Senior Manager, Climate Finance Lagos

Reports to - Principal Adaptation Finance

Contract Type - Full-time Permanent

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

1. Thought Leadership & Programme Design (15%)

Providing strategic clarity how FSD Africa can execute its programmes to increase private finance into high-impact adaptation projects in Lagos. The Senior Manager Climate Finance - Lagos will make their knowledge and relationships available to the Pillar for their project origination and implementation along with FSD Africas broader market-building and transaction activities.

• Knowledge Development: Keep up-to-date on Nigerian market developments (e.g. political priorities macroeconomic positioning regulatory changes) transactions and emerging legislation in sectors/spheres identified as key to enabling greater climate resilience in Lagos (e.g. sectoral waste water and affordable housing policies financial sustainable bonds/financing frameworks public-private partnership legislation and taxonomies and policy NDCs NAPs and country platforms); ensure engagement with relevant experts and decision makers in Nigeria as needed;
• Sharing Expertise: Bring active informed opinions on Nigerian project selection for FSD Africa guiding the organisation to prioritise projects/partnerships that are most feasible impactful and cost-effective;
• Market Building:Participate in the A&R Pillars ecosystem analysis activities (including stakeholder analysis); lead on the generation of insights pertinent to the African climate adaptation agenda. Drive thinking on how FSD Africa can best work with cities and subnational organisations to develop and finance high-impact climate resilience priorities;
• Representation: Represent FSD Africa in fora and/or convene stakeholders in order to build awareness and influence; at all times behave in manner consistent with FSD Africas brand & values.

2. Project Implementation (40%)

Manage the operational roll-out of Lagos-based projects (esp. theLagos Climate Adaptation & Resilience Plan) so that outputs are delivered risks managed and impact delivered; ensuring that ongoing learning from projects is fully utilised to maximise impact and innovation.

• Project Management: Drive the day-to-day roll-out of projects (and chiefly theLagos Climate Adaptation & Resilience Plan) so that results are achieved risks are managed and quality outputs are delivered; ensuring that learning from projects is fully utilised to maximise impact and innovation. Work with implementing partners to support them in driving projects forward according to agree upon project plans maintaining a strategic clarity focus on impact and collaborative case of challenges provide technical assistance and organise additional support to ensure project success;
• Initiative Mapping: Take an active role in gathering information on the progress and ambitions of various climate adaptation & resilience-related projects relevant to FSD Africas work inLagos; be seen as an authoritative voice on the priorities and status of such projects and positioning FSD Africa as a trusted neutral and independent voice that may support the financing of such priorities.
• Implementing Partner Selection: Ensure appropriate selection of consulting implementing partners (e.g. to support with discrete workstreams/deliverables relationships or technical support); ensuring optimal combinations of consultants to bring out their synergies for Lagos-based programmes. Build and maintain relationships with senior leaders in chosen implementing partners maintaining a strong relationship and dealing promptly with relationship difficulties;
• Financial Management:Support in the management of the finances associated with delegated programming optimising the impact achieved with resources (i.e. value-for-money) including through supervising the work of consultants to optimise value for money and tracking budget spend to ensure cost effective utilisation. Ensure compliance with FSD Africas and Donor policies;
• Reporting and Transparency: Ensure that the accountability requirements of donors are met and that good relationships with funders are maintained at all times.

3. Partnership Development and Relationship Building (30%)

Actively participate in partnership development fundraising support for Lagos enabling deep engagement with public- and private-sector changemakers and being seen as a trusted on the ground voice.

• Partner Development:Develop and strengthen relationships with key public sector partners in Lagos/Nigeria incl. the Lagos State Government (and surrounding counties) and national ministries and emerging players in the Nigerian and African climate adaptation space. Where needed; support the negotiation of partnership agreements including Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and contracts;
• Cross-Government Coordination:Drive the continued coordination and communication between State and National officials in order to support the socialisation of FSD Africas programmes among relevant stakeholders. This may be through the coordination of both formal meetings (e.g. the LCARP Working Team and SteerCo) and one-off/informal discussions;
• Political Risk Management: Develop and actively manage all political risk questions associated with Lagos-based programming including through continued communication with senior-level authorities engagement with political cycles and priorities actively managing long-term programmes through administration transitions and navigating political economy questions relevant to Lagos and Nigeria;
• Stakeholder Management: Ensure comprehensive and timely communication with project partners incl. through coordination of regular implementation/governance actively connecting partners where appropriate and keeping abreast of partner priorities progress and capacities;
• Senior Networking: Build and maintain relationships with both technical and decision-making leaders that may support LCARP leveraging new opportunities that may arise and managing expectations as needed;
• Fundraising and Positioning: Identify Nigerian-specific opportunities for fundraising and co-funding for the work of FSD Africa & support senior A&R management with proposal development as requested.

