Enterprise Manager, AFR100, Global Restoration Initiative

This position can be based in Rwanda, Kenya or Ethiopia. Existing work authorization is required for wherever the position is based.

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About the Program:**WRI’s Global Restoration Initiative informs, enables, and invests in people that restore degraded land. The team’s flagship investment and capacity-building programs for locally led African restoration enterprises, TerraFund for AFR100 and the Land Accelerator, provide finance and training for 200+ growing businesses that create sustainable jobs across the 32 member countries of the AFR100 Initiative.

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Job Highlight:**

As the Enterprise Manager, AFR100, Global Restoration Initiative, you will work directly through TerraFund for AFR100 to resource small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that restore land.

In this new position, you will understand, guide, resource, and manage the implementation of the cohort of agriculture and forestry SMEs that have received funding and capacity training to restore land. You will directly support leaders that are expanding the market potential of products and services that are grown on restored land. Examples include Exotic EPZ, a macadamia nut processing company in Kenya, and Nguni Nursery, a native tree nursery in South Africa.

As the portfolio expands, you will also work with sector experts to screen, score, and interview enterprises that have applied for funding through the TerraFund for AFR100 and Land Accelerator request for proposal process. You will ensure that funded enterprises understand the program’s monitoring, reporting, and verification protocols, are adequately reporting on their progress through WRI’s online TerraMatch system, and have access to private sector capacity-building opportunities.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the Global Restoration Initiative’s commitment to invest significant capital and capacity in locally led organizations that are restoring Africa’s farms, forests, and pasture.

You will be supported by WRI’s growing project management and monitoring teams, along with colleagues working across African countries.

You will report to the Manager, Land Accelerator Africa and to the Global Restoration Initiative’s Manager, Restoration Projects.

This position is fully remote but could become hybrid depending on available office space where the candidate is located.**

What you will do:**

Project Management & Engagement (80%)

• Develop and manage the workplans of enterprises that have received funding from TerraFund for AFR100, explaining expectations and new opportunities to them and ensuring that they are completing their work on time.
• Screen and select enterprises that submit applications to TerraFund for AFR100 and Land Accelerator requests-for-proposals, ensuring that each applicant receives thorough vetting from the knowledgeable team members at WRI and at partner organizations.
• Manage relationships between WRI and private sector partners like Realize Impact and Barka Fund that are looking to invest in African restoration enterprises.
• Identify the needs of restoration enterprises and support the design and implementation of training opportunities to fulfill those needs, working with the Land Accelerator team.
• Work with the Senior Manager, Restoration Finance; Manager, Restoration Projects; and Manager, Land Accelerator Africa to create portfolios of enterprises to provide finance to funders and projects.
• Serve as the resident TerraMatch expert for funded enterprises and work with the TerraMatch product team to support the design of new platform features that address the specific needs and challenges that enterprises face.

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Research & Communications (20%)**

• Analyze the business models of funded and aspiring enterprises, identifying what technical support they need to improve.
• Analyze the funding landscape for restoration enterprises in “hot spot” locations, e.g., the Rusizi Basin and the Great Rift Valley.
• Contribute to WRI research and communications products that unpack the barriers and opportunities for private investment in African restoration enterprises.
• Coordinate communication and monitoring visits to funded enterprises, ensuring that logistics run smoothly and that data is collected in a timely manner.
• Liaise with the Restoration Communications team to plan online webinars and events that feature restoration enterprises in Africa.

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What you will need:**

• Education: You have a Bachelor’s degree in business administration, agriculture, forestry, or other related field
• Experience: You have 6+ years of experience, including in project management and business development in Africa
• Professional experience working directly with African agriculture, forestry, or restoration businesses
• Demonstrated capacity to use online project management tools, such as Airtable and Monday.com, and to help new users
• Concrete experience with capacity-building programs for entrepreneurs, e.g., accelerators, pitching sessions, marketing and product development desired.
• Languages: Proficiency in written and spoken English required, with additional fluency in French desired.
• Requirements: You must have an existing right to work where you will be located.

Opportunity summary:

Location: Rwanda, Ethiopia or Kenya.

Start date: Upon mutual agreement with candidate.

Length of contract: 1 year, renewable subject to funding and performance.**
Potential Salary:
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Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. WRI offers a competitive remuneration and benefits package.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of November 30, 2022. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

**What we offer:
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• A competitive salary.
• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US.
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work.
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI.
• Long-term commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours.
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure.

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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.**

Our mission and values:**

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence, Respect.

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Our culture:**

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.**

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.**