Consultant – Nature-Based Solutions Integration in Investment Appraisal

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Sri Lanka.

📋 Description

• Create Guidance Note 2: Integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) into Investment Appraisal: Entry Points for Financial Institutions.

• Develop a guidance document that is limited to 15 pages, not including a one-page executive summary and references.

• Address screening methodologies for identifying opportunities where NbS can enhance value within investment pipelines and project development.

• Illustrate how NbS can be integrated into traditional infrastructure appraisal and climate-risk assessment frameworks.

• Outline mechanisms for allocating specific NbS elements within larger infrastructure projects.

• Evaluate the economic, operational, and resilience advantages of NbS, such as water-risk mitigation, climate-risk reduction, asset durability, and operational cost efficiency.

• Discuss the valuation of co-benefits, maintenance needs, performance evaluation, institutional challenges, and financing obstacles.

• Carry out a desk review, including pertinent IWMI project materials.

• Engage with relevant professionals identified in the inception plan; a minimum of three key informant interviews is anticipated for the initial draft.

• Create a municipal infrastructure financing case study that demonstrates how a 5–10% NbS component can be integrated into larger infrastructure loans.

• Exhibit adaptation of the approach by development banks, commercial banks, and other financial institutions across various sectors and regions.

• Work collaboratively with the IWMI technical team and communications focal point for document refinement and review.

• Consult with two to three external professionals to review the draft.

• Submit an inception note, initial draft, complete first draft, and final guidance document in accordance with the established timeline.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in environmental engineering, Water Resources, Natural Resource Economics, Urban Planning, Climate Finance, or a related discipline.

• A minimum of 5 years of pertinent professional experience, including substantial experience in nature-based solutions (NbS), green or grey-green infrastructure, or ecosystem-based strategies for managing water and climate risk.

• Proven experience in incorporating NbS into infrastructure investment, appraisal, or climate-risk frameworks utilized by IFIs, development banks, or municipal financing entities.

• Evidence of experience in infrastructure investment appraisal, project preparation, climate-risk assessment, or financing frameworks used by IFIs, development banks, commercial banks, or municipal financing institutions.

• Strong understanding of the bankability of NbS, economic and financial appraisal, blended finance, and strategies for embedding NbS components in larger infrastructure investments.

• A track record of producing guidance notes, technical reports, or knowledge products aimed at institutional or donor audiences.

• Application must include a CV, cover letter, and three references.

🏝️ Benefits

• Internationally recruited consultancy position.

• Contract duration of three and a half (3.5) months.

• A multicultural, multicolored, multigenerational, and multidisciplinary work environment.

• An inclusive organization dedicated to gender equity and diversity.