Context:

People and nature experience climate change through water whether that be drought, floods, sea level rise, or unpredictable storms. It is estimated that more than two billion people in the least developed countries do not have access to clean water and sanitation. This water crisis affects every aspect of their lives from mortality, to health, quality of life, and environment. However, when it comes to global climate financing to address these challenges, there is a significant gap due to a lack of an enabling environment to develop suitable and credible projects as well as a limited number of bankable and sustainable investment opportunities in the water sector.

Team description

The climate crisis is a water crisis. Around the world, people are feeling the effects of climate change through water, including flooding, droughts, sea level rise, and irregular rainfall. To adapt to this new reality and build resilience to the impacts of climate change, we need to rapidly improve how water resources are managed and delivered for different users over time. This provides an exciting opportunity to rethink how we create investment opportunities that promote resilient water management for people and the planet.

The Resilient Water Accelerator is an initiative designed to increase the flow of private and public finance into water projects that help the most climate-vulnerable communities build resilience to climate change. Our mission is to demonstrate the business case for increased and enhanced public and private investment in water-related deals in emerging economies that strengthen resilience for climate-vulnerable communities and are replicable so that millions more can benefit. We are working to increase the speed, scale, and replicability of water investment by creating a pipeline of bankable projects, bringing together the right mix of financing with the right commercial structures and partners, and supporting improvements in the enabling environment. We are undertaking work to understand local markets and context, develop templates, shared resources, and data, and to build proof of concept projects to provide a springboard for increased action on resilient water. And we are developing thought leadership on how to make water more investible. Read more here: www.resilientwateraccelerator.org/

We are a friendly, supportive, globally distributed team, bringing on-the-ground expertise and comprehensive perspectives, combining climate policy, water economics, private finance, measurement and evaluation, and governance. We are currently housed within WaterAid – the world’s largest NGO focused on providing water, sanitation, and hygiene outcomes for people in developing countries and are one of WaterAid’s flagship programmes. We have a close partnership with Global Development Incubator, which is providing incubation support for the RWA.

The RWA currently has 11 staff, based in 6 countries, and we have plans to build the team to around 18-20 over the next couple of years, to extend our delivery from 2 countries (currently Nigeria and Bangladesh) to 6, and to secure additional financing to complement the investment we have secured from the UK Government.
This is an exciting time to join the RWA as we move from our early inception phase to implementation and delivery. This role will be vital to support our next phase as we move from high level conceptual challenges to more technical implementation. The post holder will report to the Country Strategy Manager on a day to day basis but will also be overseen by Country Programme Director, RWA on deliverables related to projects/deals. This will be a full time Consultant position hired through Water Aid UK.

DELIVERABLES/ SCOPE OF WORK FOR INVESTMENT MANAGER

The Resilient Water Accelerator is recruiting a Investment Manager (IM), who will help in identifying and preparing investment opportunities in the water sector in Bangladesh. This individual will be based in Dhaka and will engage with project executing/implementing entities (from public and private/commercial sectors) and technical project evaluators (legal, environmental, audit, technical and policy) to identify, originate, and provide early stage deal development. RWA works to develop and design deal structures that meet investors’ climate resiliency and financial viability criteria, to strengthen the deal pipeline for downstream funders (including but not limited to development finance institutions, private and commercial banks, and corporations). To provide a broader perspective, the work also involves understanding the local market—including but not limited to guiding regulatory frameworks, sector specific readiness, financial sector maturity, potential for adopting/adapting technology, integration with global supply chains, —to stimulate private sector investment in climate-resilient water infrastructure.

The IM will liaise with the RWA’s Country Strategy Manager (CSM) and play a pivotal role in advancing investment projects by fostering collaboration among market stakeholders, supporting an enabling environment for climate-resilient and impactful investments, and ensuring programmatic alignment with broader RWA goals. This position involves close coordination with RWA’s country-based and global colleagues to test investment strategies, understand regulatory and other relevant systemic enablers, and manage critical stakeholder relationships. She/he is expected to have a collaborative approach and a team player and ensure alignment with CSM and RWA Global Team’s vision in Bangladesh.

The IM will focus primarily on identifying and developing diverse opportunities for RWA consideration, and building a more country portfolio that showcases pathways for private investment while meeting RWA’s core investment criteria. In effect, we are interested in your ability to identify good projects from bad ones, and to apply (and in some cases design) due diligence frameworks to prepare projects for downstream investment (primarily by and through existing project preparation facilities). Through this work, the IM will have the opportunity to assess, support, and strengthen relevant regulatory agencies, project promoters and staff as well as build critical insights for standardizing and replicating more effective project design. They will also be responsible for building investor relationships in country and beyond, as may be relevant, and in collaboration with the Global Platform team.

