Advisory Support on Climate Adaptation, Resilience and Nature-based Solutions in Environmental Sectors

Within the framework of the InvestEU Advisory Hub Mandate, the EIB has initiated several new advisory initiatives focussed on supporting public sector promoters with project advisory, capacity building and market development services covering several thematic priorities, including, but not limited to, climate neutral cities, just transition, climate adaptation and resilience3 and nature and biodiversity.

In the report European environment - state and outlook 20204 the European Environment Agency concluded that Europe is not making enough systemic progress in addressing environmental challenges of unprecedented scale and urgency.

Current public and private investment levels are insufficient to address the challenges of environmental degradation. The root of the problem lies in a number of market failures that reduce investment incentives for the public and private sector as well as failure to limit pressures, often driven by “harmful” subsidies.

The EIB is stepping up its advisory support to accelerate green investments such as nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation that contribute to environmental improvement, enhanced biodiversity, ecosystem resilience as well as climate change adaptation.

The overall objective of this Assignment is to accelerate environmental investments (such as climate adaptation, resilience and nature investments) by providing targeted technical and financial advisory support to public promoters inside the EU.

The specific objective of this Assignment is for a Service Provider to support EIB clients in the identification, preparation, financing strategy and implementation of climate adaptation and resilience investments in environmental sectors as well as mainstreaming of biodiversity across different sectors. This includes nature and ecosystem-based solutions that contribute to environmental improvement, enhanced biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, as well as addressing climate-related disaster risk management. Environmental sectors are defined in line with the InvestEU Regulation and InvestEU Investment Guidelines, covering the water (including water supply, sanitation and flood/drought management), waste, natural ecosystems, sustainable urban/rural/coastal development and bioeconomy. In particular cases, also non-environmental sectors (such as agriculture, food systems, forestry and fisheries) can be targeted, for example when Nature-based Solutions (NbS) interventions can address biodiversity loss and nature decline in those sectors.

This will be achieved by providing support in:

• identification and assessment of investment proposals;

• project development and definition support (up to pre-feasibility stage);

• full project preparation (up to feasibility stage) and implementation support;

• capacity building and awareness raising.

University Degree (or equivalent professional qualification) in engineering, environmental science, urban planning, economics, finance or an equivalent field relevant for the Assignment.

Required experience:

• At least 15 years of experience in advisory services related to climate change, environment and sustainability.

• At least 10 years of experience in managing consultancy assignments as Team Leader, Project Manager or in corporate leadership roles.

• Experience related to advising public authorities, financial institutions or government agencies in Europe on project preparation, project implementation or capacity building, as proven by at least 5 projects in the last 10 years.

• Experience acting as Team Leader or Project Manager on at least 2 multi-EU country projects in the last 10 years.

Excellent knowledge of English (C2).

University Degree (or equivalent professional qualification) in engineering, water management, hydrology or an equivalent field.

Required experience:

• At least 15 years of experience in water services, water resource management or flood management.

• At least 10 years of professional experience in advising public authorities, government agencies or utility companies in Europe in water supply, sanitation flood management or drought management.

• Experience related to project preparation or project implementation of municipal water services or flood management projects, as proven by at least 5 completed projects.

• Experience in hydrological modelling will be considered an advantage.

University Degree (or equivalent professional qualification) in economics, accounting, finance, business administration, or an equivalent field.

Required experience:

• At least 15 years of professional experience in financial modelling, financial advisory, banking or investing.

• Specific knowledge and experience in the financial structuring of complex projects, as demonstrated by the expert’s involvement in at least 10 completed projects involving the assessment, design or implementation of financial strategies, cash flow projections or financial planning.

• Specific knowledge and experience in project preparation of complex projects in the environment sector, as demonstrated by the expert’s involvement in at least 5 completed projects involving value capture and/or nature-based solutions and/or climate change adaptation or mitigation shall constitute an asset

• Specific knowledge and experience with the blending of financial instruments and sustainable debt instruments as demonstrated by the expert’s involvement in at least 3 completed projects involving these features shall constitute an asset.

Excellent level of English (C2).

University Degree (or equivalent professional qualification) in economics, environmental economics, socioeconomics, sustainable development, sociology or an equivalent field.

Required experience:

• At least 15 years of experience in research, consulting, civil society, finance/investment or project/infrastructure development.

• At least 7 years of professional experience in advising public authorities, civil society, utility companies, ports or other enterprises with a public sector mission, project developers, fund managers, government agencies or financial institutions on funding or financing for infrastructure, sustainability or ecosystem related projects.

• Experience in performing cost-benefit analysis of projects or investments related to water, environment, climate or sustainability, as proven by at least 5 projects.

• Experience in design, management or implementation of participatory/stakeholder engagement will be considered an advantage.

• Experience with valuation of ecosystem services with be considered an advantage