Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

WWF is an independent conservation organization, with over 38 million followers and a global network active through local leadership in over 100 countries, WWF Zambia was established in 1962. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

At its core, WWF Zambia envisions a future where both people and nature thrive. The organization works across key thematic areas: Biodiversity, Food Systems and Green Economy and Climate Action. WWF Zambia operates in three key landscapes: the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, the Kafue System, and the Upper Zambezi. These landscapes are critical for sustaining biodiversity, supporting livelihoods, and enhancing climate resilience. Driven by science, advocacy, and multi-sector partnerships, WWF Zambia catalyzes impactful solutions that ensure communities benefit from healthy ecosystems while safeguarding vital habitats for future generations.

Responsibilities or duties

A. Landscape Finance Leadership (Speedboat Focal Point)

• Serve as the focal point for the Landscape Finance Speedboat, leading the design and implementation of landscape finance solutions within the 3 key Landscapes.
• Develop and manage a pipeline of bankable, investment-ready projects aligned with WWF programme priorities.
• Integrate sustainable finance solutions across landscape programmes (wildlife, freshwater, climate, food systems).
• Structure integrated landscape finance models such as blended finance platforms, aggregation mechanisms, and landscape investment vehicles.
• Position WWF Zambia as a leader in landscape finance innovation.

B. Green & Sustainable Finance Strategy and Implementation

• Lead the design and implementation of WWF Zambia’s sustainable finance portfolio.
• Structure and deploy innovative financial instruments, including blended finance, credit guarantees, sustainability-linked finance, and nature-based investment solutions.
• Translate conservation priorities into commercially viable investment opportunities.
• Ensure integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations and safeguards into all financial mechanisms.

C. Financial Mechanisms & Facility Management

• Lead the implementation of financing mechanisms such as credit guarantee facilities and risk-sharing instruments.
• Manage relationships with fund managers, lenders, insurers, and investors.
• Oversee financial performance, risk exposure, and impact delivery of finance mechanisms.
• Optimize financial structures to increase capital mobilization and sustainability outcomes.

D. Private Sector and Financial Sector Engagement

• Develop and manage strategic partnerships with financial institutions, investors, and private sector actors.
• Support integration of ESG and climate risk considerations into financial sector practices.
• Influence policies and market systems to shift capital toward sustainable and nature-positive sectors.
• Lead deal origination, negotiation, and partnership structuring processes.

E. Technical Assistance and Pipeline Development

• Design and oversee technical assistance facilities linked to finance mechanisms.
• Strengthen financial and operational readiness of SMEs, smallholder farmers, and value chain actors.
• Ensure pipeline development meets investor requirements and sustainability standards.

F. Monitoring, Impact, and Knowledge Management

• Develop systems to monitor financial performance, environmental outcomes, and social impact.
• Produce high-quality reports, insights, and knowledge products on sustainable finance.
• Capture lessons learned and contribute to WWF’s thought leadership in green and landscape finance.

G. Strategic Positioning and Resource Mobilization

• Lead development of finance-focused proposals and investment cases.
• Support resource mobilization from donors, development finance institutions, and impact investors.
• Provide strategic finance advisory support to WWF Zambia leadership

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in Finance, Development Finance, Environmental Finance, or related field is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in sustainable finance, green finance, or development finance.
• Proven experience in investment structuring, blended finance, or financial mechanism design.
• Experience working with financial institutions, investors, or development finance institutions.
• Familiarity with agriculture finance, climate finance, or nature-based investments is highly desirable.
• Strong expertise in sustainable and green finance instruments and markets.
• Demonstrated ability in financial modelling, structuring, and deal-making.
• Ability to originate, structure, and support execution of finance transactions.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership management skills.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong planning, coordination, and analytical capabilities

Experience needed

Minimum of 5 years of experience in sustainable finance, green finance, or development finance.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

• Landscape Programme Teams
• Conservation Programme Teams (Wildlife, Freshwater, Climate, Food Systems)
• Policy & Advocacy
• Monitoring & Evaluation
• WWF Africa and Global Finance Practice

External

• Financial institutions, investors, fund managers, and insurers
• Donors and development finance institutions
• Government agencies and regulators
• Private sector actors and SMEs
• Technical assistance providers

Interested persons should have interest and align themselves with the WWF’s organization core values which are: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration

• Serve as the focal point for the Landscape Finance Speedboat, leading the design and implementation of landscape finance solutions within the 3 key Landscapes.
• Develop and manage a pipeline of bankable, investment-ready projects aligned with WWF programme priorities.
• Integrate sustainable finance solutions across landscape programmes (wildlife, freshwater, climate, food systems).
• Structure integrated landscape finance models such as blended finance platforms, aggregation mechanisms, and landscape investment vehicles.
• Position WWF Zambia as a leader in landscape finance innovation.
• Lead the design and implementation of WWF Zambia’s sustainable finance portfolio.
• Structure and deploy innovative financial instruments, including blended finance, credit guarantees, sustainability-linked finance, and nature-based investment solutions.
• Translate conservation priorities into commercially viable investment opportunities.
• Ensure integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations and safeguards into all financial mechanisms.
• Lead the implementation of financing mechanisms such as credit guarantee facilities and risk-sharing instruments.
• Manage relationships with fund managers, lenders, insurers, and investors.
• Oversee financial performance, risk exposure, and impact delivery of finance mechanisms.
• Optimize financial structures to increase capital mobilization and sustainability outcomes.
• Develop and manage strategic partnerships with financial institutions, investors, and private sector actors.
• Support integration of ESG and climate risk considerations into financial sector practices.
• Influence policies and market systems to shift capital toward sustainable and nature-positive sectors.
• Lead deal origination, negotiation, and partnership structuring processes.
• Design and oversee technical assistance facilities linked to finance mechanisms.
• Strengthen financial and operational readiness of SMEs, smallholder farmers, and value chain actors.
• Ensure pipeline development meets investor requirements and sustainability standards.
• Develop systems to monitor financial performance, environmental outcomes, and social impact.
• Produce high-quality reports, insights, and knowledge products on sustainable finance.
• Capture lessons learned and contribute to WWF’s thought leadership in green and landscape finance.
• Lead development of finance-focused proposals and investment cases.
• Support resource mobilization from donors, development finance institutions, and impact investors.
• Provide strategic finance advisory support to WWF Zambia leadership

• Strong expertise in sustainable and green finance instruments and markets.
• Demonstrated ability in financial modelling, structuring, and deal-making.
• Ability to originate, structure, and support execution of finance transactions.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership management skills.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong planning, coordination, and analytical capabilities

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in Finance, Development Finance, Environmental Finance, or related field is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in sustainable finance, green finance, or development finance.
• Proven experience in investment structuring, blended finance, or financial mechanism design.
• Experience working with financial institutions, investors, or development finance institutions.
• Familiarity with agriculture finance, climate finance, or nature-based investments is highly desirable.