The critical responsibilities for the will include the following:

• Establish and build relationships with investors, project sponsors, regulators, and government officials in the service of identifying potential areas for investment and understanding investor / regulatory criteria, tracking and updating findings in RWA’s stakeholder database;
• Develop a portfolio of discrete projects across discrete markets (i.e. municipalities, watersheds, industries, supply/value chains, agriculture), for more extensive technical assistance from RWA, reflecting at least two market types at any given time (i.e. municipalities, watersheds, supply/value chains), and integrating (and where necessary developing/applying) RWA frameworks for climate resiliency, revenue models and financial viability, long-term operating models, and potential for replication/scale;
• Develop pro-forma financial models, management and operating models, and economic analyses to identify potential financial structures and associated risks, cash flows, project returns, and investment scenarios where private sector investment would be possible.
• Explore the potential for PPPs in relevant projects, or innovative/alternative financing solutions and credit enhancement mechanisms where necessary to enhance the investment case for portfolio projects. Consider how the finance stack could work in Bangladesh – including the role of different financing streams including - cconcessional finance, grant finance, debt, equity, operational costs, working capital, performance or results based finance, revenue streams, voluntary carbon markets and more.
• Author project briefs for each project in RWA’s active portfolio (with updates every 6 months), providing a strong rational and business case to potential investors for adopting projects into their own deal pipelines. If required, develop tailored RWA investor engagement materials such as investor presentations and project teasers and share with partners.
• Make recommendations for portfolio balancing / changes semi-annually based on progress structuring and advancing the deal with relevant public agencies, investor interest (and potential for successful transfer to an investor’s deal pipeline), and risk. This may include recommending RWA apply additional resources to continue supporting the project; maintaining current levels of investment/action; or dropping the project from its active portfolio.
• Work closely with Country Strategy Manager and other partners to develop the required scope and costing of relevant studies. Assist the team on procurement and contract management of the studies. Work with feasibility assessment partners to support the development of the high-level pre-feasibility of the short-listed projects
• Develop capacity and share best practices/key learnings around project design, structuring, and risk management among promoters and governments for improved and more efficient acceleration from idea to financing.
• Build templates, criteria and tools for local project development and standardization of contractual arrangements for water investments
• Facilitate knowledge dissemination around new approaches and best practices in climate financing across RWA and its key partners/clients
• Support the Country Strategy Manager on building local partnerships, plan and deliver workshops/events and roundtables and other activities.
• Play an active role to build out the RWA’s presence in Bangladesh, working in partnership and complimenting the work of the Country Strategy Manager.

  QUALIFICATIONS

  We seek a highly motivated, charismatic leader to establish RWA at the center of relevant climate, finance, and water-related professional networks in Bangladesh, and with the entrepreneurial drive to identify, create, and strengthen opportunities to attract private/commercial finance into water- related investments. You might be the ideal candidate if you:

  INTEREST

  Are passionate about building climate resilience and adaptation; with a strong focus on water resilience, access and innovation

  EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

• At least 10 years of experience with an international finance institution/multi-lateral development bank(s), investment bank, or private equity firm with roles related to infrastructure financing including that in the water sector
• Have minimum of 5 years of experience in a managerial position in multi-million-dollar investment funds or donor funded programs
• Demonstrated ability to structure financial and economic models with a variety of financial instruments (debt, equity, blended financing, guarantees).
• Proven and recent deal track record of sourcing, structuring, and closing investments in water and other infrastructure sectors, including deals in Bangladesh/ or other developing markets in Asia/Africa.
  
• Hold an advanced degree (Masters preferred, but not essential) in finance, economics, urban development or other relevant disciplines.

MANAGEMENT

• Demonstrate strong skills and a track record in leading diverse teams, inspiring staff, and developing a shared vision with staff and stakeholders
• Are able to build and maintain partnerships with diverse stakeholders including national and subnational government, donors, donor-funded programs, international and regional financers, private sector actors, and civil society organisations.
• Is a Collaborative team member who respects different perspectives and can align with the team’s final decisions.

• Ability to self-manage work streams and tasks; self-directed and resourceful with high standards for quality output.

COMMUNCIATIONS

• Are an exceptional communicator with the ability to present information, both in writing and verbally, in a structured and insightful manner
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Bengali; Proficient in one or more of the languages spoken in the region
• Good analytical and critical thinking skills; demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information and make clear strategic recommendations.

DURATION

The duration of the assignment will be 24 (twenty-four) calendar months starting from 01 February 2025 up to 31 January 2027. This will be a FULL-TIME assignment ‘Consultant’ (or ‘Investment Manager’, in short ‘IM’) to WaterAid UK (WaterAid). During the period, the consultant will work in consultation and collaboration with the respective project team, relevant official/representative of RWA and relevant staff member of WaterAid Bangladesh. The contract period depends on the deliverables and scope of work , and the duration of the contract might fluctuate upon mutual agreement of the parties, if such situation arises.

PAYMENT AND SUPPORT

The full- time consultant will be engaged for a period of 24 (twenty-four) calendar months, commencing from the date of joining. The contract, to be initiated by WaterAid UK, comes with a strong potential for extension based on exemplary performance. We are proud to offer a globally competitive compensation package, meticulously aligned with international industry standards, reflecting our commitment to attracting and retaining top-tier talent.

TERMINATION

Each party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement immediately on written notice if the other party on not less than 30 (thirty) day's written notice.

APPLICATION: