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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.

The position is fully remote and can be based in any country where TNC can hire in Africa (Angola, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia)

Science Associate posting (3+ years desired experience).

In recent years, the world has seen a growing interest in using Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to manage water risks—from floods and landslides to quantity and quality of water supply. But has all this buzz translated into real investment on the ground? 

Join The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Forest Trends Association as we answer this question and more with the launch of the new report Doubling Down on Nature, the most comprehensive global assessment to date of investment flowing towards NbS projects with water-related objectives.

Date: June 10, 2025 | 9:00 AM ET

Achieving transformational outcomes for climate resilience and biodiversity conservation requires a systems thinking approach. Success hinges on driving policy change across local, national, and global levels—alongside improvements in corporate practices and innovation in financial and philanthropic sectors.

Join The Nature Conservancy's Resilient Watershed for a dynamic conversation exploring how conservation initiatives collaborate with national, state, and local governments to advance policy solutions that benefit both people and nature. Cases from South Africa, Kenya, Ecuador, Brazil, and the USA will be available.
 

Date: 3 June 2025
Time: 5 PM Nairobi time/10 am EST

Join the Resilient Watersheds Network, a global community of practitioners driving nature-based solutions for water security.

Founded by The Nature Conservancy in 2014, the network offers:
* Access to cutting-edge tools and resources
* Invitations to quarterly webinars
* Peer mentoring and coaching
* Training opportunities and technical support via Nature for Water

Whether you're just getting started or scaling a program—this is your space to connect, learn, and grow.

Free and open to all

Over the last year, Professor Kevin Balkwill of Wits and Simon Attwood have identified a new taxon of Thorncroftia growing in the Blyde River Canyon.

The species was first recorded and collected in 1953 by renowned botanist Leslie Codd on the slopes of Hebronberg, south of Mariepskop. He did not have good colour photography and close up images to compare the plants and considered them to be the same as another species, Thorncroftia succulenta, which is a Soutpansberg endemic species.

With current digital photography and research being conducted by Balkwill for a comprehensive revision of genus it has become apparent that the Blyde population is in fact a different species with different hairs on the leaves and that has flowers with a substantially longer corolla tube. Both species are very particular in habitat preference, occurring in misty high-altitude grasslands and growing on cliffs, rocks and boulders where they can find refuge from the frequent natural veld fires that are part of the landscape.

In the 1970s, the area where Codd collected the Thorncroftia south of Mariepskop was planted with commercial pine plantations. In the 1990's the plantation was abandoned, and the slopes became heavily invaded with alien invasive pines and eucalyptus trees which were later cleared by teams from Kruger to Canyons. Over the last few years, the land has also been handed over from DFFE to be included in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve.

Despite the massive disturbance to the ecosystem, some plants of the Thorncroftia survived on large boulders where the pines hadn't shaded them out yet. Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region NPC has made a big contribution to protecting this new species by removing alien invasive plants from a large portion of its habitat.

In 2024 Professor Balkwill was able to relocate the plants on these slopes and in April 2025 Nick Theron and Simon Attwood returned to photograph the plant in full bloom there.

Photo Credits: Professor Kevin Balkwill (Wits University) and Simon Attwood

Nature for Water is looking for a Junior Data Analyst / Developer to join our Program Intelligence team. This role will help design and manage data systems that power insights across our global watershed investment programs—linking on-the-ground results to long-term conservation impact.

This full-time, fully remote position is open to candidates in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa where TNC can hire. If you have experience in Python, SQL, and data visualization tools like PowerBI, and you’re eager to help drive evidence-based solutions for water security, we’d love to hear from you!

Are you passionate about advancing Nature-based Solutions and driving real-world impact? Nature for Water is looking for an Engagement Manager to lead place-based projects and guide commercial, governance, stakeholder, and economic analysis for watershed investment programs.

This is a full-time, fully remote role open to candidates based in Latin America (Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru) and the Caribbean (The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands).

If you have a background in project finance, capital markets, or management consultancy and want to help shape the future of water security, we want to hear from you!

The Lower Kafue Sub-catchment in Zambia is critical for long-term water security—and Nature-based Solutions can play a key role in protecting it.

Together with Zambia’s Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, Nature for Water supported a Feasibility Study to explore the potential for a Watershed Investment Program in the catchment.

A Summary Report of the study outlines priority Nature-based Solutions supporting long-term water availability, the environmental and socio-economic benefits, and the investment case for collective action. A step forward for long-term sustainable water and landscape management in Zambia!

Photo credits: Karine Aigner

Water Resources Commission, Ghana (WRC) officially launched the business case for the Black Volta Watershed in Ghana – a major milestone in the journey to protect one of West Africa’s most critical river basins.

Nature for Water is proud to have supported WRC in developing this case, which outlines how nature-based solutions can help tackle growing water quality challenges driven by agricultural expansion, deforestation of riparian buffers, and illegal mining. These solutions not only protect water resources but also delivering numerous co-benefits for local communities, biodiversity and climate resilience. With WRC’s leadership and the potential to tap into Ghana’s national water tariff as a sustainable funding source, this model could scale across the country, driving long-term impact.

