Sustainable Finance Associate, Africa

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. The organization partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and the private sector to help build strong economies that are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change. GGGI supports stakeholders through complementary and integrated workstreams that deliver comprehensive products designed to assist in developing, financing, and mainstreaming green growth in national economic development plans.

GGGI has a rapidly expanding sustainable finance portfolio, especially on green, social and sustainable (GSS) bonds, having supported GSS bond issuances exceeding USD 6.5 billion. In 2024 GGGI has entered into a partnership with the European Commission (EC) to deliver technical assistance under the framework of the EU Global Green Bond Initiative (GGBI).

CONTEXT
Under the framework of the GGBI, GGGI is tasked to promote the development of green bond markets by accompanying first-time issuers in EU partner countries across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Southeast Asia (SEA) and Subsaharian Africa (SSA) to enter the green bond market.

GGGI is to support a minimum of fifteen (15) issuers from low- and middle-income countries throughout the issuance of green bonds, mobilizing at least USD 3 billion, yielding significant environmental and economic benefits, including a reduction of emissions equivalent to 130 million tons of CO2e, the sustainable management of 300,000 hectares of forest, the creation of 250,000 green jobs and enhance the climate change resilience of 2 million beneficiaries.

GGGI activities are organized under 4 outputs:

Outcome 1: Thematic Bond Markets are Scaled up

Workstream 1: Horizontal Capacity-Building and Awareness Programme

Workstream 2: Transaction-Based Technical Assistance

Output 1.1 Country-level capacity building to public and private actors on Green Bonds pre- and post-issuance processes, requirements and steps delivered

Output 1.2 Awareness raising material and case studies disseminated

Output 1.3. Green Bond pre-issuance support delivered to potential issuers

Output 1.4 Green Bond post-issuance support delivered to issuers

PURPOSE
Based in Addis-Abeba, Ethiopia, the Sustainable Finance Associate will support the delivery of technical assistance to perspective issuers, accompanying them throughout the pre- and post-issuance process, including stakeholders engagement (regulators, arrangers, underwriters, stock exchanges, investors, guarantors), green bond framework development, green project pipeline development, roadshow organization and delivery, second party opinion negotiation, development of impact reporting.

The Sustainable Finance Associate will work closely with GGGI Country Programs, and report to GGGI Program Manager and Africa Sustainable Finance Lead.

ENGAGEMENT
Support the Sustainable Finance Lead in the engagement with potential issuers, member countries and financial industry actors
Build and maintain strong relationships with ministries of finance and environment, local financial institutions, national development banks, international financial institutions and international climate funds
Build and maintain a network of partner Second Party Opinion providers, Stock Exchanges, partner Arrangers, institutional investors, perspective issuers

DELIVERY
Assess issuers’ portfolio to understand and identify eligibly green technologies and assets to be reflected in the framework
Review and analyze the issuer’s sustainability strategy and processes to identify suitable GSS bond issuance strategies
Develop executive reports and presentations to inform the Senior Officer and stakeholders on the issuer’s sustainability strategy, systems and processes
Support the development of issuers’ Green Bond Frameworks, including i) Use of Proceeds, ii) Process for projects identification and selection, iii) Management of Proceeds, iv) Monitoring and reporting;
Develop presentations outlining ICMA’s principles, GSS Bond Framework’s components, pre- and post-issuance processes and requirements;
Support the negotiation with Second Party Opinion providers to secure positive evaluation of issuers’ green bond framework;
Accompany the issuers in investor roadshows to respond and clarify potential investors’ questions;
Assist issuers to screen, identify, prioritize and select eligible green projects;

REQUIREMENTS
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in Economy, Finance, Public Administration, Social Science, or other related fields
An advanced degree in Finance, Public Administration, Economics, International Affairs or other relevant field
Preferably 3-4 years of professional experience in sustainable finance
Prior experience with green, social, or sustainable bonds is required
Familiarity with national and international taxonomies is strongly preferred (e.g. EU taxonomy, Climate Bond Initiative)
Experience and familiarity with sustainable finance and sustainable banking standards is an asset
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential for this position (the selection process will involve a technical test in English)

FUNCTIONAL
Exceptional analytical skills, alongside strong synthesis skills
Leadership, teamwork and creative problem-solving abilities
Able to pick up and assimilate relevant information quickly and easily. Learns new tasks rapidly. Responds swiftly and appropriately. Can think on their feet in rapidly changing environments.
Excellent ability to multi-task and prioritize under stressful circumstances.
Attention to detail, quality control and strong organizational abilities.

CORPORATE
Understand and actively supports GGGI’s mission, vision and values.
Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership.
Process and share information easily.
Manage emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily.
Promote creativity and innovation among staff.
Be able to lead where needed and provide solutions to project-level challenge.

WORKING CONDITIONS
The Sustainable Finance Associate, Africa is an X6 National grade level under GGGI’s salary scale. For X6 National grade, the base salary starts from USD 14,676. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate's experience, academic background and internal equity. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision.

GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members.