Website WWF India

Job Description

India’s rapid economic growth is leading to new and increased developmental opportunities and challenges at multiple levels. As one of the largest conservation organisations in the country, WWF-India seeks to leverage these opportunities and address these challenges through enhancing biodiversity conservation, and reducing humanity’s environmental footprint.

WWF-India’s sustainable business programme is working with business and industry as well as financial institutions and regulators in improving environmental and social outcomes. These engagements help corporates (1) understand the impact of their business/financing and supply chains on critical natural habitats, such as deforestation, extractives, fossil fuel emissions, and (2) find solutions that mitigate business risks and enhance business opportunities that promote positive conservation outcomes, such as sustainable finance, water stewardship, climate innovation, energy transition , plastics management.

WWF-India envisions engaging with multiple stakeholders in developing new, innovative and sustainable financial mechanisms to support implementation of the ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework and Net Zero targets for transition towards a nature positive world. In this context, Finance is a key lever for change in tackling some of the most pressing environmental challenges, as this requires a shift in lending policies, practices and investments in more sustainable, climate resilient and low-carbon pathways. Environmental risks and opportunities are becoming increasingly important for financial decision-making. WWF India works across diverse stakeholders, such as banks, pension funds, asset managers, and policy makers to promote better integration of environmental and social safeguards in their financial decision-making and in accelerating sustainable investments that serve people and the planet.

In this context, WWF India is looking for a Senior Expert who will lead our work on engaging businesses, financial institutions, regulators and policy makers to accelerate (1) financing of low-carbon sectors and nature positive solutions, (2) alignment of finance sector portfolios with a net zero future, as part of India’s ambition and leadership at global fora. As part of this effort, WWF-India is facilitating accelerate adoption of ESG frameworks, including emissions reduction & supporting financial institutions to understand their exposure to ESG & climate-related risks in critical sectors such as Infrastructure, Deforestation-linked agro-commodities, Steel etc., the associated systemic risks, current (mis)alignment of lending portfolios with environmental frameworks and channelling finances towards climate & nature aligned businesses.

This position will be part of a high impact, multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team of practitioners and thought leaders in WWF-India working on diverse aspects of biodiversity conservation (terrestrial, aquatic and marine species and habitats), ecological footprints (water, agriculture, climate and businesses), policy and governance. This position will also interact, engage and learn from with WWF’s global team working on Sustainable Finance.

Location: New Delhi

Job Profile:

Lead and provide strategic direction to WWF-India’s portfolio on sustainable finance across priority sectors and areas as outlined in the context, including, but not limited to advocacy towards greening the financial regulations, integrating nature and climate risk considerations in the Indian financial system.
Advancing WWF India’s work on deforestation, conversion free (DCF) finance across forest & agricultural commodities including palm, soy, timber, rubber; energy transition and nature based solutions through strategic engagements with the finance sector.
Supporting the work on nature, climate and finance thematic areas to identify the impacts and dependencies of nature related financial risks to the Indian banking sector and exploring a pipeline of bankable nature solutions for mobilising private capital.
Plan and implement priority projects, including effective development and delivery of the project as per timelines, reporting and project documentation, identification and leveraging ecosystem opportunities.
Appraising and advising climate and nature aligned businesses on financial and impact indicators, enabling them to access low-cost capital from international climate and nature funds.
Support climate resilience fund Originating Facility to be hosted in WWF-India with project identification and feasibility activities across a range of sectors;
Reviewing the existing environmental frameworks of Indian financial institutions in high impact sectors such as infrastructure and steel and engaging key institutions to accelerate adoption of environment-friendly policies and practices.
Staying abreast of the key trends, standards, practices, policies and opportunities in the sustainability/finance sectors that have (or can have) implications across the sector.
Establishing and managing multi-stakeholder working groups to encourage uptake of sustainability practices by financial institutions in their lending & investing practices.
Drive engagement with diverse stakeholders from the finance sector, including associations, regulators, policymakers, banks, asset managers, insurance firms, institutional investors and others, to drive sectoral transformation.
Establishing and maintaining excellent working relationships with regulators including RBI/SEBI/Ministry of Finance/Ministry of corporate affairs etc., associations like IBA, CII, FICCI, private sector players, civil society (national, and international) and other stakeholders.
Facilitating development and delivery of knowledge products and training programs on sustainable finance.
Participating in sector reviews, monitoring, audits and evaluations.
Acting as the focal person to coordinate with the WWF international network on sustainable finance thematic.
Representing WWF-India in national and international fora

Position reports to Director – Sustainable Business

Requirements

Desired Competencies:

Functional Competencies:

Capabilities in partnership management;
Strong writing, research and analytical skills;
Ability to plan, organize, implement multi-dimensional projects
Deep understanding of global developments in the sustainable finance space and ESG policies and practices of the Indian finance sector

Core Competencies:

Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
Demonstrates integrity and ethics in work practice;
Positive and constructive attitude towards work;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and adaptability.

Desired Qualifications:

Advanced degree (PhD/masters) with 5-7 years of prior demonstrated experience in sustainable finance/ sustainability consulting

Graduate with 7-9 years of prior demonstrated experience in sustainable finance/ sustainability consulting

Fluency of Hindi & English language

National and international travel may be required

To apply for this job please visit wwfindia.zohorecruit.com.