REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT TO SUPPORT THE ACWA FUND AND
DIVERSE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FOR THE AFRICAN CLIMATE
RESILIENCE CITIES PROJECTS
FINAL DRAFT: AUGUST 2024
SUMMARY OF PROCUREMENT
WRI Africa intends to award a cost reimbursement an individual consultant to support
the implementation of WRI’ Africa Cities Water Adaptation Fund (ACWA).
About WRI Africa
Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global
research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment,
economic opportunity, and human well-being. WRI works to address seven critical
challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for
people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and
the ocean.
WRI has been working in Africa for more than 30 years, supporting local partners and
Africa governments to advance forest protection, landscape restoration and sustainable
cities. Our vision for Africa is inclusive transformation so Africa’s people and landscapes
flourish. To realize this vision, WRI works with partners to generate actionable knowledge
across three strategic pillars: vital landscapes, thriving and resilient cities, and
institutional and economic transformation.
About WRI’s ACWA Fund
The World Resource Institute (WRI) founded the African Cities Water Adaptation Fund
(ACWA Fund). The ACWA Fund uses an integrated approach to finance innovative urban
water resilience solutions at scale. The Fund has the ambitious goal of deploying over
$500 million in funding by 2032 to support scalable urban water resilience solutions
across 100 African cities. The ACWA Fund offers full project lifecycle support to help local
leaders understand their climate and water risks and socioeconomic impacts; identify,
prioritise, and prepare projects; structure deals and mobilise capital; and scale delivery
by standardising project development manuals, deals, and contracts. It achieves this
through three core services: developing city-scale resilience investment plans, offering
project preparation support, and providing finance for catalytic projects. The focus is on
a low-cost, innovative approach to assessing needs at a city level and responding rapidly.
The ACWA Funds complements other ongoing programmes including SUNCASA1 ,Green-
Grey Infrastructure (GGI) Accelerator2 and the Arican Climate Resilient Cities (ACRC)
rogram3. To date, the ACWA Fund has made significant strides, securing $7 million in
commitments, engaging with cities to develop action plans and identify projects, and
developing pilot project portfolios. The Fund is now seeking an additional $8 million to
begin its pilot phase, which includes delivery of projects in the two pilot cities and further
fund design.
SCOPE OF WORK AND OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES
WRI is seeking an individual consultant based in Nairobi/Kigali/Addis
Ababa/Johannesburg to support the implementation of the ACWA Fund pilot phase as
well as other related programs and projects within WRI Africa Climate Resilience Cities
Program for a period of 9 months. The bidders should be able to:
- Provide engagement, technical analysis, and advisory support to develop financing
strategies, policy solutions, and institutional arrangements necessary to advance the ambitions of the ACWA Fund and its related mechanisms.
- Collaborate with investors, donors, government agencies, NGOs, and communities
across multiple countries in Africa to advance the ACWA Fund’s ambitionsincluding its financial resourcing. In the same vein, the person shall also support
other programs within WRI.
- Work under the Arican Climate Resilient Cities (ACRC) Program, directly
reporting to the Environmental Finance Lead, WRI Africa.
The tasks that the individual contractor will undertake shall include:
Work with partners to (1) refine the identified pilot projects of the ACWA Fund and
(2) oversee their initial implementation/roll-out.
Work with partners to co-create financing strategies and investment frameworks
for the ACWA Fund and other programs.
Support pilot projects preparation by conducting or overseeing feasibility studies,
financial analysis, policy analysis, or institutional analysis.
Work with partners to build policy actions, outline legal and regulatory
frameworks, and standards to support development of bankable water and climate
resilience projects. Establish and grow existing partnerships with investors, donors, development and private sector banks, and funders.
Design and implement training and knowledge exchanges with key stakeholders
with the support of local partners to advance ACWA Fund’s ambitions.
Conduct outreach and communications including developing relevant knowledge
products reports and articles, presenting at meetings and conferences, etc.
Collaborate across WRI programs and ensure linkages with WRI Africa’s New
Climate Economy (NCE), AFR100, and Cities4Forests Initiatives.
Work with senior staff on the strategic development and management of urban
resilience and financing work in Africa.
Liaise with internal staff and project stakeholders to problem solve and generate
solutions to project implementation issues.
WRI will provide guidance on:
The background information on the ACWA Fund among other programs and
projects which includes the architecture, focus areas and priorities.
DELIVERABLES
The consultant is expected to deliver the following:
An inception report outlining the proposed methodology and work plan within 2
weeks of signing the contract.
Regular monthly reports on work undertaken (based on the agreed workplan)
including on the refinement of the pilot projects and their implementation.
PowerPoint slides for presentation to potential investors, donors and city
stakeholders
Participation on weekly team meetings
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education
A master’s degree in finance, public policy, economics, environmental
management, or similar
Experience:
Minimum of 7 years of relevant, full-time work experience in the field of urban
resilience, development finance, or sustainable infrastructure in Africa. Strong track record of engaging global funds and financial institutions such as the
Global Climate Fund, Global Environmental Facility, World Bank, African
Development Bank, or similar.
Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership management skills, particularly
with cities, sub-national governments and water utility companies.