Summary

World Resources Institute (WRI) is seeking up to 6 individual consultants with expertise in restoration and biodiversity to identify and engage with locally led organizations in need of funding within the Greater Rift Valley of Kenya; the Lake Kivu & Rusizi River Basin of Burundi, DRC, and Rwanda; and the Ghana Cocoa Belt. As part of the sourcing team for WRI’s flagship TerraFund financing program, you will play a key role in assisting and vetting organizations that are applying for funding between January and July 2025.

About the Program

WRI’s Restoration Initiative informs, enables, and invests in people that restore degraded land. The team’s flagship investment program for locally led enterprises and community non-profits, TerraFund, currently finances, trains, and monitors 200+ projects across Africa. It focuses on deploying grants, low-interest loans, and equity finance to organizations in three target landscapes: the Lake Kivu & Rusizi River Basin in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda; the Greater Rift Valley of Kenya; and the Ghana Cocoa Belt.

These portfolios for funding and capacity building are built through the TerraMatch platform, an end-to-end system that hosts open calls for proposals, connects champions with technical assistance, and tracks the progress of funded projects through a standard monitoring, reporting, and verification protocol.

Scope of Work and Deliverables

In 2025, TerraFund is deepening its commitment to investment in locally led land restoration champions by proactively sourcing and financing up to 100 additional projects with grants, loans, and equity investments in the three target landscapes mentioned above.

These projects will focus on improving biodiversity and aim to connect the most important forests and conservation areas of each landscape through tree-based restoration projects that bring benefits to people, nature, and climate. To assist TerraFund and its partners in uncovering the most impactful organizations working at the intersection of biodiversity and restoration, WRI is seeking up to 6 individual consultants in Kenya, Rwanda, and Ghanato identify and co-create project proposals with locally led organizations within these targetlandscapesand prepare them for funding through the TerraMatch system.

As part of the core sourcing team at WRI, you will also play a key role vetting proposals submitted by other local organizationsand preparing final proposals and budgets for approval from TerraFund’s financial intermediary partners.

You will be based within the country from which you will source projects and engage champions. You are an individual, not a representative of a consulting company or service.You are available to work 40 hours per week between January 6, 2025and July 5, 2025.

Sourcing Project Proposals (70%)

• Identify organizations (NGOs, enterprises, community-based organizations, research institutions, cooperatives, etc.) that implement biodiversity-focused restoration projects within the target landscape.
• In collaboration with the WRI TerraMatch team, create a detailed database of potential partners, including project descriptions, operational regions, and areas of expertise.
• Evaluate the alignment of these organizations with WRI’s core restoration goals and propose a list of organizations eligible to apply for TerraFund.
• Initiate contact and build relationships with identified organizations and other partners, once approved.
• Provide hands-on support for selected organizations in submitting high-quality proposals through the WRI TerraMatch portal.
• Negotiate final budgets and assist in completing contracts between funded organizations and TerraFund’s financial intermediary partners.

Proposal Review (30%)

• In collaboration with the larger sourcing team, conduct a thorough review of project proposals to assess their alignment with funding objectives and analyze the projected impact of the projects on local communities and ecosystems.
• Verify that projects meet predetermined criteria by reviewing the completeness and accuracy of submitted documents.
• Provide constructive feedback to project applicants on areas for improvement.
• Conduct site visits (if necessary) to verify project locations, local engagement, and ground realities.
• Summarize proposals into clear, evidence-based recommendations to the TerraFundproject selection committee, who will approve or reject proposals.

Duration & Terms:

• The consultancy is expected to last 6 months, starting on January 6, 2025 and concluding on July 5, 2025.
• Specific timelines for deliverables will be agreed upon with the selected consultant.

• You will be paid a standard monthly rate for the hours that you have worked that month. You will submit an invoice directly to WRI at a pre-determined date.

Consultant Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Economics, Finance, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related discipline.

• At least 5 years of experience in restoration and biodiversity projects.

• Demonstrated success in securing partnerships or fundraising within the environmental sector.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and networking abilities.
• Proven experience in conveying technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Knowledge of international funding mechanisms and grant processes.
• Experience in engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, including government, NGOs, and the private sector.
• Ability and willingness to travel regionally, if required.
• Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.

• Proficiency in both spoken and written English is required.
• Additional fluency in French is required for applicants from Rwanda.

Evaluation and Selection

The following elements will be the primary considerations in evaluating all applications submitted in response to this posting:

• The extent to which the applicant’s proposal fulfills WRI’s stated requirements as set out in this posting

• Demonstrated expertise and experience with similar projects

• Overall cost of the applicant’s proposal

• Sustainability – WRI values sustainability and all other factors being equal, will favor a proposal to more sustainably perform the work.

• The consultant offering the best overall value will be selected. For this position, price and non-price aspects are considered to be of approximately equal importance.

• Compliance Requirements: WRI receives funding from a variety of sources, including governments and other non-governmental organizations. In addition to WRI’s standard contract terms, certain funder conditions may apply

How to Apply

We invite qualified persons to submit their Expressions of Interest by 16 December 2024 to Jean Marie Ntakirutimana at [email protected], with CC to Moses Kiniti at [email protected] if you are applying for Kenya, Amanda Obuobi Amoako at [email protected] for Ghana, and Jackson Ndera at [email protected] for Rwanda.

Include as the subject line: “Land Restoration & Biodiversity Specialists in Kenya/Rwanda/Ghana”, selecting the appropriate country.

• Please provide a concise summary (maximum 2 pages) detailing your approach to delivering this assignment. This should highlight why you are well qualified for the task, demonstrate your understanding of the assignment, and outline the proposed timelines. Note that WRI will not consider applications longer than 2 pages.
• Include your current Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Include a budget with an indicative monthly rate proposal.
  • The budget should provide a breakdown of the proposed rate, assuming 40 hours of work per week between January 6 and July 5, 2025.
  • All field costs will be covered directly by the Project, including meals, transport and accommodation and any costs related to the consultancy excluding Per Diem. Your proposal should exclusively cover the cost of employing the individual.
  • WRI is an IRS-registered 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization. WRI is not VAT exempt. All prices or quotes should include VAT and tax, as applicable.
• All documents should be combined into a single PDF file.

About Us:

Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.