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Climate Fund Managers (CFM) is a leading climate-centric blended finance fund manager. It raises and deploys climate finance funds in partnership at scale and at pace. Through its award-winning model, CFM has created a blueprint for a new generation of climate financiers, whose collective impact can help end the climate crisis. CFM currently manages two emerging market infrastructure funds focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation: Climate Investor One, a c. USD 1 billion fund focused on renewable energy, and Climate Investor Two, a c. USD 1 billion fund focused on water, sanitation and oceans infrastructure. CFM is currently implementing further blended finance initiatives in the green hydrogen, power transmission and cities sectors focused on development, equity, private credit and guarantee financial instruments.

Established in 2015, CFM is a joint venture between the Dutch Development Bank, FMO, and Sanlam InfraWorks, part of the Sanlam Group of South Africa with offices in The Hague, Cape Town, Singapore and Bogota.

Job Purpose

CFM is seeking an experienced ESG professional to join the Africa team in South Africa. The ESG Associate will support the investments team and wider ESG team with all required tasks relating to the investment of managed funds across Africa, the regional portfolio, reporting to the Regional Head of ESG.

The ESG Associate will be based in CFM’s Africa office location in Cape Town, South Africa.

1.1 Key Duties & Responsibilities

The role will chiefly provide:

Investment Support

• E&S due diligence including completion of E&S screening assessments; climate mitigation/adaption assessments; desk-based research; exclusion list checks; engagement with developers/sponsors; preparation of inputs for investment papers, and other tasks as needed.
• Coordination of development phase tasks relating to ESIAs and other specialist studies (such as preparation of RfPs; review of proposals; selection and appointment of consultants; coordination of consultant activities).
• Preparation of construction and operation phase E&S documents such as management plans and procedures.
• Support with monitoring investment compliance with CFM’s E&S requirements, including environmental and social action plans and gender action plans.
• Support with the development and implementation of investment-specific community development programmes including desk-based research and preparation of documentation.

E&S Governance and Strategy

• Support with the development, revision and update of key governance documents such as the Responsible Investment Policy, the ESMS and the Community Development Framework and supporting procedures and processes.
• Contribute to the development of tools and templates for use by the ESG team.
• Conduct internal audits of projects to confirm compliance with the E&S requirements of CFM’s key E&S governance documents.
• Support with strategic initiatives for the Fund Manager and the managed funds.

Impact Analysis and Reporting

• Support with all required ESG performance and impact reporting commitments, including ESG data collection, reviewing data for completeness and accuracy and providing narratives for the quarterly and annual investor reports.
• Support with impact analysis and generation of impact data.
• Desk-based and field-based monitoring of the environmental and social performance of assets including audits during the construction and operation phases.

Thought Leadership

• Conduct research and prepare papers and presentations for internal and external use on current, cross-cutting or emerging themes in the field of ESG that are related to the CFM business, and the managed funds.
• Preparation of ESG training materials for Fund Manager staff and Project Companies.

General Support and Administration

• Manage and maintain project action trackers, action plans and other ESG team documentation.
• Organise and coordinate meetings, including coordinating across multiple schedules.
• Draft internal documents for meetings and take meeting notes/minutes.
• Complete other administration tasks as required.

Site-Based Support

• Actively identify and develop opportunities to spend time working at sites under construction (and operation) in order to gain site-based, hands-on experience of practical ESG management.

1.2 Qualifications, Experience & Skillset

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in an ESG-relevant discipline.
• At least 5 years’ experience in an ESG-related role ideally in an E&S consultancy, for a developer or an investor organisation.
• Experience in a site-based E&S role, either in construction or operations, would be advantageous.
• Excellent knowledge of and practical experience in implementing international best practice standards in environmental and social assessment and management (e.g. IFC Performance Standards).Technically proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Proficiency in written and oral English. Proficiency in French would be an advantage.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills with the ability to perform independent research and analysis.
• Expertise in renewables, water, wastewater and/or waste infrastructure.
• Excellent knowledge of environmental and social issues as they relate to CFM’s business.
• Capable of maintaining a high degree of effectiveness in a multitask role, managing priorities and delivering to challenging timescales.
• Both a self-starter and a team player.
• Attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, passion for learning, and an interest in sustainable development.

• Willingness to travel and spend time on site and work with site-based ESG teams

1.3 Competencies

• Devotion to quality
• Results oriented
• Structuring
• Cooperation
• Persuasiveness
• Stress Resistance
• Analysing and forming opinions
• Situational Awareness