News

Last week we officially launched the Ground Outcomes (GO) Fund at a special cocktail event during New York Climate Week, co-hosted by our donors, with remarks from The Nature Conservancy’s CEO Jennifer Morris and the Global Managing Director Michael Doane, and a thoughtful panel including comments from Elizabeth Wathuti, Venkat Iyer, Oliver Karius, and Marina T. Campos.

The GO Fund is designed to accelerate the scaling of watershed investment programs around the world by jumpstarting critical projects and mobilizing the long-term funding they need to thrive. To address the connected - and intensifying - climate and water crises, we must move faster. The GO Fund can help.

We're proud to support impactful initiatives like the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region NPC in South Africa, the Norfolk Water Strategy Program by Water Resources East in England, and the River Yala Water Fund supported by Women in Water & Natural Resources Conservation Kenya. These projects are designed to restore ecosystems, enhance water security, and mobilize long-term funding.

We're excited to announce that we are expanding our Asia team! We’re looking for passionate individuals with backgrounds in management consultancy, project finance, or integrated watershed management to make a significant impact as our first permanent hire in the region.

This is a fantastic opportunity for candidates based in Australia, Singapore, or Indonesia. If you're eager to contribute to the prioritization of NbS for watersheds, we want to hear from you.

The Nature Conservancy Resilient Watersheds team launched the newly rebranded Resilient Watersheds Network & Toolbox, the webinar covered the new resources and tools required to develop and implement Watershed Investment Programs including Water Funds using Nature-based Solutions.

Join us today at World Water Week in Stockholm. 

This session is co-convened by CEO Water Mandate, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), WaterAid, WaterAid India, Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), GSK, Gap Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., Diageo and Meta.

Looking forward to seeing you there! Visit us at The Nature Conservancy Nature Hub booth.

Recently, our team visited the Mpanga Catchment - nestled between Lake George and the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains in Western Uganda - as part of our pre-feasibility study for a catchment investment programme in the area. The trip provided valuable insights into the water security challenges in the catchment, as well as efforts that are being undertaken to combat these challenges and promote sustainable livelihoods for communities in the area. 

Highlights:
Stakeholder Workshops: We gained key observations from stakeholders across a range of sectors at both national and catchment levels. 
Conservation Agriculture: We observed innovative techniques being adopted to protect and enhance the environment in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Riparian Conservation: In Kamwenge district, efforts are underway to conserve and reforest key riparian areas in the midstream.
Community Beekeeping: An inspiring alternative livelihoods project is underway in the mid-stream, where we enjoyed sampling some delicious honey produced by the local community.

However, the trip also revealed areas of concern:

Unsustainable Practices: On the upper-mid stream, we witnessed troubling farming practices on steep slopes, as well as poorly maintained roads - leading to widespread erosion. We also noticed the draining of wetlands for agriculture and large-scale artisanal stone and sand mining throughout the catchment.

These observations highlight the need for continued support and education to promote sustainable practices and protect our vital ecosystems. We're committed to working towards solutions that balance development with environmental stewardship.

Are you a results-oriented individual passionate about applying scientific solutions to real-world water security challenges? Do you possess a strong foundation in spatial analysis and hydrological modeling, and thrive in a collaborative environment working with diverse partners?

If you're eager to contribute to the prioritization of NbS for watersheds and develop innovative management tools, we want to hear from you! Nature for Water seeks a talented Science Associate to join our team.

Hiring in Latin America & Caribbean

Science Associate posting (3+ years desired experience)

Are you a passionate advocate for NbS and their potential to achieve water security? Do you thrive in a leadership role where you can guide scientific projects and ensure the integrity of data and modeling?

If you're an expert in hydrological modeling and spatial analysis tools, eager to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, and possess excellent communication skills, then we want to hear from you! Nature for Water is searching for a talented Science Lead to spearhead critical scientific workstreams focused on NbS for water security.

Hiring in Latin America & Caribbean

Science Lead posting (5+ years desired experience). 

