Technical Advisor (Climate Finance) at the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (German Agency for International Cooperation) is an international enterprise owned by the German Federal government, operating in many fields across more than 130 countries.

In Nigeria, GIZ's portfolio includes among others, a programme to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its regional integration goals. The programme aims to strengthen sector-specific capacities in the areas of Peace and Security, Customs and Trade as weir as Strategic Management and Organizational Development in the ECOWAS Commission.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Technical Advisor (Climate Finance)

VA No: 075
Location: Abuja

Background

• As a service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, we are dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy and the environment, and peace and security.
• The diverse expertise of our federal enterprise is in demand around the globe – from the German Government, European Union institutions, the United Nations, the private sector and governments of other countries. We work with businesses, civil society actors and research institutions, fostering successful interaction between development policy and other policy fields and areas of activity.
• Our main commissioning party is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The registered offices of GIZ are in Bonn and Eschborn. Our 19,506 employees, almost 70 per cent of whom are national personnel, work in around 120 countries (December 2017).
• GIZ has worked in Nigeria since 1974. From 2004, GIZ has maintained a country office in the capital city Abuja. Currently 280 national and 51 international employees and 4 integrated specialists are working in the country (as of 31.12.2018).

Programme

• The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is promoting approaches towards more sustainable agricultural systems that contribute to the elimination of hunger and malnutrition and are adapted to the impacts of climate change.
• The GIZ SEDIN provides overall support to MSMEs in selected value chains including access to finance while focusing on increasing jobs and incomes. The NICOP component of SEDIN is actively exploring the mainstreaming of impact investment in Nigeria and is supporting the ecosystem actors in quality pipeline identification and impact investment readiness.
• GIZ SEDIN NICOP implements the Global GIZ project NDC Assist II in the field of private climate adaptation finance in Nigeria. The activities focus on strengthening the capacities of the private sector to finance and implement climate goals. The component on private adaptation finance encourages both companies and impact investors to seize opportunities for business development and financing of business models that contribute to climate change adaptation and resilience building.
• The Technical Advisor supports the activities of the Private Adaptation Finance component of NDC Assist II in Nigeria implemented by GIZ SEDIN NICOP.

Responsibilities
The advisor is responsible for:

• Business development support for growth-oriented SMEs with innovative business models contributing to climate change adaptation
• Awareness raising and network building among impact investors for investment opportunities in the field of adaptation to climate change (for example, in the sectors of agriculture, water, manufacturing)
• Steering of multi-stakeholder processes to develop customer financing solutions with financial institutions in West Africa
• Contributions to knowledge exchange with other countries and networking including technical papers for relevant forums (e. g. Impact Investor Networks) as well as in the context of the global NDC Partnership and other climate initiatives.

Tasks
Advising Project Partners:

The Advisor:

• Supports the identification of growth-stage SMEs offering innovative technologies, products, and services contributing to climate adaptation and resilience building
• Conducts needs assessments of growth-oriented SMEs and impact investors interested in climate change adaptation (for example, in the sectors of agriculture, water, manufacturing)
• Serves as contact point and assists with capacity development (incl. development of training materials) for both SMEs and impact investors in sectors relevant for climate adaptation
• Advises growth-oriented SMEs on developing and scaling their business model, connecting with investors, sharpening and strategic communication of their climate change adaptation relevance, and designing impact measurement systems
• Raises the awareness among impact investors for investment opportunities in the field of adaptation to climate change (e.g., in the sectors of agriculture, water, manufacturing)
• Develops joint activities with financial intermediaries to address market barriers for addressing climate change adaptation.

Networking and Cooperation:
The Advisor:

• Identifies partners for Public Private Partnerships, networking support of SMEs and leveraging of private investments into climate adaptation, resource efficiency and agriculture.
• Builds and sustains strategic partnerships with financial institutions in West Africa to develop end user finance solutions and steers multi-stakeholder processes to develop customer financing solutions.

Knowledge Management:
The Advisor:

• Develops in-depth knowledge about business development practices, business opportunities and financing needs in adaptation-relevant commercial sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, water.
• Undertakes in-depth review of access to finance for clean energy technologies in West Africa.
• Coordinates studies of relevant business models/ cases, including directly and through third parties
• Develops and maintains database(s) of financial intermediaries in West Africa
• Records documentation regarding existing consumer financing solutions provided by financial intermediaries in West Africa for productive use energy systems
• Disseminates success stories on private adaptation finance through existing platforms (e.g., NDCP platforms, Climate Negotiations, Impact Investor Networks, etc.)
• Feeds learning experiences from the cooperation with companies and investors into the Nigerian NDC implementation process
• Provides technical inputs on proposals and activities of the project NDC Assist II.

Project Management Tasks:
The Advisor:

• Coordinates relevant activities at local level in consultation with the component manager at NDC Assist II and selected representatives of GIZ SEDIN NICOP as well as in cooperation with the partners, to ensure efficient
• implementation and organisation of the project
• Prepares input for project/programme reports and draws up documents in accordance with project standards on communication and presentation
• Handles contract management where needed including, but not limited to, offer preparation, impact monitoring, project progress review, reporting.

Required Qualifications, Competencies and Experience Qualifications

• University Degree in Business Development, Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Rural Development or related field, if possible, with a specialization in climate and sustainability topics.
• In-depth knowledge of working with and promoting small and medium-sized growth-oriented companies, as well as practical experience in (impact) investment facilitation and materialisation
• Demonstrated excellent understanding of strategies for how to help businesses grow, with expertise in one or more of the following areas: business finance, business planning and strategy, sales and marketing, product development, or human resource management.
• Good overview knowledge of climate change adaptation / resilience concepts.

Professional Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in SME development, business operations, financial services, consulting.
• Worked in a small and medium-sized business environment, and/or have direct experience supporting SMEs to gain access to finance.
• Deep understanding of go-to market and growth strategies for businesses in climate adaptation-relevant sectors in accordance with project goals
• Ability to strategically build and maintain networks in the private sector (esp. impact investors, private equity, venture capital and other local investors)
• Ability to produce business and financial models and to assess business models.
• Previous coaching, teaching, training, or facilitation experience preferred.
• Good networks in climate adaptation-relevant sectors (like e.g. agriculture, food, water) with public institutions, research organisations and private sector in Nigeria and West Africa.

Desired Additional Qualifications, Competencies and Experience:

• Have a passion for and excellent understanding of the Nigerian, entrepreneurship ecosystem
• High motivation to work at the interface of climate change adaptation and the private sector
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.
• Additional Nigerian languages would be added advantage
• Excellent team spirit and networking capacity
• Highly motivated to work in a multicultural environment
• Strong organizational competence
• Proactive, independent and flexible working style
• Willingness to travel to project sites in Nigeria
• Strong awareness and passion on gender and other inclusivity considerations.

Application Closing Date
30th August, 2021.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and letter of motivation as one document with complete contact details to: [email protected] using "Vacancy No 075" as the subject of the mail.

Note

• GIZ is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity. All qualified candidates, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, race and religion are encouraged to apply.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.