Photo credits: Michael Vice

The N4W Call for Proposals is officially open! If you're working on Nature-Based Solutions to address water scarcity, flooding, or water quality challenges, this is your chance to receive pro-bono technical assistance from our team to develop and scale your program.
 

The Resilient Watershed Network and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are hosting a webinar on the governance models that drive successful Watershed Investment Programs.

Date: 25th of March 2025
Time: 9:00am ET

Watershed Investment Programs take many forms, from water funds to hosted programs and umbrella agreements. This session will explore:
Different governance models and how they shape implementation
The role of utilities, corporates, and government entities
Case studies, challenges, and lessons learned
 

Around the world, watershed investment programs are helping communities address pressing water security challenges. In the process, they’re also delivering multiple benefits to people and nature.

That’s the case in Quito, Ecuador, where the world’s first water fund was launched 25 years ago - Fondo para la Protección del Agua - FONAG

Here, watershed restoration efforts have not only cost-effectively improved water security, they’ve succeeded in restoring significant portions of the local landscape—and helped biodiversity rebound.

Explore the Quito Water Fund here and discover the beauty of the paramos landscape it’s helping protect. 

Photo credits: Sebastian Di Domenico

Nature-Based Solutions in Action: Norfolk Water Fund Featured in The Nature Conservancy Magazine

It’s inspiring to see the Norfolk Water Fund and its partners featured in The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Magazine—a major milestone in advancing nature-based solutions for water security in Europe.

This initiative is bringing together farmers, local authorities, and conservationists to restore Norfolk’s globally rare chalk streams, proving that investing in nature benefits both people and businesses. With pilot projects already in motion, this work is laying the foundation for long-term water resilience, biodiversity restoration, and sustainable land management.

We’re excited to see the Warwickshire Avon project featured as a WINEP case study—showcasing the role of Nature-based Solutions in addressing key water challenges in the UK.

This collaborative initiative, led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust alongside Severn Trent, the Environment Agency, and Warwickshire County Council, is working with Nature for Water to explore holistic, sustainable solutions for river health, flood risk management, and habitat restoration.

The project is part of a broader effort to improve water quality, reduce pollutants, and enhance ecosystem resilience—aligning with the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) objectives. 
 

Our Nature for Water team recently had the privilege of joining the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region NPC team in the field—gaining firsthand insights into the challenges and opportunities for watershed restoration and conservation. From tackling invasive alien plant (IAP) clearing to monitoring sedimentation impacts, this trip reinforced the urgency of investing in Nature-based Solutions for water security.

Some key moments include:

• Informal, community-driven clearing of invasives for wood and charcoal—highlighting both impact and opportunity.
• Strategizing for IAP clearing in the first Nbal and identifying areas requiring specialist high-angle teams.
• Collaborating with the Blyde Restoration Working Group to shape a 5-year implementation plan.
• Witnessing severe sedimentation issues from illegal gold mining and discussing the potential risk this poses to the catchments.

A big thank you to the K2C team and partners for their dedication to protecting these vital ecosystems

Photo credits: Jo Douwes

The Nature for Water team recently visited the city of Quito, Ecuador to analyze the costs and benefits of removing exotic species (pine and eucalyptus) from Fondo para la Protección del Agua - FONAG area of influence in the Metropolitan District of Quito. Understanding these trade-offs is important to ensure sustainable watershed management to guarantee water security. 

Photo credits: Amber Waltz

As global water challenges intensify, aligning financial strategies with sustainable water management has never been more critical.

Join The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Water Finance Coalition on January
31 for a special webinar that explores the role Public Development Banks and other financial institutions can play in mainstreaming nature-based solutions for water security.

This year has been full of learning, challenges, and progress in our journey to advance Nature-based Solutions for Water Security. The N4W 2024 Yearbook captures the work we’ve done—not alone, but alongside incredible partners, communities, and colleagues.

In 2024 we had the privilege of learning from communities and partners across the globe and supporting efforts to scale NbS programs at watershed scale with real impact

None of this would be possible without the collaboration, commitment, and vision of so many. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey—we still have much to learn and do together.

Water is the canary in the coalmine of climate change.

Already, 50% of global drinking water resources are degraded, and 1.8 billion people face absolute water scarcity. The urgency to build water resilience has never been clearer – and nature-based solutions hold the key.

We’re honored to see Nature for Water featured in the World Economic Forum blog on leveraging nature's power to address our global water crisis. By partnering with local communities, governments, and private sector stakeholders, we’ve supported over 30 watershed programs worldwide – protecting water, restoring ecosystems, and improving livelihoods.

Rivers are our Earth’s arteries. They are lifelines for people, animals, and ecosystems, connecting us to the oceans that sustain life. 

At Nature for Water, we believe in restoring and protecting these critical systems, ensuring rivers bring nourishment to our oceans. Today, we are honored to be recognized by the Lewis Pugh Foundation as part of their RiverWarriors series — Inspired by the dedication of everyone on this list to protect our waterways.