hours overlap with US East Coast.

How to Apply

Submit your resume or CV and cover letter with your daily rate and confirmation of English fluency to jobs@conservation-strategy.org.

Please include a link to your LinkedIn profile. Early applications are encouraged as we will review submissions on a rolling basis.

Application Deadline: January 10, 2025

CFA Publication - Coral Reef Finance: Insights from the Global Fund for Coral Reefs Investment Principles

This document has been compiled for The Global Fund for Coral Reefs with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA).

The Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) seeks to enhance the resilience of coral reef ecosystems, communities and economies by unlocking new public and private resources that accelerate sustainable businesses and finance solutions. Launched in 2020, the GFCR was created recognizing that longer-term finance solutions beyond traditional grants are required to address the diverse challenges facing coral reefs. The GFCR’s ‘reef-positive solutions’ include businesses and finance mechanisms that have a positive impact on coral reef health while providing sustainable benefits for local communities. The GFCR provides a suite of support including finance for transformative programmes, technical assistance and risk-tolerant investment capital to design, incubate and grow these reef-positive solutions.

Download - Coral Reef Finance: Insights from the Global Fund for Coral Reefs Investment Principles 

WWF Conservation Finance Short-Term Consultant

Objectives

WWF is currently developing an introductory course on conservation finance in collaboration with the Center for Wildlife Studies.  WWF seeks a short-term consultant to contribute to the development of the course with WWF’s Conservation Finance team.

Deliverables

·      Prepare training methodology for hybrid (on-line and in-person) conservation finance course.

·      Develop survey to identify conservation finance learning objectives.

·      Develop original presentations on conservation finance approaches and mechanisms.

·      Identify potential course readings, podcasts, videos, and other media suitable for training. Provide cites and weblinks in agreed format for recommended materials, and requirements for use of materials.

Qualifications

·      Extensive hands-on knowledge of conservation finance

·      Experience with conducting short-term training

·      Excellent communication skills

·      Advanced degree in field related to conservation finance

Application

Only individual consultants will be considered.  Please send your CV, a paragraph expressing interest in this assignment and your expected availability to:  jacob.walker@wwfus.org

Minderoo Foundation is hiring for Officer, Blue Economy

Management and protection of our oceans are chronically and pervasively underfunded. Despite rapid growth of the field of ocean finance over the last decade, the ocean finance gap is growing faster than ocean finance investments. A paradigm shift is required to realign the global economy with ocean health, by growing the blue economy to sustain ocean and community health.

Minderoo Foundation has recently launched the new Ocean Finance & Blue Economy Strategy to “Grow Durable Blue Economies” by 1) strengthening spatial ocean finance and 2) scaling-up private capital for blue economy growth. This position will primarily support the implementation of the second objective. Philanthropy and government capital are essential but not sufficient; private capital is required to close the ocean finance gap and grow durable blue economies. There is high demand from the private sector, but deals are limited by fragmented global markets, small pipelines and small and risky deals.

The Minderoo Foundation will approach these barriers by removing market impediments and partnering with private sector champions.   The Officer, Blue Economy position will support the Program Lead in delivering the following priority projects:

1. Blue Bonds: scoping and development of new blue bonds, both sovereign and corporate, to aggregate and de-risk ocean investments while crowding in private sector capital to build the blue economy.

2. Ocean Investment Protocol: developing globally harmonised standards, typologies, and impact frameworks for ocean investments, across public and private sectors.

3. Ocean Impact Investment Strategy: developing and implementing Minderoo Foundation’s Ocean Impact Investment Strategy in partnership with the Strategic Impact Fund to test and grow bankable ocean business models.

4. Ocean Superstars: analysing the global blue economy and selecting large multinational corporations, finance institutions, and insurers to partner with Minderoo to grow the blue economy at scale.

Specifically, the role will involve:

• Supporting strong relationships with key corporate clients to engage in blue finance

• Managing grants and consultants to deliver strategy & impact

• Researching, analysing and technical report writing

• Assessing potential ocean impact investments and conducting due diligence

• Project management and reporting against objectives and milestones, focusing on impact delivery.

