PMEL Advisor for Bankable Nature-Based Solutions

WWF-NL is a professional and dynamic organization with an informal work culture based in Zeist, the Netherlands. The organization consists of four departments: Conservation, Engagement, Organization & Talent Development, and Finance & Operations. In this context, the Science and Impact Unit within the Conservation department at WWF-NL is seeking a Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (PMEL) Advisor for Bankable Nature-based Solutions (32–36 hours).

The PMEL Advisor will report to the Head of Science and Impact, Ravic Nijbroek.

Background

In this role, one-third of your time will be spent supporting the Science and Impact (S&I) Unit, and two-thirds of your time will be spent supporting the Green Finance Unit.

The S&I Unit ensures that our goals and strategies are based on sound scientific evidence. S&I has several core functions:

• designing new projects and programs,
• maintaining relationships with scientific institutions,
• scientific support for our landscape impact strategies, and
• providing project advice on planning, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (PMEL).

The Green Finance Unit is also part of the Conservation department at WWF-NL and works to redirect financial flows from activities that harm nature toward activities that benefit nature. This is based on two pillars: Greening Finance and Financing Green. In our Greening Finance work, we engage the financial sector to provide financial institutions with insights into their dependencies on nature and the associated risks. In our Financing Green work, we connect financial institutions with green projects developed by WWF and local companies in natural areas, resulting in sustainable investments. 

The work performed by the PMEL Advisor while working for the Green Finance Unit will consist of supporting the DFCD and MoMo4C programs:

Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) - Origination Facility

The DFCDis a fund dedicated to enabling investments in climate-related businesses that promote climate adaptation in developing countries and also benefit vulnerable communities and landscapes. Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the fund is managed by a consortium of four organizations: the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, FMO, Climate Fund Managers (CFM), WWF-NL, and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation. The program began in 2019 and recently received a four-year extension.

WWF-NL co-manages the Origination Facility, which identifies promising climate-focused projects in vulnerable countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The Origination Facility helps these projects develop into scalable, bankable solutions, serving as a pipeline generator for the DFCD Investment Facility (CFM and FMO) or other third-party investors. Our goal is to address the financing gap that stands in the way of achieving global climate and biodiversity goals.

Mobilizing More for Climate (MoMo4C)

The MoMo4C programdevelops green business proposals that address the impacts and causes of climate change. Together with civil society, government, community producers, companies, and other entrepreneurs, we develop business cases with small to medium investment amounts to attract public, philanthropic, and private funding. The program is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. MoMo4C is an alliance of the IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands (IUCN NL), Tropenbos International (TBI), and WWF-NL.

Assignment description

For S&I, you are expected to stay up to date on the latest research, attend conferences, mentor other PMEL staff, provide training on PMEL concepts to WWF staff, and help develop new proposals that include PMEL targets.

For the Green Finance Unit, you will be responsible for developing and implementing a streamlined and effective reporting structure for the DFCD that enables the implementing teams to learn and adapt, while providing impact data for communication and accountability purposes. This will include identifying appropriate KPIs during the program design phase, advising local WWF offices on impact measurement, and establishing baselines.

For the MoMo4C program, the PMEL advisor will compile end-of-project impact data, develop impact narratives, and contribute to knowledge-sharing materials. MoMo4C will also be seeking funding for a second phase of the project in the coming year. As such, the PMEL advisor will play a key role in designing the new MoMo4C program.

Specific activities for both DFCD and MoMo4C include:

• Ensure high-quality data collection and reporting on WWF outcomes and impacts, and develop the necessary methodologies, tools, and indicators.
• Coordinate and collaborate with the local WWF office and PMEL staff from the consortium partners.
• Co-design and lead evaluation processes.
• Streamline internal reporting frameworks, establish a functional reporting structure, and set deadlines.
• Facilitate learning and reflection sessions and promote adaptive management
• Provide solicited and unsolicited advice on monitoring and evaluation to the DFCD and MoMo4C project teams.
• Development and updating of impact tracking tools, dashboards, indicators, and methodologies.
• Assist local implementing partners with the collection and verification of results data.

Qualifications of the ideal candidate

Required

• Have at least 4 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation for conservation and/or climate programs.
• Have an educational background in conservation science, international development, environmental studies, or a background in finance or the economics of conservation and environmental protection.
• Have experience in designing and managing monitoring and evaluation frameworks with a focus on private sector enterprises, sustainable finance, and/or impact investment.
• Have knowledge of and experience working with Theories of Change and assumption-based learning frameworks.
• Experience working with landscape-level monitoring and reporting.
• Knowledge of design, planning, (impact) monitoring and evaluation tools, and PMEL processes.
• Experience working on complex multi-partner programs.

Desired

• Scientific peer-reviewed publications on topics related to PMEL
• International experience in development, conservation, or a related field
• Fluency in Dutch
• Master’s degree in impact measurement

Skills

• Be results-oriented, flexible, cooperative, and creative.
• Proficient in using project management, data management, and data visualization software.
• Excellent knowledge and command of the English language.
• Strong social and communication skills to engage others (in various cultural contexts) and the ability to collaborate with other relevant staff in different functional areas.

Core values

You identify with the core values of WWF-NL:

• Courage
• Integrity
• Respect
• Collaboration

What do we offer?

• You will be able to work in a sustainable office surrounded by nature;
• Fun coworkers and the opportunity to build an international network;
• Vegetarian lunches in our cafeteria and free after-work drinks every other Thursday;
• An employment contract for 32–36 hours per week. Initially, a one-year fixed-term employment contract with a one-month probationary period will be offered;
• Salaries that are in line with the standard in the Dutch nonprofit sector; The minimum gross monthly salary for this role is 4,026 EUR and the maximum monthly salary is 5,065 EUR (based on a 40-hour workweek) (Please note that, due to the maximum salary, we are unable to sponsor a highly skilled migrant permit for individuals over the age of 30 who are not eligible for the reduced salary as set by the IND);
• Employees receive a personal budget consisting of an 8% vacation allowance and a 2.08% flexible budget, and are entitled to 6 weeks of vacation per year (based on a 40-hour workweek);
• We encourage flexible work arrangements, the use of public transportation, and biking for work-related travel. Employees receive an NS Business Card for second-class travel to and from work;
• We also have a hybrid work model, so employees can alternate between working from home and from the office.

Information and procedure

If you are interested in this position, please apply bythe end of the day on Monday, May 20, 2024, using the application form on our website.

Please note that you must have a valid work permit to work for WWF-NL.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Babette Vanlancker (Recruitment Coordinator) atbvanlancker@wwf.nl. Questions about this role can be directed to Ravic Nijbroek, Head of Science and Impact, atrnijbroek@wwf.nl.

We actively strive to ensure that our workforce reflects society and the international nature of our organization. We therefore especially encourage candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

We take the safety and protection of our colleagues seriously. The successful candidate is therefore required to complete an integrity statement and provide a Certificate of Good Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag). We may also request references.

If you are an intermediary, please do not contact us. We will contact recruitment agencies directly if necessary.