Biodiversity Innovation Catalyst Fund Director, Mozambique At CARE USA

CARE seeks a Biodiversity Innovation Catalyst Fund (BICF) Director for the anticipated five-year USAID-funded RENDA VERDE opportunity for Mozambique. RENDA VERDE seeks to boost communities in leveraging the benefits of living in nature across key biodiversity conservation areas ‐ and benefit local people through sharing of nature‐based revenue. In addition to ongoing enforcement to dissuade and punish destruction of natural resources and habitats, this Activity will focus on the tangible incentives of living with nature, seeking to catalyze the market and community benefits of human coexistence with wildlife in harmony across conservation areas, buffer zones and key biodiversity corridors.

The Biodiversity Innovation Catalyst Fund (BICF) Director will oversee the management and implementation of a groundbreaking Biodiversity Innovation Catalyst Fund within the RENDA VERDE project, designed to boost community livelihoods and nature-based revenue in key biodiversity conservation areas across Mozambique. The BICF Director will play a pivotal role in fostering innovative partnerships between the private sector, conservation area (CA) authorities, and communities; leveraging investments; and driving initiatives that align conservation goals with community economic incentives. The aim is to create a locally led fund and capacity strengthening approach that catalyzes conservation-friendly livelihoods, reduces the drivers of human threats to ecosystems and biodiversity, and strengthens community benefits derived from living in harmony with nature. The BICF Director will work closely with the Chief of Party (COP), the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), technical teams, and USAID to ensure that nature-based economic initiatives and related partnerships between the private sector, CA authorities, and communities are effectively funded, sustainably managed, and aligned with biodiversity conservation goals, creating lasting benefits for both local communities and key ecosystems.

This activity is expected to be a five-year program in the $25-$49.99 million range.

This is a Key Personnel position, subject to USAID approval. It is also subject to project award and funding. National candidates are encouraged to apply.

This position will be based in Maputo, Mozambique.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, implementation and oversight of the project’s Biodiversity Innovation Catalyst Fund, ensuring it attracts and catalyzes sustainable investments and partnerships to drive economic growth and biodiversity conservation, aligned with USAID guidelines.
• Develop and manage the sub-grants program, ensuring strategic allocation to initiatives that enhance biodiversity conservation and generate community benefits, with transparent selection, monitoring, and evaluation processes that adhere to USAID rules and regulations.
• Oversee the identification and funding of innovative partnerships between private sector, CA/local authorities, and communities to catalyze the market and equitable community benefits of human coexistence with wildlife across select CAs, buffer zones, and other key biodiversity areas (KBAs). in accordance with the project work plan.
• Coordinate with the Renda Verde DCOP to develop and deliver technical capacity strengthening of sub-grantees, including in gender equity and youth inclusion approaches and business models, equitable revenue sharing partnership models, environmental compliance, conservation monitoring and enforcement, and engaging with new funding modalities (such as carbon credits and payment for ecosystem services).
• Ensure due diligence of potential sub-grantees and the design and delivery of operational and financial capacity building of sub-awardees to ensure compliance with USAID rules and regulations.
• Contribute to the design and tracking of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess fund impact, including its impact on biodiversity outcomes, and contribute towards high-quality reporting to USAID and stakeholders.
• Ensure BICF’s compliance and alignment with relevant USAID and local regulations, including the USAID biodiversity code and localization framework, and establish risk management protocols that protect community and environmental well-being.
• Develop and implement mechanisms to ensure accountability to project stakeholders, including grantees, beneficiaries, local partners, and USAID.
• Lead the BICF team by providing regular coaching, supervision, performance assessments, and capacity building to enhance their skills and professional development.
• Support the COP and DCOP by aligning fund strategy with project goals, ensuring transparent grant allocation, building partnerships, and providing regular impact reporting to enhance conservation and community benefits.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in environmental science, Conservation Biology, Sustainable Development, Economics, or a related field.
• Minimum 8–10 years in biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, or environmental finance, with strong fund or investment management experience for conservation impact.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing conservation-based economic projects, ideally within sub-Saharan Africa.
• Demonstrated experience in the project technical areas, including youth engagement, biodiversity conservation, nature-based revenue modalities, private sector engagement (SMEs), sustainable finance models, local capacity strengthening models, resilience building, or governance.
• Prior experience with USAID or other international donors on market and biodiversity and conservation-focused projects is highly preferred.
• Experience working in Southern African and knowledge of the local development context.
• Experience managing Innovation Catalyst Fund components.
• Experience recruiting, developing, and managing staff and teams.
• Demonstrated skills in building and maintaining relationships with project stakeholders, local partners, local government authorities, and private sector entities.
• Fluency in English required (spoken and written).
• Strong oral and written communication skills; excellent demonstrated intercultural, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to PSHEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Harassment, and Abuse).
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (DEBI).
• Ability to travel within Mozambique as required.