Technical Advisor III, Development Finance for Water and Environment

Job Title: Technical Advisor III, Development Finance for Water and EnvironmentReports to: STA IF Strategic PartnershipsDepartment: PIQA, Innovative FinanceSalary Grade: 11

Job Summary

The Technical Advisor for Development Finance in Water and Environment (TA-WE) contributes to the development and implementation of innovative finance strategies and solutions that mobilize capital and strengthen the sustainability of programming focused on water security, watershed restoration, nature-based solutions, and climate resilience. As part of the Innovative Finance Unit (IF), the TA-WE provides technical leadership and advisory support tocountry, regional, and global teams, working closely with the CRS Global Water Security unit and the Livelihoods, Markets, Agriculture and Climate unit (LMAC) to advance the delivery of high-quality, innovative programming. And through technical expertise, partnership engagement, and strategic influence, the TA-WE contributes and supports the integration of development finance approaches into program design, business development, and implementation, helping scale social and environmental impact through financially sustainable models.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Technical

• Contribute to the design and implementation of innovative finance strategies, standards, tools, and best practices for water security, watershed restoration, climate resilience, and nature-based solutions, ensuring alignment with CRS programming principles and cross-sectoral approaches.
• Provide technical solutions and advisory support to country, regional, and global teams on development finance approaches, partnership models, financial mechanisms, and sustainable financing strategies that strengthen program quality and impact.
• Collaborate with the Global Water Security, Livelihoods, Markets, Agriculture and Climate (LMAC), and Innovative Finance teams to integrate development finance approaches into program design, implementation, and adaptive management processes.
• Serve as a technical resource and focal point for development finance approaches within water and environmental programming, providing specialized expertise and guidance to country, regional, and global teams.

Program Support

• Contribute to agency, regional, and country program efforts to position CRS for strategic funding opportunities in innovative finance for water and environmental programming, providing technical guidance for complex proposals, concept development, and project design.
• Support identification and development of innovative financing opportunities involving development finance institutions, investors, donors, private-sector actors, and other partners that advance CRS program objectives.
• Provide technical guidance to country programs and strategic initiatives applying innovative finance approaches to water security, ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation, regenerative agriculture, and related environmental outcomes.
• Support execution of the Somos Rio Lempa Program in El Salvador and directly support program efforts to catalyze co-investments for program activities related to access to water supply, water treatment plans, wastewater management, modernizing irrigation, and promoting regenerative agriculture and nature-based solutions.

Catalytic Funding and Business Development

• Oversee and support delivery of capacity strengthening initiatives related to development finance for water and environment programming through training, mentoring, coaching, technical exchanges, and learning events for CRS staff and partners.
• Contribute to agency learning and knowledge management efforts by documenting, synthesizing, and sharing evidence, lessons learned, promising practices, and implementation research related to innovative finance and environmental programming.
• Create and strengthen relationships with key actors in innovative finance initiatives including development banks, social investors, donors, and other partners to explore and develop innovative funding mechanisms.

Strategic Partnerships

• Represent CRS in targeted regional and global forums, technical working groups, conferences, and partnership platforms to strengthen collaboration, share learning, influence emerging practices, and expand opportunities for innovative finance in water and environmental programming.
• Develop and maintain relationships with technical partners, donors, development finance institutions, investors, and relevant networks to support program quality, knowledge exchange, and resource mobilization efforts.

Originally posted on Himalayas