Sr Program Specialist - Agriculture Finance Research

WRI India Careers; New Delhi; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

WRI India Careers is seeking a Senior Program Research Specialist to advance finance strategies for sustainable agriculture, restoration, and food systems. You will work with FLW teams, partners, and international offices to develop innovative financing solutions and drive research, knowledge sharing, and program development.

You will lead financial modeling, engage with banks and DFIs, and support donor reporting, partnerships, and external communications.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in business, finance, economics, commerce, or related field.
• 7–10 years in strategic planning and project leadership in finance and agriculture.
• Strong understanding of sustainable/green finance, ESG, and climate finance in India.
• Experience with private sector corporate finance or climate finance initiatives.
• Proficient in developing financial models for investment analysis and valuation.
• Knowledge of green and sustainable finance frameworks for food systems.
• Excellent written and verbal English; Hindi a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate research across FLW programs with partners and teams.
• Develop finance strategies, models, and reports for sustainable agriculture and restoration.
• Produce reports, case studies, and policy briefs on financing for food systems.
• Support partnerships, donor reporting, and fundraising materials.
• Coordinate knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagements.

Skills

Strategic planning

Project leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Data-driven decision making

Finance in agriculture

ESG/green finance knowledge

English proficiency

Education

Master's degree in business, finance, economics, commerce, or related field

Job description

Job Summary

The Senior Program Research Specialist will work closely with teams across WRI India s Food, Land and Water (FLW) program, international offices, and external partners to advance work at the intersection of finance, policy, and markets. The role will contribute to developing innovative financing solutions for reducing food loss and waste, building India s restoration economy, advancing blended finance and insurance mechanisms for risk mitigation, and enabling financing pathways for sustainable food systems. The position will also support research and knowledge generation, strategic partnerships, technical advisory engagements, and program development across FLW priorities.

Finance is critical to accelerating progress on global goals for people, nature, and climate by mobilizing diverse funding sources, aligning efforts, and enabling systems to work more effectively together. Achieving impact in areas such as landscape restoration, sustainable agriculture, and food loss and waste reduction requires innovative and inclusive financing approaches that support local communities, smallholder farmers, and small businesses while strengthening value chains and accelerating systems change.

There is an urgent need to unlock greater public, private, philanthropic, and commercial capital to innovate and scale technologies, local infrastructure, community-based enterprises, business models, and programs that drive food system transformation. At the same time, financing instruments must be fit for purpose, grounded in practical realities, and designed to strengthen investment readiness so the sector can effectively absorb and deploy capital. For example, current public, private, and philanthropic investment in reducing food loss and waste does not match the scale of the challenge or the ambition of SDG 12.3. Strengthening risk-mitigation mechanisms, including blended finance and insurance solutions, will be essential to mobilize greater private investment.

The Senior Program Research Specialist will play a key role in leading research, coordinating and driving action on FLFW through research, knowledge sharing, and implementation support.

• Develop and advance the program s finance strategy for sustainable agriculture, food loss and waste reduction, and landscape restoration, including building relationships with banks, NBFCs, DFIs, MDBs, and other financial institutions.
• Develop financial models, financing frameworks, and clear reports or presentations that explain their approach, outcomes, and implications.
• Support partner organizations in designing finance strategies and building sustainable, scalable business models.
• Conduct research on financing trends and opportunities in sustainable agriculture, food loss and waste reduction, and landscape restoration.
• Produce reports, case studies, and policy briefs that highlight the importance of effective financing in addressing key food and land system challenges.
• Serve as the focal point for finance-related coordination across FLW teams, including facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration.
• Co-develop and support discussions on finance through roundtables, webinars, and other stakeholder convenings focused on food systems transformation.
• Develop and implement work plans and processes to support effective project delivery.
• Support internal capacity building through workshops, trainings, and knowledge-sharing activities on finance for sustainable agriculture, restoration, and food loss and waste reduction.
• Assist with donor reporting, partner communications, and fundraising support by preparing narrative reports and related materials.
• Contribute to external communications through blogs, newsletters, social media, and other outreach materials.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in business, finance, economics, commerce, or a related field.
• 7-10 years of relevant experience in strategic planning and project leadership within finance and the agriculture, food systems, or restoration sectors.
• Strong understanding of sustainable and green finance, climate finance, ESG, food loss and waste, restoration, sustainable agriculture, and related business models in the Indian context. Knowledge of BRSR and ESG frameworks is an added advantage.
• Experience working with the private sector, particularly on corporate finance, investment, or climate finance initiatives.
• Proficiency in developing financial models for investment analysis and valuation.
• Knowledge of green and sustainable finance frameworks relevant to food systems, agriculture, and restoration.
• Experience conducting high-quality research and translating complex ideas into clear insights for different audiences.
• Experience working in interdisciplinary teams across themes such as food loss and waste, food supply chains, restoration, and sustainable agriculture.
• Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to convert ideas into practical plans and actions.
• Proven project management skills, including familiarity with project management tools and methods.
• Strong leadership, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse partners.
• Data-driven approach to decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; proficiency in an additional Indian language (such as Hindi) is an advantage.

Location

Delhi, India

Duration

1 year term hire (extendable based on performance and project requirements)

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