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Strategy Associate-Sustainable Finance

Nairobi, Kenya

Company Description Systemiq is a system change company and certified B Corp, driving the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change. We work across five critical systems—energy, nature and food, materials and circular economy, sustainable finance, and urban transformation—to deliver real, lasting impact. We believe systems change starts with people change. That means curiosity, collaboration, and inclusion are at the heart of how we work.

Since our start in 2016, we have grown to more than 300+ people working across locations in Brazil, Germany, France, Indonesia, Netherlands, UK and the US. We are a pure-play sustainability-focused company, dedicated exclusively to sustainability projects.

Location: Kenya (Nairobi preferred)
Contract: 12-month FTC (very likely to extend / convert to permanent)
Team / Platform: Sustainable Finance
Reporting to: Sustainable Finance leadership 

About the role : Systemiq is looking for a Strategy Associate to join our growing Sustainable Finance practice in Kenya, focused on public and development finance. You will help governments and public finance institutions to strengthen financing strategies and mobilise capital for climate, nature and development priorities.

This is a strategy advisory role: working within small, collaborative teams, you will support complex advisory engagements and multi-stakeholder initiatives spanning governments, IFIs/DFIs, bilateral donors and the private sector. You will contribute to workstreams that draw on expertise across Systemiq and external partners, and over time you will have opportunities to shape and lead your own workstreams within the sustainable finance space.

This role blends macro-level strategic thinking with strong research and analytical skills, excellent stakeholder engagement and communication, and the ability to deliver high-quality outputs in fast-moving, stakeholder-heavy contexts. Strategy consulting experience is welcome but not essential.

What you’ll do

  • Help support or lead workstreams and deliver high-quality advisory support on public and development finance for climate and nature outcomes.
  • Develop structured analysis and synthesize complex information into client-ready materials (strategy decks, technical notes, briefing packs).
  • Drive development of sovereign financing strategies, including consideration of macroeconomic context, sovereign risk, debt sustainability and credit dynamics.
  • Help design, shape, and assess financing approaches and instruments, including concessional and blended finance, sustainability-linked bonds/loans, debt-for-climate/nature swaps, and risk-sharing structures.
  • Support stakeholder engagement across ministries, debt management offices, central banks, IFIs/DFIs, donors and private sector partners, including workshops and convenings.
  • Contribute to proposal development, thought leadership and knowledge building within the team.

Mindset, skills & experience

Essential

  • Degree/Masters – Economics/Finance/International Development especially welcome
  • 2–5+ years of relevant experience, for example in:
    • strategy consulting (sustainable finance focus)
    • international financial institutions (e.g., IMF, World Bank, AfDB),
    • central banks or debt management offices,
    • credit rating agencies,
    • sovereign research / strategy teams,
    • finance ministries or public finance roles,
    • development finance / advisory roles with strong sovereign finance exposure.
  • Familiarity with the sovereign financing landscape, including concessional finance, blended finance and/or climate and nature instruments e.g. sustainability-linked bonds/loans, debt-for-climate/nature swaps etc.
  • Strong problem-solving, analytical and research skills — able to synthesise complex material into clear, structured outputs.
  • Excellent communication in English (written and verbal), and demonstrated stakeholder engagement skills
  • Strong project discipline and ability to deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.
  • Collaborative team player with an entrepreneurial mindset and strong mission alignment.

Desirable

  • Formal study in economics, with a focus on macroeconomics, development economics, climate economics and/or nature economics
  • Exposure to public-sector policy or planning, for example within finance ministries, environment ministries, or IFIs/DFIs.
  • Familiarity with Sub-Saharan African sovereign contexts and financing priorities.
  • Experience supporting stakeholder consultations, convenings or government-facing processes.
  • Additional languages (e.g., Swahili, French).

Candidate profile

You are mission-driven and excited by the opportunity to help governments and financial institutions mobilise financing for climate and nature outcomes. You combine intellectual rigour with pragmatism and strong relationship skills. You thrive in small teams, enjoy working across disciplines and stakeholder groups, and want your work to influence real-world decisions.

You will also align naturally with our values: Creativity, Challenge, Collaborate, Change and Care.

Additional information

  • Only applications from candidates legally eligible to work in Kenya will be considered.
  • Visa sponsorship / relocation costs will not be provided.

 

 

 

Diversity & Inclusion At Systemiq, we believe that diversity and inclusion are crucial to system change and our mission. We are committed to:

  • Embedding diverse and inclusive practices in all aspects of our work, including recruitment, performance management, and people processes and policies.
  • Providing a supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and perform at their best, regardless of background, personality, gender, sexual orientation, race, mental health, religion, or other characteristics.
  • Supporting our people through all life stages, accommodating personal priorities, and promoting a sustainable approach to work and life.

Reward and Recognition The remuneration and benefits package will reflect the successful candidate's experience and expertise.

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