Please apply here: https://www.minderoo.org/careers/

Minderoo Foundation is hiring for Officer, Ocean Finance

Management and protection of our oceans are chronically and pervasively underfunded. Despite rapid growth of the field of ocean finance over the last decade, the ocean finance gap is growing faster than ocean finance investments. A paradigm shift is required to realign the global economy with ocean health, by growing the blue economy to sustain ocean and community health.

Minderoo Foundation has recently launched the new Ocean Finance & Blue Economy Strategy to “Grow Durable Blue Economies” by 1) strengthening spatial ocean finance and 2) scaling-up private capital for blue economy growth. This position will primarily support the implementation of the first objective.

Countries, particularly in the Global South, have inadequate finance for ocean governance and economies that undermine ocean health. Countries are committed to global Marine Protected Area (MPA) goals, but do not have sufficient capacities, tools, or capital to fund these commitments. The Minderoo Foundation will approach these barriers by

1) leading the development of an evolved approach to spatial ocean finance

2) demonstrating the new site-based approach

3) strengthening Global South capacity for ongoing ocean financial planning and implementation.

Supporting the Program Lead in delivering the Ocean Finance and Blue Economy Strategy and focusing on spatial ocean finance and Global South engagement, specifically, the role will involve:

• Engaging and building partnerships with stakeholders in Global South implementation sites including across government, private sector and civil society

• Supporting the analysis, development and implementation of new methods and mechanisms to finance MPAs and ocean governance

• Managing grants and consultants to deliver strategy & impact

• Researching, analysing and technical report writing

• Coordinating working groups and collaborations

• Project management and reporting against objectives and milestones, focusing on impact delivery.

Please apply here: https://www.minderoo.org/careers/

Job Opportunity with WCS for Blue Carbon in Western Indian Ocean

Wildlife Conservation Society

Western Indian Ocean

WCS is currently evaluating the role that blue carbon ecosystem protection and finance can play in our conservation strategies at community scales and at larger (e.g. MPA) scales.  This will contribute to our strategic development in three key Western Indian Ocean (WIO) nations in which we operate: Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar, while sharing information and resources with our Mozambique team.

WCS is looking for a limited term staff member experienced in blue carbon ecosystems and ideally with experience in carbon accreditation processes. For more information - see the Terms of Reference

Job Opportunity: Conservation Finance Specialist for WCS: Global Fund for Coral Reefs project in East Africa

The Wildlife Conservation Society is seeking to hire a Conservation Finance specialist to serve as the Program Director for its new programme - Miamba Yetu: Sustainable Reef Investments to be based in Mombassa, Kenya. The program, supported by Global Fund for Coral Reefs, will implement a blended finance facility to support community-based and private sector initiatives aimed at achieving protection of target coral reefs in Kenya and Tanzania. WCS is building this program with support of specialized external implementation partners in conservation finance. Find out more about the job posting at the following link and Below: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25965&siteid=5168#jobDetails=696474_5168

Closing Date: 28 February, 2022

14-Feb-2022

Programme Director (Conservation Finance) Miamba Yetu

Kenya, WCS Global Conservation Full-Time

Job Description

Position Title: Programme Director (Conservation Finance) Miamba Yetu- (GFCR Project Director)
Reporting to: WCS East Africa & Western Indian Ocean Regional Director in close collaboration with the Regional Marine Director
Location: Mombasa, Kenya

Internal Relations: Will be a part of the regional marine team and will closely collaborate with the national marine team. In addition, the Program Director will maintain a working relationship with the WCS Director of Business and Conservation, based in the US, who will provide additional technical support and global outreach.

