About the Organization
World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research organization that works at the intersection of environment and development, focusing on climate, energy, food, forests, water, and sustainable cities.
Job Summary
This position is jointly supported by WRI’s Climate, Economics and Finance (CEF) and Restore Local Programs. As the Head of Green Finance & Investment, you will play a strategic role in advancing Rwanda’s climate and green growth agenda by translating priority initiatives into investment-ready opportunities and mobilizing capital for high-impact solutions. This position provides an opportunity to shape Rwanda’s emerging climate finance landscape by connecting government priorities, development finance, private capital, and innovative financing approaches to accelerate investments in restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable growth. You will strengthen WRI’s capacity to engage with government institutions, development finance institutions, commercial investors, philanthropic organizations, multilateral funds, and private sector actors to develop financing solutions and investment opportunities that support Rwanda’s climate and sustainable development priorities. You will report to the Climate, Economics, and Finance (CEF) Program Director, WRI Africa with a dotted reporting line to the Senior Director, Restoration Finance. You will work closely with the Rwanda Country Representative, VIA Foundation, Rwanda Green Fund (RGF/FONERWA), and relevant WRI Africa and Global teams.
Key Responsibilities
Country Platform for Climate and Development (50%)
Support finance and investment components of Rwanda’s Country Platform by advancing investment readiness, project preparation, and capital mobilization for climate resilience, restoration, and green growth priorities.
Provide strategic advice to the government on ways to develop their policy and finance response to climate change.
Facilitate collaboration among public, private, and development finance stakeholders to identify, structure, and advance investment opportunities.
Develop and strengthen a pipeline of bankable projects and programs, supporting financial structuring, investor engagement, and transaction advancement.
Provide technical expertise on project finance, financial analysis, investment structuring, and capital mobilization to enhance investment readiness.
Design and advance blended finance and catalytic financing approaches that unlock public and private investment.
Conduct and coordinate financial, commercial, and investment analysis to assess opportunities, risks, and financing pathways.
Support resource mobilization efforts through the development of investment concepts, financing strategies, proposals, and investor-facing materials.
Represent WRI in relevant investment, finance, and stakeholder coordination forums, advancing partnerships and financing opportunities.
Collaborate across WRI’s restoration, cities, food, and finance portfolios to develop integrated investment solutions.
Outcome Buyer Engagement and Outcome-Based Finance Development – Lake Kivu & Rusizi River Basin (LKR) (50%)
Lead the identification, mapping, prioritization, and engagement of potential outcome buyers, outcome payers, and strategic financing partners across the LKR landscape.
Develop and implement outcome buyer engagement and partnership strategies aligned with Restore Local’s Outcome-Based Finance approach.
Coordinate the preparation of landscape investment cases, financing propositions, communication materials, and tailored engagement strategies for investors and financing partners.
Advance outcome-based financing opportunities and transactions by coordinating engagements with restoration champions, VIA Foundation, outcome buyers, financing partners, and relevant WRI teams.
Contribute to the structuring and negotiation of outcome purchase agreements and related financing arrangements.
Collaborate with WRI teams and strategic partners to strengthen enabling conditions for restoration finance, including measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems.
Identify opportunities to scale successful financing models across Rwanda and relevant landscapes.
Required Qualifications
Completed master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Investment Management, Development Finance, Public Policy, or related field.
8+ years of relevant professional experience in project finance, investment structuring, transaction advisory, sustainable finance, development finance, or capital mobilization.
Experience providing thought leadership at a strategic and programmatic level, including convening stakeholders around a movement.
Experience in deal structuring, financial advisory, blended finance transactions, investment management, or private sector investment, including transaction structuring and execution with proven ability in capital mobilization and investor engagement across public and private capital providers.
Experience building and managing relationships with government counterparts, development finance institutions (DFIs), commercial banks, impact investors, private equity funds, climate funds, philanthropic capital providers, and/or advisory firms in Rwanda or comparable emerging markets in Africa.
Track record in advanced financial modeling, investment proposal or business case development, investment analysis and valuation, capital raising, and deal origination, structuring, and execution with a focus on climate, sustainability, or restoration.
Experience in preparing and presenting of investment memos, financial models, and investor-facing materials.
Experience operating effectively in multidisciplinary teams, bridging finance, policy, technical, and implementation perspectives.
Familiarity with nature-based solutions, restoration, climate finance, sustainable agriculture, adaptation or green growth investment themes is desirable.
Proficient in written and spoken English; French and Kinyarwanda are desirable.