Implementation Lead – Ecosystem Services, GESI & Access to Finance

Overview Of CSJ Programme
Climate Smart Jobs (CSJ) Component 1 is a four-year programme funded by the UK's International Climate Fund. It consists of three sub-components: 1A - Market Systems Development, 1B – Uganda Climate Innovation Fund, and 1C -Ecosystems Services. Component 1 seeks to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and ultimately improve the incomes of smallholder farmers (particularly women, refugees, and host communities). CSJ understands that smallholder farmers (SHFs) are extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change (particularly extreme weather events) and face numerous constraints. Mitigating these effects is central to the programme’s approach.
The constraints SHFs face in improving agricultural productivity and income levels include limited access to inputs for crops and livestock, poor soil and water management, limited access to an efficient distribution model for climate-resilient varieties, limited access to affordable extension services for both livestock and crop, weak engagement between Private Sector Actors (PSAs) and research institutions, high incidence of pests/parasites and diseases for crops and livestock, uncertainty in seasonality (unpredictable rainfall, prolonged dry spell, spatial distribution of rainfall), limited access to affordable on-farm mechanisation services), and weak market access and value addition.
CSJ intends to work with market actors to trigger change in the market system in a way that enables SHFs to gain increased access to affordable, quality input products and services, in turn increasing their incomes and ability to adapt and become resilient to the effect of climate change
This TOR focuses on the role of Implementation Lead – Ecosystem Services, GESI & Access to Finance.

Objectives of the Role
CSJ requires the services of suitably qualified and experienced personnel to supervise three technical specialists in Ecosystem Services, Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI), and Access to Finance. The role will focus on execution, quality assurance, coordination, and team leadership in these three areas ensuring coherent, timely, and results-oriented delivery across these workstreams. This will include regular field engagement and oversight of interventions and close coordination with the rest of the CSJ team especially the Evaluation, Results, and Learning (ERL) team.

Scope of Work
The Preferred Personnel Will Deliver The Following Responsibilities
Implementation Leadership

• Lead day‑to‑day implementation of the Ecosystem Services, GESI, and Access to Finance workstreams.
• Translate established strategy into clear implementation plans, operational milestones, and workstream delivery schedules.
• Ensure that implementation remains aligned with programme indicators, climate, livelihood, refugee and gender objectives, and client requirements.
  

Team Management and Coordination

• Supervise and provide technical guidance to the following personnel:
• GESI Manager.
• Business Model Specialist – Access to Finance.
• Business Model Specialist – Ecosystem Services.
• Foster collaboration across workstreams to maximise synergies, shared learning, and integrated delivery.
  

Ecosystem Services Workstream Management

• Lead and coordinate implementation of CSJ’s Component 1C Ecosystem Services strategy.
• Oversee delivery of interventions that optimise or restore ecosystem services within targeted landscapes.
• Support uptake of innovative ecosystem services models by private sector partners and local communities.
• Align CSJ’s Component 1C Ecosystem Services strategy implementation with International Climate Finance KPI 10 and other CSJ environmental indicators.
  

GESI Workstream Management

• Oversee implementation of GESI activities, ensuring that gender-transformative and socially inclusive approaches are built into delivery.
• Review and support the GESI Manager’s plans, tools, and community engagement approaches.
• Ensure that all ecosystem and finance models incorporate and reflect equitable and inclusive approaches.
  

Access to Finance Workstream Management

• Supervise the implementation of financial inclusion and business model interventions.
• Support the Business Model Specialist – Access to Finance to engage private financial institutions, microfinance providers, agribusinesses and farmer/community groups.
• Ensure access‑to‑finance efforts support ecosystem and livelihood goals.
  

Stakeholder Engagement

• Maintain and deepen relationships with private sector actors, SHFs, community structures, and relevant government and NGO stakeholders.
• Ensure consistent messaging, expectations, and coordination across actors engaged in ecosystem services, GESI, and financial inclusion interventions.
  

Quality Assurance and Learning

• Ensure effective monitoring, data use, adaptive learning, and documentation for all implementation activities.
• Coordinate with the Evaluation, Research, and Learning (ERL) team to integrate learning into course corrections and reporting.
• Ensure ecosystem services quantification, GESI analysis, and finance-related evidence are integrated into monitoring and learning outputs.
  

Reporting and Deliverables

• Produce high quality implementation reports, updates, and briefs on monthly and quarterly basis, as required, across the three workstreams.
• Ensure documentation of intervention performance, stakeholder adoption of innovations, lessons, risks, and opportunities, including records of stakeholder engagement.
• Support client reporting and programme learning products related to the three workstreams.
• Maintain consolidated catalogues of activities and outputs across Ecosystem Services, GESI, and Access to Finance.
• Maintain updated implementation plans and delivery tracking tools.
  

Required Competencies
The preferred candidate will exhibit the following competencies:

• Achieve Results: Sets and aligns challenging, achievable objectives in performance of tasks having lasting impact.
• Think Innovatively: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously: Create opportunities to help teams expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• Act with Determination: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner: Politically savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion wider collaboration.
  

Required Skills And Experience

• Degree in a related field such as (but not limited to) Environmental Management / Development Studies / Agriculture / Gender Studies / Finance / Natural Resources Management.
• 7–10 years professional experience in programme implementation in one or more of the following: ecosystem services, sustainable land management, GESI, climate‑smart agriculture, or financial inclusion.
• Project Management qualifications or experience.
• Proven track record delivering complex, multi‑stakeholder programmes in rural or agricultural settings.
• Demonstrated experience managing technical teams.
• Strong practical understanding of ecosystem services and nature-based solutions.
• Knowledge of gender-transformative approaches and inclusion methodologies.
• Understanding of rural finance, MSME models, and inclusive financial access mechanisms.
• Ability to operationalise strategy into actionable, deliverable workplans.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Strong analytical, reporting, and coordination skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver to deadlines.
  

Submission Instructions
Submit your CV and a 1-page Cover Letter describing your suitability for this role. The deadline for this submission is 08 February 2026.
Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.
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