The Kenya country director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and climate change signed the Aide Memoir for the Global Environment Facility's eighth funding cycle for the Yala-Nyando Conservation Water Fund (YNCWF), led by Women in Water & Natural Resources Conservation (WWANC).

This significant milestone approved the design mission that has been ongoing, solidifying The Nature Conservancy as the official executing agency for the implementation.
 

Join the launch of the partnership "climate resilient watershed investments" between The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Blue Deal, WaterWorX, NWB Fonds and Nature for Water

Nature for Water is growing fast, and we are hiring. We're looking for a sustainability champion with experience in water, agriculture, or climate change.  A background in watershed Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) is a plus.  Analytical and quantitative background is desired. 

The location for this position is flexible within countries in Latin America, Caribbean, Africa and Continental Europe where TNC has the ability to hire (full remote).

In a bid to address the pressing challenges of global water security, a new partnership between Nature for Water, The Nature Conservancy, NWB Fund, WaterWorX, and BlueDeal has been made. 

This collaboration aims to harness Nature-based Solutions to combat the degradation of drinking water sources, which currently affects nearly half of the world's population. By combining their expertise and resources, these organizations aspire to develop, implement, and finance NbS projects worldwide, ensuring sustainable water resources for communities, cities, farmers, and businesses. 

In February 2024, with the help of Nature for Water, the NWSP released a business plan for a £30 million portfolio of nature-based solutions that offer a holistic approach to managing the region’s water resources. The plan prioritizes action along the Wensum, Yare, Bure and Ant rivers to build more resilient watersheds by reducing, slowing and infiltrating runoff, as well as changing land use in priority areas through interventions like leaky ponds, buffer strips and soil management. These solutions can be integrated into schemes for local nature recovery with limited land take that fit within a productive farmed landscape.

Kruger to Canyons recently launched their business case proposing a comprehensive Catchment Investment Program in the region.  Read more on LinkedIN

Celebrate world water day by joining the Nature for Water Facility!  We are looking for a dynamic, commercially-minded Engagement Manager with 3+ years experience in project finance / management consultancy / capital markets settings. Engagement Managers partner with N4W Science Leads to own the development and execution of on-the-ground projects.

Open to all geographies in North America, Europe, Africa, and Latin America where TNC has the ability to hire (full remote). 

We're delighted to partner with Stella Wanjala and her team from Women in Water to protect critical water resources in the Yala River Catchment, Kenya.  N4W is partnering with Women in Water and Natural Resource Conservation to complete a feasibility study for the region.

We have partnered with the trailblazing Greater Cape Town Water Fund (GCTWF) to enhance their ability to restore the native fynbos habitat! Proper governance and legal arrangements are critical to ensure that collective action programs, like the novel GCTWF, can be implemented successfully in the long-term. The Nature for Water Facility is thrilled to advise the GCTWF on the best decision-making protocols that govern the participation and support of its diverse stakeholders.

The Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region is currently serving not only as one of the world's most biodiverse and spectacular landscapes but also a Strategic Water Source Area for the burgeoning population in South Africa.  This grant is designed to determine the feasibility of establishing a Catchment Investment Program (CIP) to ensure that the valuable landscape can be protected and restored.  The CIP will be designed to use nature based solutions to protect the region's water source alongside the irreplaceable biodiversity in perpetuity. 

Now hiring an Engagement Consultant position with our Facility team! This role assists multiple concurrent projects to develop place-based watershed investment programs. Seeking candidates with demonstrable experience in project finance, environmental economics, and/or management consultancy. Position is full-remote and available anywhere TNC is registered to do business in the Americas and Caribbean.

We share details on our sponsored engagement with Cuenca Verde, a renowned water fund in Colombia, to develop a bespoke hydro-sedimentological water quality model for the watersheds supplying Medellín.

We are pleased to announce that the Nature for Water Facility’s first Call for Proposals window will open on Monday, 23 May 2022. The application will be hosted in the website’s Call for Proposals section, and will be accompanied by a briefing session on Thursday 26th (registration here).