Organization Background:
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

Program Background:
The Wildlife Conservation Society is seeking to hire a Conservation Finance specialist to serve as the Program Director for its new programme - Miamba Yetu: Sustainable Reef Investments. WCS is receiving funding from the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) to implement a blended finance facility to support community-based and private sector initiatives aimed at achieving protection of coral reefs in the western Indian Ocean of Kenya and Tanzania. WCS is building this program with support of external implementation partners in conservation finance. The core of the program is an area between Malindi on the coast of Kenya and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania know as the Trans-Boundary Conservation Area (TBCA), but investments may span the coastlines of both nations. The programme will support the incubation and development of businesses that will contribute to the conservation of coral reefs in the region and support coastal community development. The programme will generate new business opportunities and develop a pipeline of projects that will attract private sector investment whilst delivering conservation benefits to reef ecosystems through sustained income streams for conservation or reducing negative impacts. The programme will work to leverage GFCR funds to generate additional investment in support of coral reef conservation and has been designed to operate over a period of eight to ten years.

Expected results from the project (under the leadership of the Program Director) include the following:
• Completed scientific/feasibility studies to gain greater understanding of key hot spots and of the value of ecosystem services provided to identify priority areas for investments (with support of regional and national science teams);
• Reduced pressure on coral reef ecosystems and improvement in the livelihoods of people living in and around coral reef systems in the region through investment in sustainable enterprises;
• Establishment of transparent work flow and procedures for accepting and reviewing proposals that meet WCS ecological criteria and demonstrate potential for financial returns on investment in the future;
• Successful early-stage investments to test and implement the approach;
• Establishment of an incubator, or “venture studio” in the region to incubate start-up projects that can later receive blended financing through the programme;
• Leveraging of GFCR grants to attract private sector capital and other funds to address growing threats to reefs from coastal development, unsustainable fishing and other key threats.
Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will lead the implementation of the programme, and will work as part of the WCS East Africa marine team conservation team. This will involve close collaboration with the Western Indian Ocean Marine Director, Kenya Marine Director, Tanzania Marine Director, and two science support positions. The Program Director will coordinate activities between WCS, which will provide the project coordination and marine conservation science expertise, and existing and yet to be identified implementation partners that will contribute on the financial side. Current implementation partners include Okavango Capital and Conservation Capital, both located in Kenya and Blue Finance, which is operating a project in Tanzania.

The Program Director will be responsible for:
• Oversee the management of the project; maintaining regular contact with GFCR, the UN Mult-Party Trust Fund and United National Capital Development Fund;
• Develop an efficient and transparent system for vetting and approval of projects for submission for funding;
• Ensuring WCS evaluation of coral reef and community benefits prior to investment and prioritization of projects to support thus ensuring that supported projects meets both conservation and financial criteria (with support from WCS regional marine team and two project scientists);
• Work with partners to develop a pipeline of feasible projects that could receive investment from the program and coordinate submission of proposals to UNCDF, or to Pegasus capital for larger feasible investments;
• Developing an incubator process for smaller-scale projects that need support in developing an investable or scalable plan;
• Development of partnerships with conservation and finance groups nationally, regional and globally. Conduct regional and global presentations on the work as opportunities arise. Engage with national and regional partners including governments, businesses, NGOs, and communities.
• Coordinate with partners to explore effective approaches for disbursing funds/investing in projects, including potential development of a Special Purpose Vehicle that can leverage funds from multiple investment sources;
• Tracking project deliverables and targets and ensure the donor receives high-quality reports on the work (including any work produced by the project marine scientists)
• Undertake actions necessary to ensure the success of the program and manage project budgets under the Miamba Yetu project (GFCR funded);
• Contribute to WCS’s regional development of financial sustainability strategies as needed and as opportunities arise including Madagascar and Mozambique.
• Ensure that the Miamba Yetu program contributes to supporting WCS’s regional marine strategy.

Qualification Requirements

• The successful candidate will have at least a master’s degree in business, finance or related area of study.

• In addition the candidate will have experience in conservation or environmental issues, ideally related to marine conservation.

• The candidate should have at least five years of relevant finance or investment experience, along with several years of experience in program management.

• Strong writing and verbal English skills are essential.

Application Process:
Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications should apply by emailing an application letter and together with CV and the names and contact information of three references to: joleary@wcs.org by 28th February 2022 as the deadline. Please include "GFCR Project Director" on the subject line of your email.

Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted