Assistant Manager, Carbon Markets at FSD Africa

Job Description

Job Summary

The Assistant Manager, Carbon Markets will support the delivery of FSD Africa’s carbon markets strategy and portfolio, working closely with the Manager and Lead, Carbon Markets and colleagues across FSD Africa and FSD Africa Investments. The ultimate goal is to enable Africa to seize the opportunity presented by carbon markets to accelerate its green economic transition and mobilise finance towards sustainable development. The role will provide technical, analytical, project management and coordination support across FSD Africa’s Carbon Markets portfolio, supporting the identification, design and implementation of carbon market programmes and investments and directly managing defined projects and workstreams. Working across FSD Africa’s organisational pillars, the Assistant Manager will support cross-pillar coordination and the integration of carbon market opportunities into wider FSD Africa programmes and investments.

Contract Type – 1 year fixed-term 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Strategy & Programme/Investment Design

• Support the implementation of FSD Africa’s Carbon Markets strategy and portfolio:
• Monitor local, regional and international carbon market developments, including regulatory changes, market trends, financing developments, emerging technologies, opportunities and risks, providing timely analysis and inputs to Carbon Markets strategy, annual business planning and portfolio reviews.
• Undertake research and market analysis to deepen understanding of how carbon markets can contribute to Africa’s green economic transition and financial market development, providing technical inputs to colleagues across FSD Africa on carbon finance, market mechanisms, policy and regulation, project development, financial institution engagement and emerging market opportunities.
• Support the identification and assessment of potential carbon market programmes, investments and partnerships, undertaking initial research, stakeholder mapping, needs assessments and market diagnostics to inform programme and investment design.
• Support the preparation of concept notes, business cases, Investment Committee papers, Terms of Reference and other programme documentation.
• Support the identification of opportunities to integrate carbon finance into wider FSD Africa and FSDAi programmes and investments.

Project Cycle Management
Manage defined carbon market projects and workstreams and support the wider Carbon Markets portfolio so that agreed results are achieved, risks are managed and high-quality outputs are delivered:

• For projects/workstreams under direct management:
• Support the identification, procurement and onboarding of consultants and implementing partners, including drafting Terms of Reference and supporting procurement processes; work with implementing partners to translate approved concepts into detailed implementation plans, budgets, milestones, deliverables and risk management frameworks.
• Coordinate day-to-day project implementation, maintaining effective working relationships with implementing partners and project trackers covering activities, milestones, budgets, risks, procurement requirements and Development Impact indicators.
• Review project deliverables for quality, completeness and consistency with agreed objectives, providing feedback to implementing partners and organising and participating in project meetings, monitoring visits and stakeholder consultations.
• Identify implementation issues and emerging risks at an early stage, escalating material issues to the Manager or Lead, Carbon Markets as appropriate, and support project amendments and extensions in accordance with FSD Africa policies and procedures.
• Support project closure processes in accordance with FSD Africa policies and procedures, capturing project learning and ensuring relevant lessons are shared across the Carbon Markets team and wider organisation.

For projects managed by other pillars or cross-pillar colleagues:

• Provide technical and coordination support for carbon market components, including reviewing project concepts, Terms of Reference, implementation plans and deliverables from a carbon markets perspective.
• Participate in project meetings and stakeholder engagements where appropriate.
• Maintain an up-to-date inventory of FSD Africa and FSDAi carbon market programmes, investments and pipeline opportunities.
• Support colleagues to identify practical opportunities for integrating carbon markets and carbon finance into wider programmes and investments.

Financial Management, Risks & Resources

• Support effective financial and risk management of projects and workstreams:
• Prepare and maintain detailed project budgets, forecasts and implementation trackers, monitoring expenditure against approved budgets and flagging variances or implementation risks.
• Support due diligence and contracting processes for implementing partners, consultants and potential investees, undertaking financial, market and risk analysis as required to support programme and investment design.
• Liaise with FSD Africa support functions to ensure projects comply with internal policies, donor requirements and relevant statutory requirements.
• Support assessment of Value for Money and Development Impact across projects.
• Contribute to fundraising activities through research on prospective funding opportunities and preparation of technical inputs, workplans, budgets and proposal materials, including project and programme documentation required for internal approval and donor reporting.

Development Impact & Learning

• Work closely with the Development Impact team and project colleagues to support evidence-based programme delivery and learning:
• Support the development of Development Impact theses, results frameworks, indicators and data collection tools, ensuring implementing partners understand and comply with agreed reporting and data requirements.
• Collect, review and analyse quantitative and qualitative project information, following up with stakeholders where information is incomplete and maintaining accurate records of project outputs, outcomes and lessons.
• Contribute to periodic portfolio and project reviews to assess performance and identify areas requiring adjustment.
• Support analysis of lessons emerging from carbon market interventions and translate these into practical recommendations for future programme design.
• Contribute to the preparation of reports, briefing materials and presentations for FSD Africa management, donors and other stakeholders.

Influencing and Communicating for Impact

• Support the Carbon Markets team’s communication, influencing and knowledge-sharing activities:
• Maintain stakeholder maps for priority carbon markets, including governments, regulators, financial institutions, investors, project developers, buyers and other key market actors, and support the organisation and delivery of workshops, webinars, roundtables, training programmes and other stakeholder engagements.
• Support the preparation of briefing notes, presentations, reports, case studies, articles and other communication materials, working with the Communications team to identify opportunities to disseminate project learning and market insights.
• Contribute technical content to FSD Africa’s annual and quarterly reporting and wider Carbon Markets communications.
• Represent FSD Africa at relevant meetings, workshops and external forums as appropriate, behaving at all times in a manner consistent with FSD Africa’s brand and values.
• Support the development and dissemination of practical knowledge products that build understanding and capacity within financial institutions and the wider carbon market ecosystem.

Relationship Management

• Build and maintain effective working relationships across FSD Africa and with external partners:
• Develop relationships with relevant carbon market actors including government agencies, regulators, financial institutions, project developers, investors, buyers, technical experts, development partners and implementing organisations, supporting stakeholder consultations, market engagement and partnership development.
• Coordinate effectively with colleagues across FSD Africa and FSDAi to support cross-pillar carbon market interventions, identifying emerging partnership and programming opportunities and bringing these to the attention of the Manager and Lead, Carbon Markets.
• Maintain regular communication with implementing partners and other project stakeholders to support timely delivery and problem-solving.
• Support capacity-building and knowledge-sharing activities for internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate consultants engaged on specific projects or workstreams and ensure delivery against agreed outputs and timelines.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

COMPETENCIES
Competencies describe the key behaviours that drive success in all of FSD Africa’s roles, regardless of technical specialism. They have been derived from systematic research correlating performance with personal attributes. 

Competency Levels 

• Level 1: Basic
• Level 2: Foundation   
• Level 3: Specialist
• Level 4: Senior Specialist      
• Level 5: Leading Expert          
• Level 6: Executive

This position requires competency at Foundation Level for all the competencies listed below:

Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Master’s degree and at least three years of relevant professional experience, or bachelor’s degree and at least four years of relevant professional experience.
• At least one to two years’ direct experience working on carbon markets, climate finance, sustainable finance or closely related initiatives.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Good understanding of carbon markets, climate finance and sustainable development, including familiarity with key carbon market trends, actors and policy developments.
• Understanding of the role of financial institutions, investors and other capital providers in supporting carbon market development.
• Experience undertaking research, market analysis and preparation of high-quality written materials.
• Good understanding of project cycle management and experience coordinating projects or complex workstreams.
• Ability to develop and maintain project plans, budgets, trackers and risk registers.
• Sound analytical skills, including the ability to assess financial, market and implementation information and draw practical conclusions.
• Understanding of basic financial and investment principles and an interest in developing innovative financing approaches for carbon markets.
• Understanding of risk, compliance and due diligence processes.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders and coordinating delivery across different organisations or teams.
• Strong written communication and presentation skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information into clear and practical outputs.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently and meet deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Knowledge and skill in relevant ICT programmes, including Microsoft Office.

Desirable

• Experience working with financial institutions, investors, project developers, government agencies or development partners.
• Experience working on carbon project finance, carbon market policy/regulation, Article 6, voluntary carbon markets or related climate finance areas.
• Experience working in African markets.
• Experience working in a multi-cultural environment.
• Knowledge of donor policies and procedures.
• Previous experience working on FCDO-funded projects.
• Experience supporting programme design, investment analysis or fundraising.
• Languages: French and/or African languages.