Sustainable Finance Originator Climate-Smart Agriculture in Brazil & Latin America (Consultant)

Apr, 9 2021

Background

The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) is led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), one of the 15 research centers of CGIAR. We bring together the world’s best researchers in agricultural, climate, and earth science to deliver innovative research-based solutions that catalyze positive change towards low-carbon and climate-resilient food systems. CCAFS considers sustainable finance as a key lever for change in the sustainability agenda and a crucial driver to support the transition to sustainable and climate-resilient food systems and landscapes.

This is a key growth area for CCAFS, as we receive greater demand from public and private investors for our cutting-edge research, advisory services, global operational capacity, and innovation focus. We focus on providing innovative science-based solutions that drive sustainable economic growth while delivering positive climate and development outcomes.

As part of on-going advisory work, we are looking for an individual with an investment and finance background to assist with market research and pipeline building. This work aims to develop a pipeline of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) business models in food systems across Brazil to support investment matchmaking. Pipeline development should focus on upstream (sustainable intensification of production). (Review the attached document SUSTAINABLE FINANCE ORIGINATOR CSA – Brazil.pdf)

For Latin America, this work aims to develop a pipeline of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) business models in food systems across Latin American countries (LAM), excluding Brazil, to support investment matchmaking. Pipeline development should focus on upstream (sustainable intensification of production). This may include sustainable livestock, landscape restoration, agroforestry, and other types of sustainable agriculture and food supply chains, including activities leading to soil carbon sequestration, etc. (Review the attached document SUSTAINABLE FINANCE ORIGINATOR CSA – LAM.pdf)

Results will inform financial institutions, impact investors, and private companies about promising business models and investment opportunities in LAM that contribute to large-scale impacts (climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, and improved productivity amongst others).

Responsabilities

• Support CCAFS to develop a pipeline of potential investees that can be matched to impact investors by sourcing investment opportunities, developing business cases, and preparing investment memorandums for climate-smart agriculture (CSA) business models in food systems.
• Identify CSA project and business models: interviews and reviews to map out cases
  across the region on sustainable livestock, landscape restoration, agroforestry, and other
  types of sustainable agriculture and food supply chains.
• Validation (or refutation) of the investment strategy of promising investment opportunities (i.e. if there is a market need for the investment instruments envisioned and sufficient demand).
• Validation (or refutation) of the impact thesis of promising investment opportunities (i.e. is
  there a potential for a substantial and measurable impact with the envisioned investment strategy). Technical input on CSA will be provided by CCAFS scientists and researchers.
• Support project teams to disaggregate problems and provide innovative solutions through close collaboration with the project team by diagnosing bottlenecks.
• Support CCAFS scientists and researchers to characterize projects and business models based on climate smartness and mitigation potential of business models. Technical input
  on CSA will be provided by CCAFS scientists and researchers to support the consultant.
• Long-list of potential investment enterprises complimented with a ‘Deal Book’ of ~4 that matches the thesis of the proposed project. The final ‘Deal Book’ of ~4 will include an investment memorandum report for each.

THE CANDIDATE SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMPETENCIES, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced degree in Economics, Finance or Business Administration required.
• Minimum 7 years working experience at the international level in the area of sustainable finance, climate finance, and/or impact investing or in the commercial sector closely related to the topic.
• Minimum 7 years working experience at the international level in the area of sustainable finance, climate finance, and/or impact investing or in the commercial sector closely related to the topic.
• Strong understanding or interest in impact investments, including for low-carbon and climate-resilient food systems.
• Sound experience working with asset owners, asset managers, corporates, public & private donors, etc.
• Solid knowledge of innovative financial instruments in sustainable land use and climate-smart food systems.
• Good understanding of agricultural systems and climate-related challenges in developing countries, and how environmental and social issues related to business risks and opportunities.
• Solid knowledge of Microsoft Office, with advanced PowerPoint/presentation skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Portuguese; a third language (Spanish) is strongly preferred. For the Latin America consultancy, besides English, a second language (Spanish or Portuguese) is strongly preferred.

TERMS OF THE CONSULTANCY

This consultancy call is globally recruited. It will be hosted by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and funded by CCAFS. It will be based in Brazil and home-based work may be considered.

The consultancy for Latin America will be based in any country of Latin America and home-based work may be considered.

The consultancy contract will be for a maximum of a 4-month period (April/May 2021 –July/August 2021). We offer a challenging position with remuneration commensurate with experience, a high degree of independence, and a very flexible and multicultural working environment. The candidate will report to Alberto Millan (Global Lead, Sustainable Finance).

HOW TO APPLY

Applications should be submitted before April 9, 2021, to Ciniro Costa Junior (c.costajr@cgiar.org). All applications must include curriculum vitae, cover letter, salary expectations (USD monthly salary expectation), and contact information of three professional referees who may be contacted. Please indicate in the subject of your email which call you are applying for (Brazil or Latin America). Please note that applications that do not include all the information described above will not be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.