Manager, Agri-Food Systems in Africa

CPI is an analysis and advisory organization with deep expertise in finance and policy. Our mission is to help governments, businesses, and financial institutions drive economic growth while addressing climate change. We are unique in our focus on finance, our ability to get the right people to the table, and our analytical rigor.

CPI has offices in Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States and acts as the Secretariat for The ClimateShot Investor Coalition alongside similar roles for The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (The Lab) and The Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA).

Accelerating climate finance for food systems is a priority workstream for CPI. Our growing Agriculture, Land Use and Food Systems work
combines a global approach with practical insights from across our country offices.

As part of this workstream, ClimateShot Investor Coalition (CLIC) is an action-oriented group of investors working in agriculture and food systems. CLIC aims to rapidly scale up the finance necessary to shift toward low-carbon, climate-resilient, and nature-positive agriculture and food systems globally. As the Secretariat for CLIC, it is our role at CPI to drive the group’s strategic vision and workplan. The CLIC team leads on developing knowledge products for agrifood investors, policymakers, funders, and the sector more broadly, running two member Action Groups, as well as the Agrifood Investment Connector, which works directly to support climate and nature-smart SMEs in the agrifood system in Africa and Latin America.

Position Summary

CPI is seeking an experienced Manager, Agri-Food Systems, Africa with significant expertise in the African agrifood and climate finance sector to play a key role in CPI’s Agriculture, Land Use & Food System workstream.

Reporting to the UK-based Senior Manager of CLIC and supporting the Head of our South Africa Office, this role will focus on:

• BuildingCPI’s agriculture, land use, and food systems portfolio in Africa, leading on designing, managing, and delivering new agrifood systems projects on the continent.
• Supporting the CLIC team on program delivery across its Knowledge Products, Connector, and Action Groups workstreams, and expanding the CLIC team’s network across sub-Saharan Africa.
• Taking a technical lead on identifying and delivering new business development opportunities in the agrifood system and climate finance space within our growing Africa regional program.
• Supporting CLIC’s Senior Manager in securing emerging global business development opportunities in Agriculture, Land Use, and Food Systems.
• Working with CLIC’s Senior Manager to consolidate CPI’s agrifood narrative and offerings across our global Innovative Finance portfolio (CLIC, plus agrifood-relevant instruments of CPI’s Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance and Catalytic Climate Finance Facility) and to coordinate and communicate CPI’s narrative and offering on agrifood systems across CPI’s country offices (Brazil, India, Indonesia, and South Africa).

CPI offers an inspiring work environment that rewards independent thinking, collaboration, and pragmatic problem-solving. We are looking for a candidate with expertise and previous senior experience in the African agrifood and climate finance sector, including interacting with development agencies, investors (both public and private), governments, agribusinesses, and UN system actors.

A self-starter, you will possess a calm, diplomatic approach, demonstrating leadership skills and resilience to deliver under pressure. We will also value your entrepreneurial approach to new business development in the agrifood and climate finance space. The postholder will play a key role in helping to grow CPI’s work on climate and nature finance for agrifood systems.

While this position is initially offered for 18 months, there may be an opportunity to extend post tenure upon delivery of successful business development activity.

You will be based in our new and expanding South Africa office in Cape Town, and will work closely with the Head, South Africa Office and the Analyst, CLIC/Agri-Food Systems in South Africa. Cape Town is CPI’s newest office, and the postholder will also be expected to assist with tasks related to office establishment.

You will also work closely with our CLIC team in London, reporting to the program’s Senior Manager and collaborating with CLIC’s Knowledge Production and Agrifood Investment Connector staff. Finally, the postholder will need the capacity to develop strong and trusted working relationships across CPI globally, particularly with staff leading Innovative Finance and Country Office-based work, which have significant agrifood elements.

Key responsibilities include the following and others as assigned:

• Understand and support the current CPI agriculture, land-use and climate finance portfolio in Africa and lead on designing, managing, and delivering new CPI agriculture, land-use, and food systems projects on the continent.
• Function as technical research lead on projects (including CLIC-related work), providing project oversight and direction and delivering agreed outcomes on budget and to agreed timelines.
• Lead and deliver new African business development opportunities agreed with CPI leadership as priorities, compiling and co-ordinating compelling proposals that meet submission timeframes followingCPI’s internal processes. Support the Senior Manager in responding to new business development opportunities in Agir-Food and Climate Finance more globally.
• Support the CLIC team on technical delivery across its Knowledge Products, Connector, and Action Groups, including representation of its activities in Africa.
• Contribute to and build on CPI’s Africa-specific agrifood system knowledge publications, working closely with the CLIC Knowledge Product team.
• Expand CPI’s food systems network in Sub-Saharan Africa – liaising closely with the core CLIC team and leveraging your own local proximity and network.
• Establish a mechanism for regular monitoring of new development agency, investor and agribusiness initiatives in the African climate finance and agrifood sector (in coordination with CPI’s existing business development processes)
  and identify and flag appropriate opportunities upwards.

