MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
IMPLEMENTATION AND PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT;
Support the development of a comprehensive portfolio of gender-sensitive blue finance projects encompassing grants, investments, blended finance mechanisms as well as seascape and community focused impact/ equity investments, microgrants, inter alia.
Manage and monitor portfolio of financial support mechanisms and tools for grassroots, community-led ventures and startups, tracking their performance, focusing on community empowerment, ecological benefits and innovation outcomes.
dentify and mitigate risks and support efforts to derisk seascape and community driven venture building.
Identify and support high-potential regenerative blue economy SMEs and start-ups in the region, providing support to unlock relevant streams of finance
Provide technical guidance on financing solutions to GBW needs and requirements, partners, communities and relevant stakeholders and drive thought leadership on innovative financing models that prioritise community and grassroots impact, nature-positive outcomes, private sector development and climate resilience.
STRATEGIC AND TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP;
Explore and mobilise multi-level funding mechanisms targeting nature-based solutions, ecosystem restoration and regenerative blue economy development.
Work with the Great Blue Wall team to support the development, preparation and incubation of nature-positive blue micro, small and medium entreprises (mSMEs) and start-ups, aligned with the broader goals of the initiative to unlock nature-based solutions within target seascapes and regionally, with a focus on community-level impact and home-grown solutions to achieve coastal and marine ecosystem conservation and regeneration as well as livelihood outcomes, ensuring sustainability planning in the process. Advise on emerging blue finance opportunities to drive investment in ocean sustainability, engaging with stakeholders across sectors, and providing strategic direction to build a blue financing ecosystem supporting the regenerative blue economy, including through blue finance mechanisms such as blue bonds, debt-for nature swaps etc.
Support the co-development of the Great Blue Wall Financing Facility aligned with ecosystem restoration and sustainable blue livelihoods.
n collaboration with the IUCN Ocean team, identify and implement strategic initiatives to support the integration of best practices and learning to global and regional platforms in support of agenda-setting and action to empower country-readiness towards the Great Blue Wall initiative.
COORDINATION AND EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT;
Cultivate a network of robust and collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders to strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem. This network should encompass private sector actors blue economy entrepreneurs, investors, consumers, policymakers, and research institutions as well as financial institutions, blue finance clusters, and impact investors and mechanisms such as the Blue Nature Capital and Financing Facility (BNCFF)
Support engagement with private sector actors and forge strategic partnerships between the GBWI team, government agencies, NGOs, and research institutions working on venture development, coastal and marine ecosystem management, and the regenerative blue economy within the GBW region. This may involve co-developing project proposals, facilitating knowledge exchange, and leveraging partner expertise to maximise impact.
Foster a vibrant knowledge-sharing network and spearhead capacity-building initiatives to empower entrepreneurs with the necessary skillsets and knowledge on coastal and marine ecosystem conservation and regeneration. This could involve organising workshops, training programs, and exchange visits to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and best practice sharing.
in consultation with the Regional Head, Coastal and Ocean Resilience ensure that IUCN is adequately represented in relevant international, regional, and country fora and facilitate discussions on blue entrepreneurship to position IUCN as a reference in the Eastern and Southern Africa region.
COMMUNICATION, OUTREACH AND RESOURCE MOBILISATION;
Support the development and dissemination of informative communication materials to increase information and awareness on blue finance, community-led ocean solutions, entrepreneurship and the Great Blue Wall's mission.
Work with the team to draft compelling narratives that effectively communicate the positive contributions of regenerative blue entrepreneurs and ventures to economic transformation and ocean health within the GBW region. These narratives can be used to engage a wide range of audiences, from policymakers and donors to consumers and local communities.
As appropriate contribute to resource mobilisation activities, including through development of concepts and projects documents;
Contribute to establishing, maintaining and nurturing good relationships with donors, funding agencies and other technical partners to ensure the financial viability of the regenerative blue entrepreneurship area of work in the COR programme;
PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT;
Provide leadership and expertise in managing and coordinating regenerative blue entrepreneurship and venture-building projects undertaken by the GBWI team, including the delivery of a blue venture impact assignment under the ReSea project. This may involve developing project timelines, budgets, and work plans, assigning tasks to team members, and overseeing project implementation to ensure successful completion.
Engage with the World Economic Forum (World Economic Forum) on the delivery of regenerative blue economy ventures and the 1000 Ocean Start-ups Initiative.
Develop compelling project proposals and budgets to secure and unlock funding for blue entrepreneurship initiatives from donors, foundations, and international development agencies. Proposals should clearly articulate the project's objectives, methodology, expected impact, and alignment with GBWI's strategic goals.
Closely monitor and evaluate project progress, ensuring successful implementation and achievement of set goals. This may involve collecting and analysing data, identifying challenges, and making adjustments to project activities as needed to maximise impact.
In collaboration with the Regional Manager, Regenerative Blue Economy, ensure IUCN's work is accountable to donors and other stakeholders through the establishment and management of effective accountability mechanisms and processes;
Contribute to progress tracking and programme reporting processes and requirements.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES;
Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS;
The successful candidate will have a strong finance and impact investing background coupled with a strong understanding of the role of finance and private sector engagement in supporting conservation outcomes and driving regenerative blue economy or nature-positive agendas. The candidate will also have a clear understanding of the multilevel challenges faced by communities and target countries in unlocking finance to drive venture building and business development, with a particular awareness of the specific barriers faced by women and girls.
EDUCATION;
An advanced university degree preferably in relevant disciplines, such as, Finance, Development Investment, Conservation Finance, Business Administration, Corporate (Impact) Finance, Engineering, Innovation, Entrepreneurship or related fields.
Computer literacy in relation to office applications (word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint) use of internet and online communication tools;
WORK EXPERIENCE;
We're looking for a hands-on, highly motivated, autonomous, gender-sensitive, innovative, solution-oriented, results driven and resourceful individual with at least 7 years of proven experience in:
Sound expertise in programme/project development, research, implementation, and/or management of entrepreneurship projects or related fields;
Strong private sector expertise and experience particularly in banking, impact investing and/or pipeline development or supporting MSME, start-up, venture building and value chain development with a holistic, nature-positive approach to coastal community needs and contexts;
Good understanding of marine and coastal ecosystem management, ocean conservation and protection measures will be considered a strong advantage;
An understanding of the specific challenges faced by women and girls in accessing finance and start-up capital is an asset.
Experience in producing high-quality documents (technical task-based Terms of References, guidance notes, editing technical documents, manuals, etc);
Experience in managing stakeholder relations, community engagement and working with normative bodies, government, non-government actors, private sector, municipalities, academia, and local communities and community-led initiatives;
Ability to apply a gender-sensitive lens to project design and delivery;