Regional Financial Advisor (Prosper Blue SWIOP-Invest Project)

A. Background

The ecosystems of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) are critical for the food security, employment and economic development of ten states in eastern and southern Africa. Some 60 million people rely directly or indirectly on this biodiversity hotspot for fishing, tourism, oil and gas, and other resources. However, population growth, increasing consumption, pollution and a diversity of human activities are threatening the region’s fragile coastal and marine ecosystems. Climate change impacts, including warming of the ocean and related acidification, and increased variability and intensity of weather events, are significantly exacerbating the decline in coastal and marine biodiversity. In 2019 the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) commissioned GIZ to implement the Western Indian Ocean Governance Initiative (ProsperBlue) in partnership with the Nairobi Convention – the Regional Seas Convention housed at UNEP.

ProsperBlue’s scope and scale have been bolstered by the EU co-funded Sustainable Western Indian Ocean Programme (SWIOP). The programme facilitates investment in sustainable blue-economy businesses and projects across nine Western Indian Ocean countries: Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia and Tanzania.

Its Transaction Advisory Facility helps operating businesses and sufficiently developed projects prepare for and access financing. Senior external consultants deliver tailored advisory services,
supported by an internal GIZ team that manages the Facility, its clients and its consultants.

The position offers a rewarding opportunity to help build this pioneering regional facility and work with a network of financial experts, businesses, banks and investors.

B Responsibilities

The Regional Financial Advisor will manage the Facility’s day-to-day operations and client portfolio, ensuring that advisory support is well targeted, technically sound and focused on progressing opportunities towards financing.

The position requires practical financial and transaction experience to assess potential clients, define assignments, select and challenge consultants, and judge the quality of their recommendations. The role will also contribute to related nature-finance activities as programme priorities evolve.

C. Tasks

The Regional Financial Advisor’s overarching responsibilities are:

• Contribute to designing and improving the Facility, managing client intake, screening, onboarding and diagnostics, and agreeing support plans and milestones with senior consultants.
  
• Manage clients’ progress and portfolio reporting requirements, advisory expenditure and value for money; recommend continuation, referral, suspension or closure.
  
• Coordinate partnerships with financiers including impact investors, specialized funds, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), local banks, philanthropic foundations as well as development agencies and other blue economy sector players.
  
• Where needed, manage procurement and contracting of service providers and partners, including preparing terms of reference, completing internal processes and managing
  contracts.
• Consolidate learning outcomes of the advisory processes into publishable market insights and trends.
  
• Support other cross-cutting functions within the wider team, including coordination with country windows of the programme in Mozambique, Tanzania, Somalia, Kenya and Madagascar.
  
• Undertake additional responsibilities in line with programme needs and evolving priorities such as Finance for Nature advisory to support the mobilization of public and private finance for implementing National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans.
  
• Represent the programme at industry events including private sector events as well as relevant public-led events.
  
• Structure, oversee, and ensure the quality of work by consultants and implementing partners to maximize value for money and timely execution of project activities.
  
• Implement quality control measures to ensure that the project's outcomes align with the intended objectives and standards.
  
• Proactively contribute to communications, documentation, progress and results monitoring, reporting, knowledge management and lesson learning processes.
  
• Develop ready-to-use strategies and technical concepts, including guidelines, procedures and partnership concepts.
  

D. Requirements

Education

1. Bachelor’s degree in finance, climate/nature finance, sustainable finance or a related discipline; a relevant postgraduate or professional qualification (MBA, Investment Management, Banking and Finance) is an advantage.
   

Professional Experience:

1. At least five years of relevant experience, including three in (impact) investment, banking, corporate or project finance, finance-related management consulting or transaction advisory.
   
2. Practical experience in assessing businesses or projects for financing, including due diligence on financial statements, cash-flow analysis, financial modelling, risk assessment and introductions to financiers. Other attributes:
   
3. Work experience outside of Kenya in the region of the Western Indian Ocean countries is an advantage
   
4. Demonstrable experience in being a self-starter and independently running projects from
   design to completion.
5. Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment. Strong communication skills and ability to convey complex technical messages clearly and effectively.
   
6. Excellent English proficiency verbally and in writing.
   
7. Conversational level (B1) in French or Portuguese is an advantage.
   

Assignment Details

Duty Station: Nairobi with occasional travel

Duration: January 2027 - December 2028

Vacancy Reference Number: GIZ/ARD/05/10/2026

Equal Employment Opportunity

GIZ Kenya is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all and do not tolerate discrimination based on race, colour, ancestry, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, disability, marital status, or any other protected status.

Ethics

GIZ is committed to safeguarding the safety, dignity, and well-being of staff, partners, community members, and programme participants. Sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, child abuse, and all forms of misconduct are strictly prohibited. Staff are expected to uphold high ethical standards, comply with local laws, and complete mandatory ethics training upon engagement.

Data Confidentiality

Candidate applications will be retained for six (6) months in accordance with GIZ's data protection policy and deleted thereafter.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.