4. Adaptation & Resilience Pillar Management and Cross-FSD Africa Coordination (15%)

Provide programme and operational management support to the Adaptation & Resilience Pillar as requiredin support of the Pillars strategy and programming.

• Pillar Planning: Provide input into the broader work planning (e.g. annual business planning RACI matrices project management software updating regular check-ins) of the A&R team (and the Adaptation Finance portfolio in particular) to ensure accomplishment of strategic & operational targets in the most resource-effective and impactful manner possible;
• FSD Africa Communications: Work collaboratively with Strategic Communications Function to deliver on a broader A&R communications strategy incl. developing LCARP-related content for resources/ website; participating in campaigns etc); contribute to the development of annual and quarterly reports;
• Leading By Example: Guide staff and consultants in a manner that empowers them to add value to FSD Africa and deliver high standards of performance including by demonstrating an engaging leadership style that motivates team members and results in high performance.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

COMPETENCIES
Competencies describe the key behaviours that drive success in all of FSD Africas roles regardless of technical specialism. They have been derived from systematic research correlating performance with personal attributes.

Competency Levels

• Level 1: Basic
• Level 2: Foundation
• Level 3: Specialist
• Level 4: Senior Specialist
• Level 5: Leading Expert
• Level 6: Executive

This position requires competency at Senior Specialist Level for all the competencies listed below:

ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS
Commitment & Alignment
Demonstrates commitment to serving our partners and alignment with the values and vision of FSD Africa
Change & Challenge
Has a strong sense of ownership that leads to learning self-starting taking initiative driving change and leading development

ACHIEVEMENT COMPETENCIES
Situational Awareness & Thinking
Thinks clearly and intentionally analysing information objectively understanding issues solving problems and making decisions
Drive for results
Is keenly motivated to achieve goals & act with accountability to deliver quality results

PEOPLE COMPETENCIES
Relationships & Collaboration
Discerns and appreciates the values viewpoints or abilities of others; effectively reconciles different interests and displays emotional intelligence
Communication & Influencing
Deliberately adjusts behaviour to accommodate others; communicates clearly confidently and appropriately to influence others

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Masters degree and 9 years of experience or Bachelors Degree and 11 years of experience in Development Studies Economics Public Policy Finance or other relevant fields.
• Experience in a financial markets development or project management environment including in a senior leadership position.

Essential Experience Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated ability to manage development projects with ambiguity diversity and complexity while maintaining a high standard of execution & focus.
• Comprehensive network within the Nigerian public sector & political economy financial and/or development sectors with the ability to command respect and to influence senior leaders in both private and public spheres.
• Experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative and trusted relationships with implementing partners private-sector players and government & public agency counterparts.
• Demonstrated ability to work strategically build and contribute technical commercial and operational knowledge over an extended period of time with a commitment to learning and building the capabilities of their teams/organisations (e.g. through the provision of technical assistance).
• Experience in conducting and analysing research (with a preference for a combination of qualitative quantitative and spatial analysis); proven skills in communicating and visualising data with preference for application to Nigerian development / financial market programmes.
• Proven track record of managing others utilising an engaging leadership style to elicit commitment and strong performance.
• Excellent communication skills in English.

Desirable

• Strong preference for Senior Manager Climate Finance - Lagos to already be resident in Lagos (or the surrounding regions).
• Foundational knowledge and understanding of Nigerian (and specifically Lagos) adaptation finance needs/approaches (and associated topics).
• Experience in structuring the financial arrangements capital raisings or negotiations of terms for large infrastructure projects with a preference in Africa (highly desirable).
• Ability to develop implement and test a convincing Development Impact Thesis (preferred); track record of adjusting strategies as a result of lessons learned (required). This may be through the demonstration of a track record in designing theories of change and influence overseeing end-to-end delivery of results and incorporation of gender/youth into project design and evaluation.
• Demonstrated skills in managing large budgets managing risk and ensuring value for money with absolute integrity; ability to manage large project portfolios across multiple countries.
• Previous experience of working in multi-cultural environments and/or on donor-funded projects preference for those funded through UK Aid or FCDO-funded projects.
• Excellent communication skills in local languages.
  

Commitment to Equity Diversity and Inclusivity:

FSDAi is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of equity and inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race religion colour national origin sex gender gender expression sexual orientation age marital status or disability status. We will ensure that all applicants are provided a fair chance to compete for available job opportunities.