The Organization
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) deliver researchbased solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition climate change biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.
The Alliance works with local national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean Asia and Africa and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR a global research partnership for a foodsecure future dedicated to reducing poverty enhancing food and nutrition security and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.
With novel partnerships the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet drive prosperity and nourish people in a climate crisis.
The Alliance is part of CGIAR a global research partnership for a foodsecure future.
About the position
We are looking for a Senior Impact Officer to join our team in Rome Italy under the supervision of the Senior Manager and the overall guidance of the Head of Unit Sustainable Finance.
As a key player in our collaboration with a Fund of Funds dedicated to empowering innovative fund managers in SubSaharan Africa your expertise will be crucial in leveraging public funds to attract private capital ensuring the additionality of our investments. If you are passionate about making a real difference in SubSaharan Africa s agrifood sector and have the expertise to support highimpact investments join our team and help us shape a sustainable and secure food future for all.
This position may require regular travel within SubSaharan Africa and requires flexibility in working hours to accommodate collaboration with international partners.
Background on ImpactSF
The CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF) is a key technical partner for sustainable finance actors integrating sciencebased impact KPIs in all areas of the investment lifecycle. This includes investment design pipeline development investment screening due diligence implementation postinvestment monitoring reporting and verification (MRV). Building off CGIAR evidence ImpactSF offers an array of datadriven solutions empowering financial institutions and investors to derisk investments by quantifying climate and environmental risks and impacts. Our goal is clear: drive investments toward climatesmart and naturepositive Food Land and Water systems.
Background on the project
The project is a multidonor fund of funds that addresses financing and capacity challenges related to food systems by providing catalytic capital to Investment Vehicles (IVs) that will lend to or invest in agrifoodSMEs across Africa. ImpactSF is the impact and learning partner to deliver significant outcomes in climate resilience food security and improved livelihoods by mobilizing capital for underserved agrifoodSME. The facility will deploy $70 Million in 8 to 10 underlying funds in Africa for sustainable financing of the food and agriculture sectors with a robust monitoring framework ensuring that investments are both effective and impactful. Through targeted support and Technical Assistance (TA) IVs will be equipped with the tools they need to achieve their impact objectives
The Role and Responsibilities
The role involves developing the backbone of the Impact Measurement and Management framework and coordinating and contributing to data collection analysis and reporting of investment impact on three impact themes: climate & environment food security & nutrition and local value creation & income. Additionally you will lead due diligence and develop impact estimates for new investments in collaboration with the investments team. You will lead TA efforts to enhance IVs impact thesis and identify relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIS). You will also contribute to improving IVs monitoring and evaluation (M&E) processes including data collection monitoring and reporting of impacts across agrifoodSME investments. You will work closely with the ESG team to identify and monitor associated risks and opportunities for each investment. You will be the point person engaging with stakeholders along the investment lifecycle. The ideal candidate will be proficient in data management and project management with the ability to interpret both basic and complex data analysis concepts confidently.
Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) Framework
Lead the design and implementation of the IMM (both investments and for Technicical Assistance); the theory of change the measurement plan and the relevant policies and processes
Develop and implement impact tools screening duediligence assessments and report templates and guidance across the portfolio of IVs
Ensuring the IMM stays in line with industry standards and expectations
Due Diligence & Investments
Develop and manage relationships with key stakeholders including fund managers agrifood SMEs and partner organizations
Coordinate with the investment and TA teams the effective implementation of the pre and postinvestment impact assessments
Contribute to the evaluation of investment proposals including via investment and impact memos
Review and recommend suggestions for the impact and other relevant sections of TA concept notes
Monitoring and Reporting
Build synergies and consistency across data collection and reporting and specialist areas
Lead production of annual and other reports on impact monitoring and analysis
Support investees in their impact data management and understanding in alignment with impact reporting needs to assist in integrating the process better into their existing systems
Impact Studies
Lead the design of impact studies from a technical perspective with support from specialists and the investment team
Draft annual impact reports in alignment with sustainable finance regulations
Ensure the appropriate level of rigor is met for all impact studies
Impact Communications
Coordinate the communication of our investment and TA impact to various stakeholders through briefs research reports case studies conference presentations and workshops
Capacity Building
Postinvestment work with investees to improve their IMM policies and procedures including impact data collection and monitoring
Coordinate ongoing support to IVs to improve their capacity in mainstreaming impact and genderequality in their investment process
Facilitate necessary external capacitybuilding initiatives
Project Management
Ensure that impact activities and goals are delivered on time and within budget each year
Managing the contracts of any impactrelated consultants or contracted parties
Requirements
Essential Requirements
Master s degree in a relevant field such as Agriculture Environmental Science Economics or Business Administration
Previous experience with impact investing (preferable minimum 5 years)
Proven track record of successfully designing and implementing impact managing frameworks
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Proficiency in impact measurement and management tools
Knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices and food security issues
Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse and multicultural environment
Strong project and team management skills
Demonstrated understanding and experience in implementing and adhering to SFDR and other sustainable finance regulations particularly experience in monitoring and reporting PAIs
Demonstrated understanding of leading impact and reporting standards and frameworks for investors (e.g. IFC Performance Standards IRIS Equator Principles Impact Management Platform World Bank s EHS Guidelines) and their practical application in the fund manager context
Demonstrable Knowledge and Experience in ESG risk measurement and management
Demonstrated ability to independently manage and prioritise a busy and diverse workload with a range of deliverables for a variety of stakeholders
High degree of fluency in both written and spoken English and French
Strong PowerPoint and Excel skills
Highly motivated and results driven taking responsibility and full ownership of projects
Good judgement and attention to detail
Desirable Requirements
Experience working in SubSaharan Africa
Experience in the agrifood sector
Familiarity with TA projects and their application in tandem with investment strategies
Benefits
Terms of Employment
This is a locally recruited position based in Rome Italy at the Alliance Headquarters. All benefits are denominated and paid in Euro. The salary is level 10 on a scale of 14 levels with level 14 being the highest. The salary range starts from Euro 60670 per annum. The Alliance offers an attractive remuneration package that includes a competitive salary leave provisions medical and life insurance and noncontributory retirement plan. The contract will be for a period of 2 years subject to a probationary period of 6 months and is renewable based on performance and availability of funds.
Please note that eligible applicants must have the legal status to live and work in Italy:
Be Italian nationals holding a valid passport or identity card.
Or be EU citizens holding a valid passport or identity card and confirmation of registration from the Registrar s Office (Anagrafe)
Or non EU citizens holding a valid Italian work permit (permesso di soggiorno per lavoro subordinato)
Applications
Please apply online through the website () no later than 17 September 2024 attaching a curriculum vitae motivation letter both in English and contact information (e.g. names email address) of at least three references.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.