Consultant - Coorporate Water Strategy

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is a global research organization focused on sustainable water and land management to address water scarcity, food security, and climate change challenges. IWMI has recently partnered with SunCulture, a leading provider of solar-powered irrigation solutions, to explore strategies for monitoring water resource risks associated with the expansion of solar irrigation, ensuring sustainability in irrigation practices. IWMI seeks to engage a consultant to support data collection and analysis by informing the Water Strategy, to ensure that SunCulture’s business operations promote sustainable water use and management among its customers. The strategy will be co-created with SunCulture to align with their internal Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Strategy and be fully integrated into their business culture.

The objective of the consultancy is to contribute to the development of a robust, actionable, and evidence-based Water Strategy for SunCulture. This strategy will enable the company to proactively identify, monitor, measure, and mitigate various water-related risks across its operations and investments on a scale. The consultant will support IWMI and SunCulture in formulating a practical strategy that aligns with SunCulture’s ESG goals and business model.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The consultant will work closely with IWMI’s project team and SunCulture’s staff to carry out the following tasks:

1.      Task 1: Analysis of Relevant Documents and Data Collation (Week 1)

• Review SunCulture’s policies, business strategy, ESG strategy, and other relevant documents.
• Review relevant policy documents, guidelines, and regulations related to groundwater use and the expansion of solar irrigation in Kenya (e.g., water abstraction permits, national water management guidelines, etc.).
• Analyze how data analytics on water use and sustainable water limits could support and inform the development of the Water Strategy.
• Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement: Identify for whom and how water matters to SunCulture, their partners, and the broader enabling environment in Kenya and other key target countries.

2.      Task 2: Stakeholder Engagements (Week 2)

• Conduct key informant interviews and focus group discussions with SunCulture employees, investors, and business partners to understand current approaches to client identification, market segmentation, market expansion strategies, business operations, partnerships and service delivery, technical support, financing modalities, ESG reporting, and the role of water in these processes.

3.       Task 3: SWOT Analysis and Risk Assessment (Week 3)

• Analyze collected data to identify water-related risks to and from business operations.
• Conduct a SWOT analysis of SunCulture’s business to identify challenges and opportunities for the sustainable development of solar irrigation.
• Identify water resource risks associated with SunCulture’s business strategies (e.g., market expansion, customer targeting, equipment selection) and client decisions (e.g., crop choices, irrigation practices). Consider both controllable risks (within SunCulture’s influence) and external risks.
• Develop a water risk matrix, categorizing and prioritizing identified risks based on their likelihood and potential impact on SunCulture’s business.
• Review existing practices or measures used by SunCulture and its clients to mitigate water risks and identify gaps that require further action

4.       Task 4: Develop Components of the Water Strategy (Week 4)

• Support Strategy Development:
  - Co-develop with SunCulture the vision, goals, and strategic pillars of the Water Strategy.
  - Co-design solutions to help embed sustainable water management into SunCulture’s operational and financial models.
  - Provide recommendations for mitigating identified water risks to business operations and develop sustainable water management approaches for impact investors.
  - Identify potential pathways to leverage mitigation strategies and co-design solutions to attract new financing and other business-enhancing opportunities for SunCulture.

• Business Case and Funding Model:
  - Articulate the value proposition.
  - Illustrate a potential funding model (e.g., PPPs, impact investment) and identify revenue streams for integrating water management into business operations.
  - Provide written input to the Water Strategy and develop a slide deck to effectively communicate key components.

5.       Task 5: Validation Workshop and Finalizing the Strategy (Week 5)

• Reporting and Validation: Present and discuss the draft Water Strategy with SunCulture’s leadership and key stakeholders; refine the strategy based on feedback.
• Implementation Roadmap: Create a phased plan for incorporating and operationalizing the Water Strategy, including immediate, short-term, and medium-term actions. The roadmap should include timelines, milestones, responsibilities, KPIs, and risk mitigation strategies. This may also include recommendations for the future integration of water-related elements into ESG reporting.

DELIVERABLES:

1. Inception Report
2. Draft Technical Report
3. Final Strategy Document

MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Essential:

• A minimum of a master’s degree in business, Finance, or Economics.
• Demonstrated competencies in analytical thinking, financial modeling, project management, leadership, collaboration, and effective communication.

Desirable:

• A Master of Business Administration (MBA), or specialization in Sustainable Finance.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

Essential:

• Proven experience in business strategy development, stakeholder engagement, and co-creation processes, particularly within the water management sector.
• 5–10 years of post-master’s experience in developing corporate strategies, finance, and management consulting.
• Demonstrated experience working with impact investors, with an understanding of environmental risk implications and environmental reporting requirements for business operations.
  

Desirable:

• Experience in developing corporate ESG frameworks, conducting environmental risk assessments, and preparing related reporting.
• Knowledge and experience in solar irrigation technologies, groundwater management, agricultural water management, and agribusiness financing in Kenya.

This is a nationally recruited position, and only Kenyan nationals with relevant abilities are encouraged to apply. IWMI offers a competitive rate for this assignment. The duration of the contract will be for a period of one (01) month.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) on June 13, 2025 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include a CV, cover letter, your daily rate, and three (3) references, which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multicultural, multigenerational, and multidisciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, and gender identities.