• Represent CPI and its offer in climate finance and agrifood systems to key external stakeholders in Africa, including donors, government, investors, development finance institutions and agribusinesses, including at conferences and investor forums. Identify proactive business development opportunities.

• Provide support to the Senior Manager, CLIC, to consolidate CPI’s agrifood narrative and offer across its
  global Innovative Finance portfolio (CLIC, plus agrifood instruments of the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance and Catalytic Climate Finance Facility) and to communicate CPI’s narrative and offer on agrifood systems across CPI’s Country Offices (Brazil, India, Indonesia and South Africa).

Qualifications and experience:

Required:

• Advanced degree in agriculture, economics, finance, international development/affairs, public policy, environmental or physical sciences or another relevant field.
• Substantial professional experience (10-12 years), including senior-level experience in climate and/or nature finance for agrifood systems, including in research institutions, think tanks, major consulting firms, governments, the UN system or other relevant organizations.
• Substantial experience in project delivery: setting up, overseeing and managing projects with budgets of over USD 1 million annually.
• In-depth understanding of the agrifood sector challenges in the face of climate change and nature degradation. Familiarity with the actors operating in the climate/nature finance sector in Africa and with actions that are needed to mobilize the finance necessary to shift the sector toward climate and nature positive pathways.
• Experience working with actors in Africa across the public and private sectors on climate issues related to agrifood systems (impact investors, agribusinesses, development finance institutions, governments and regulators).
• Expertise on international climate finance mechanisms and policy frameworks.
• In-depth knowledge of political and economic contexts in developing and emerging economies, particularly in the agrifood sector.
• Demonstrated ability to engage stakeholders, develop and maintain relationships in the African agrifood and climate finance sector.
• Demonstrated program and project management skills.
• Proficiency in project management tools and software applications. Written and spoken fluency in English is required. Advanced user of MS Office suite.

• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

Beneficial:

• Demonstrated experience in successfully growing a program or research portfolio on climate and nature finance for agrifood systems in the African continent.

• Well-developed awareness and experience of gender-lens investing in agrifood systems.

• Experience in GHG emission analysis, climate hazard/impact modelling and leading climate transformation pathway diagnostics beyond finance and investment will be beneficial.

• Working knowledge of French or Portuguese.

Competencies & Personal Attributes:

Required:

• Demonstrated leadership abilities and a collaborative approach to working in a multi-cultural team environment.
• Proven track record in agrifood systems programs in sub-Saharan Africa, including evidence of successful delivery, oversight, and management and engagement with senior stakeholders.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages for diverse audiences.

• Independent, analytical thinking with a track record of applying sound financial and strategic judgment to complex issues.

• Ability to juggle multiple tasks and priorities and adhere to set deadlines while keeping the big picture in mind.

• You are self-motivated and dependable with a passion for learning.

• You can keep calm under pressure and perform assignments with absolute professionalism and sensitivity to internal and external client demands.

• Your values are aligned with CPI’s—you believe in the importance of aligning finance with low-carbon and climate-resilient pathways and want to be part of a positive change in the world.

• Strong attention to detail, organization, time management, and prioritization skills.

• Progressive multi-year experience or demonstrable equivalent skills in a role similar to this one.

Reports to: Senior Manager, ClimateShot Investor Coalition (CLIC), UK

Type of Contract: Full Time (40 hours/week). Fixed Term 18 months, with potential to be extended in line with CPI’s growth.

CPI is a hybrid working environment, where employees are expected to work at least 40% (2 days a week) in the office.

To Apply:

• Applicants must have the right to work in South Africa before applying; CPI cannot provide visa support for this role.
• Visit our website to submit an application.

• With your application, attach: (1) CV/resume, (2) a cover letter. Your cover letter should outline why you want to work with CPI and how your skills and experience align with the position requirements. The position will remain open until we find the right candidate to join our team. Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis, and we therefore encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

CPI Commitment:

• CPI is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek to establish a working environment where all board members, staff, volunteers, and contractors feel respected and valued regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, or identity, disability, or education. We want to create an inclusive culture where all forms of diversity are openly valued as critical to the success of our organization and the achievement of our mission and vision.

• If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application. We will then work with you to identify the best way to assist you through the recruitment process.