Got deep experience in investment advisory or development finance? This 12-month remote consultancy wants you to help mobilize serious private-sector capital for climate-smart agriculture in Africa.
The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, has opened a remote consultancy that goes far beyond typical advisory work it’s a hands-on mission to bring real investment dollars into sustainable agriculture across Zambia and Malawi.
If you live and breathe investment readiness, capital mobilization, and blended finance, this one’s worth a close look.
What Is the WASA Agribusiness Catalyst?
The role sits inside IWMI’s Water and Soil Accelerator (WASA) initiative, which is working to scale sustainable water and soil management solutions in rainfed agricultural systems across Zambia and Malawi. WASA strengthens local institutions, builds implementation capacity, and promotes equitable access to resources for smallholder farmers — especially women and youth.
The Agribusiness Catalyst component specifically tackles the market and financing barriers standing in the way of climate-smart agricultural adoption. It’s built to:
- Improve market access for climate-smart producers
- Enable last-mile delivery of proven water and soil management technologies
- Develop inclusive financing mechanisms working capital, guarantees, and insurance
- Mobilize private-sector co-investment
- Scale interventions to reach 50,000 farmers across 50,000 hectares
Quick Job Overview
- Organization: International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center
- Position: Consultant – Investment Readiness and Capital Mobilization
- Work Location: Remote (globally hired consultancy)
- Contract Duration: 12 months
- Application Deadline: 24:00 (IST), August 05, 2026 applications reviewed on a rolling basis
What’s the Actual Objective of This Role?
In plain terms: the consultant is being brought in to get five selected agribusiness and partnership models (three in Zambia, two in Malawi) investment-ready — and then help mobilize private-sector co-investment behind them. That means strengthening financial and commercial structuring, building institutional capacity to engage investors, and facilitating real investment partnerships.
What You’ll Be Doing
Inception Report and Workplan
- Review agribusiness models, program documentation, and the broader WASA framework
- Engage with IWMI and stakeholders to refine the assignment approach
- Develop an inception report covering methodology, investment-readiness criteria, investor selection criteria, co-investment attribution methodology, risks, assumptions, and an implementation workplan
Institutional Pitch Kits
- Assess the commercial viability and financing requirements of each model
- Develop investor-ready business cases, financial models, projections, and financing structures
- Prepare professional investment materials suitable for commercial investors, impact investors, DFIs, and financial institutions
Capacity Building
- Design and deliver training on investment readiness, financial management, governance, deal negotiation, and inclusive financing
- Strengthen the capacity of participating enterprises to engage effectively with investors and financiers
- Document training outcomes, competencies developed, and recommendations for further support
Investor Engagement and Capital Mobilization
- Identify and engage relevant investors, financiers, and capital providers
- Facilitate investor outreach, introductions, negotiations, and partnership discussions
- Support the mobilization of the targeted USD 500,000 in private-sector investment
- Track and document investment pipelines, commitments, and results
What You’re Expected to Deliver
- Inception Report and Workplan
- Institutional Pitch Kits
- Capacity-Building Completion Report
- Qualified Investor Engagement Report
- Capital Mobilization and Final Report
Who Should Apply?
This role isn’t an entry point — IWMI is looking for seasoned finance and investment professionals. You’ll need:
- A Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Development Finance, Agricultural Economics, or a related field
- A professional certification in finance or investment (e.g. CFA, ACCA, FMVA)
- 8–10 years of demonstrable experience in investment advisory, transaction structuring, blended or development finance, or private-sector investment mobilization
- A proven track record of mobilizing private-sector capital or co-investment, with verifiable results — ideally at a comparable scale
- Demonstrated experience structuring inclusive financing mechanisms: working capital facilities, guarantees, insurance, and first-loss or concessional instruments
- Prior experience with agribusinesses, SMEs, or agricultural value chains — climate-smart or sustainable resource management experience is a plus
- Experience working in Zambia, Malawi, or comparable East and Southern African markets, with familiarity across the regional investor and financial ecosystem
- A track record of guiding enterprises through investment readiness, due diligence, and negotiation toward firm commitments
- Experience designing and delivering capacity building on financial and investment topics
Skills and Knowledge That Set Candidates Apart
- In-depth knowledge of the capital landscape relevant to agribusiness and development finance — commercial investors, impact investors, DFIs, and local financial institutions
- Strong financial modelling, business plan appraisal, and deal-structuring skills
- Established, active relationships across the investor and financing ecosystem
- A sound understanding of regulatory, currency, and country-risk considerations in the target markets
- Excellent negotiation, facilitation, and relationship management skills
- Strong written and verbal communication, including the ability to produce investor-grade materials
- The ability to work independently and deliver against milestones with credible documentation
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the official application instructions and include:
- A CV
- A cover letter
- Three (3) references (who may be contacted if you’re shortlisted)
Applications are accepted until 24:00 (IST) on August 05, 2026, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Every application will be acknowledged, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly.
What Makes This Consultancy Different
- It’s a 12-month globally hired role, not a short-term gig
- It comes with a competitive rate
- It’s mission-driven, tied directly to climate resilience, food security, and smallholder livelihoods
- IWMI emphasizes a diverse, multi-cultural, multi-generational working environment and actively welcomes applicants across all backgrounds, including different cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, and gender identities
Final Thoughts: Is This Role for You?
If you’ve got a decade of investment advisory experience, a talent for structuring inclusive finance deals, and a genuine interest in agricultural resilience across Southern Africa, this consultancy offers a rare chance to put real capital behind real impact.
Application Deadline: August 05, 2026 (24:00 IST)
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis — the earlier you apply, the better your odds.
