PMEL Advisor for Bankable Nature-based Solutions

WWF-NL is a professional and dynamic organization with an informal working culture based in Zeist, the Netherlands. The organisation consists of four departments: Conservation, Engagement, Organization & Talent Development and Finance & Operations. In this light, the Science and Impact Unit within the Conservation department at WWF-NL is looking for 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, 1/3 of your time will go towards supporting the Science and Impact (S&I) Unit and 2/3 of your time will go towards 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 programmes,
• maintaining relationships with scientific institutions,
• scientific backstopping of our landscape impact strategies, and
• providing project advice on Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (PMEL).

The Green Finance Unit also falls under the Conservation department of WWF-NL and works on shifting financial streams from nature negative activities towards nature positive activities. This takes the shape of 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 related risks. In the Financing Green work, we match financial institutions to green projects, developed by WWF and local companies in natural areas, resulting in sustainable investments. 

The work done by the PMEL Advisor when 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 DFCD is a fund dedicated to enable investments in climate-relevant businesses that promote climate adaptation in developing countries which also benefit vulnerable communities and landscapes. Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the fund is managed by a consortium of four organisations: the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, FMO, Climate Fund Managers (CFM), WWF-NL and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation. The programme started in 2019 and recently received a 4 year extension.

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

Mobilizing More for Climate (MoMo4C)

The MoMo4C programme develops green business propositions that tackle 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 ticket sizes to attract public, philanthropic and private finance. The program is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. MoMo4C is an alliance of IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands (IUCN NL), Tropenbos International (TBI), and WWF-NL.

Assignment description

For S&I, you are expected to stay informed on the literature, attend conferences, guide other PMEL staff, give trainings on PMEL concepts to WWF staff, and help develop new proposals that require PMEL targets.

For the Green Finance Unit, you will be responsible for the development and implementation of a lean and useful reporting structure for the DFCD, that enables the implementing teams to learn and adapt, while providing data on impact for communication and accountability purposes. This will include determining appropriate KPIs in the programme design, advising local WWF offices on impact measurement and establishing baselines.

For the MoMo4C programme, the PMEL advisor will collate endline impact data, shape impact narratives, and input on knowledge sharing pieces. 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 the project design of the new MoMo4C programme.

Specific activities for both DFCD and MoMo4C include:

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

Experience of the ideal candidate

Required

• Have at least 4 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation for conservation and/or climate programmes.
• Have an educational background in conservation science, international development, environmental studies or a background in finance or economics of conservation and environmental protection.
• Have experience in designing and managing monitoring and evaluation frameworks with a focus on either 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 in complex multi-partner programmes.

Desired

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

Skills

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

Core values

You recognize yourself in 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 colleagues and the chance to build up an international network;
• Vegetarian lunches in our canteen and free after work drinks every other Thursday;
• An employment contract of 32-36 hours. Initially, a fixed-term employment contract of one year with a one-month probation period will be offered;
• Salaries that are in line with the standard in the Dutch not-for-profit 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 contract) (Please note, due to the maximum salary, we are not able to sponsor a knowledge migrant permit for people above the age of 30 who are not eligible for the reduced salary as set by the IND);
• Staff receive a personal budget that is made up of 8% holiday allowance and 2,08% flexible budget, and receive 6 weeks of holiday per year (based on a 40-hour contract);
• We stimulate flexible working arrangements, the use of public transport and bike for work related travel. Employees receive an NS Business Card for 2nd class travel to and from work;
• We also have a hybrid working model, so staff can alternate working from home and from the office.

Information and procedure

If you are interested in this position, please apply by Monday May 20th 2024 EOD by using the application form on our website.

Please note that in order to work for WWF-NL, you need a valid work permit.

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

We actively strive for our employees to reflect society and the international character of our organization. We therefore especially encourage candidates with backgrounds that are normally underrepresented to apply.

We consider the safety and protection of our colleagues as important. The successful candidate is therefore required to complete an integrity statement and supply a Certificate of Good Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag). We may also ask for references.

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