Regional NBS Advisor

Reports to:                                    Eastern Africa, Madagascar & Western Indian Ocean Regional Director (EAMWIO)

Internal liaison:                            WCS Nature-based Solutions Team

Travel:                                           Approximately 30%. As required within the region and to donor/technical meetings as needed.

• Serving as the Regional NBS Advisor for the development of the WCS EAMWIO NBS program. This role will include serving as lead advisor to country programs in refining the vision and mission of carbon finance in service of conservation and communities;
• Serve as technical and regional level project manager for all ongoing climate finance projects across East Africa;
• Identify, develop, and lead a cadre of investor-ready climate change finance projects and jurisdictional programs across East Africa, anchored primarily around existing WCS conservation landscapes. Project identification and design will be conducted through intensive interaction with existing WCS country teams;
• Together with the WCS country and global WCS NBS team, identify, track, and selectively pursue a pipeline additional project and jurisdictional program development funding;
• Engage with identified project investors, and create the materials and proposals needed to secure additional investments in project and program establishment;
• Developing standardized approaches for project development catering to the range of emission reduction and/or restoration opportunities, the typology of project funders and investors, forms of engagement with government, and level of development of national or jurisdictional programs.

• Serve as key member of WCS NBS technical team and WCS Regional Team;
• Develop and provide advisement to WCS country teams on the potential of carbon finance within their landscapes, including internal awareness raising materials and a proposed country strategy;
• Lead Validation and Verifications of existing VCM Projects:
  • Lead any and all project validation and/or verification in collaboration with WCS NBS team and WCS Country teams
    • Develop / finalize Project Documents or Monitoring Reports
    • Lead engagement with VVB and serve as VVB point person
    • Lead technical component of audit site visit; Oversee in country site visit
    • Lead all required alterations to Project Document
    • Update Project Documents / Monitoring Reports for review by VVB
  • Oversee and monitor the implementation of intervention activities; ensure implementation complies with Project Document;
  • Oversee and monitor the implementation of project governance and engagement with government partners;
  • Provide oversight and provide guidance to WCS country team on all government engagement;
  • Lead country teams to develop monitoring and reporting systems, knowledge management, and lead all and any reporting;
  • Provide project budgeting oversight and internal financial reporting;
  • Provide oversight and guidance in the implementation of benefit sharing mechanisms and financial flows;
  • Act as a liaison with investors, marketing firms and credit end-buyers on investment proposals and deal-structuring.
• Lead Feasibility Assessments:
  • Lead the development of initial assessments and feasibility studies required for identified opportunities to evaluate and recommend the appropriate role carbon finance may provide within a land/seascape. This will include evaluating and developing a potential project governance approach, evaluating various intervention activities against their net greenhouse gas emissions reductions potential, and determining the financing required for the implementation of such interventions. The objective of the feasibility work is to create a fact base that will facilitate an investor decision on the potential for cost effective credit generation over the long term.
• Lead emerging VCM Project Development:
  • Oversee the development of all components of a project required for government support and third-party project validation and credit verification;
  • Work with country teams to develop the design and structure of identified projects, based on a theory of change. This will include the design of project interventions, and community and government engagement;
  • Oversee and provide advisement to country teams on the development of community and government engagement strategies, including the role of jurisdictional programs;
  • Work with country teams to develop appropriate benefit sharing mechanisms;
  • Develop and lead in-country technical teams and technical consultants responsible for the full development of identified projects;
  • Identify key third party technical needs; secure and manage identified third party consultants;
  • Determine short, medium and long-term financing needs in order to inform investment and credit sales strategies;
  • Act as a liaison with investors, marketing firms and credit end-buyers on investment proposals and deal-structuring.
• Assist in development of proposals to expand NBS opportunities in East Africa, including assisting governments in the development of Jurisdictional REDD+;
• Serve as bridge between regional team, country teams, technical consultants, and the NBS team;
• Provide regular and timely reporting to investors, funders, and to global WCS NBS team on activities and progress to project milestones;
• Serve as an expert advisor to global WCS NBS team on regional issues, event, initiatives that create either opportunities or obstacles for advancing our carbon portfolio;
• Work with country team and global WCS NBS team to further develop portfolio and project level strategy plans along with a short and medium-term financial plan;
• Monitor and work with country programs to secure additional grant funding.

• Strong background in NBS and REDD+, demonstrated experience in both voluntary carbon project development and jurisdictional REDD+ preferred;

• Strong familiarity with existing voluntary market standards and methodologies;

• At least 7-years experience, including at least 2 years of program and budget management experience;

• Advanced degree in conservation, community engagement, environmental studies, or other related advanced degree;

• Demonstrated experience in the convening of networks and multi-stakeholders engagement;

• Excellent skills in representation, outreach and partnerships building across a diverse set of technical levels, cultures, and languages;

• Excellent skills in mediation, communication and animation of multi-stakeholders initiatives;

• Experience working on field based implementation of landscape-level conservation, avoided deforestation, reforestation, woodlots, or natural regeneration projects;

• Strong analytical and writing skills; extreme attention to detail;

• Professional level written and oral English fluency required, fluency in Portuguese preferred;

• Ability and willingness to travel extensively to country programs and field sites.
  
  Application and Review Procedure
  
  Please submit a CV, detailed cover letter describing specific experience in the skills listed above or other relevant skills not mentioned, and contact information for three references.
  
  WCS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value.  EOE/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled
  
  #LI-SR1