PurposePyxera Global, a US-based non-profit organization (more information below), seeks a local consultant or consulting team to support a focused scouting and preliminary maturity assessment process for community-rooted nature-based solutions (NbS) initiatives in Porto Alegre as part of the Community-Owned Urban Transitions for Growth and Resilience (COUGAR) initiative.COUGAR is a data-driven, place-based pipeline-to-portfolio system that identifies, prioritizes, structures, and advances community-rooted NbS initiatives toward finance readiness. This consultancy is intended to support COUGAR’s pipeline formation and maturity assessment function and should help Pyxera Global and partners answer a narrower and more operational question: which community-rooted initiatives, organizations, or emerging project concepts appear sufficiently relevant and mature to warrant deeper engagement through the COUGAR process.The objective is to:Identify and refine an initial pool of community-rooted organizations, initiatives, and emerging project concepts relevant to NbS in Porto Alegre.Conduct a preliminary maturity assessment using criteria provided or validated by Pyxera Global.Produce one or more short, vetted lists of initiatives that may be suitable for further intake, platform review, or follow-on engagement.Generate practical insights on what is and is not currently mature enough for COUGAR’s next steps.Pyxera Global has conducted a preliminary identification of mature organizations and projects engaged in NBS-related initiatives. The consultant will expand, validate, and systematize this baseline into a more comprehensive citywide database, followed by structured maturity assessment. The assessment must distinguish between venture/startup acceleration models and the advancement pathways typical of social enterprises, NGOs, and community-based organizations.NOTE: This assignment is strictly ecosystem scouting and organizational assessment and does not include project development, technical design, or capital intermediation.Scope of WorkInception PhaseWithin one week of contract signature, the selected consultant will:Finalize a scouting and assessment methodology, including inclusion criteria, outreach approach, and the format for documenting findings.Align with Pyxera Global on maturity assessment criteria.Design the input structure for the ecosystem database, in consultation with Pyxera Global.This refinement phase may run in parallel with desk research and contextual onboarding but must precede direct engagement with external actors.Ecosystem Mapping & Database ConsolidationThe consultant will:Expand Pyxera Global’s preliminary list of mature NBS-related organizations and projects by identifying and capturing as many pilot- or later-stage NBS initiatives in Porto Alegre as feasible.Validate inclusion criteria and remove duplications.Consolidate existing and newly collected data into a streamlined database.Structure the database in consultation with Pyxera Global to enable lifecycle and friction analysis.The database should include, at minimum:Organization type and scaleTerritorial focusProject descriptionProject maturity stage (using criteria provided by Pyxera Global)Funding status and pathwayIdentified barriers or advancement constraints Preliminary maturity assessmentBased on the scoped list, the consultant will carry out a light-touch maturity assessment through desk review and direct outreach. The assessment should examine, as relevant:Whether there is a real initiative, project concept, or credible pathway to one.Whether there is an identifiable actor or implementing organization with sufficient absorptive capacity for further engagement.Whether the intervention has plausible NbS relevance and fits a real territorial context.Whether there is early traction, basic feasibility, or evidence that the concept could move toward pre-feasibility.Whether fatal constraints are already evident, such as lack of ownership, lack of implementer capacity, or no plausible municipal or community fit.The consultant is not expected to provide engineering validation, full feasibility assessment, project design, or incubation support. Shortlisting and iterationThis should include:A first vetted shortlist generated after the initial scouting and assessment round.A second round of targeted scouting and/or reassessment, if requested by Pyxera Global, based on gaps, lessons, or newly surfaced opportunities from the first round.Clear notation of which initiatives appear ready for deeper engagement, which should be monitored, and which should be deferred.DeliverablesMethod note and assessment framework: A concise inception memo confirming methodology, inclusion criteria, assessment dimensions, and documentation format. (within two weeks of engagement).Scouting tracker / initiative list: A structured spreadsheet or table capturing all scoped organizations, initiatives, and concepts reviewed, including status and key notes.Vetted shortlist - Round 1: A short memo or slide-style brief summarizing the first set of initiatives assessed and identifying which appear most relevant for COUGAR follow-on review.Vetted shortlist - Round 2: If requested, a second shortlist based on additional scouting and light-touch assessment after the first review cycle.Final summary note and presentation: A concise summary of findings, patterns, and recommendations for next-step engagement, including key observations on what kinds of community-rooted initiatives appear most tractable for the current COUGAR phase.QualificationsThe consultant(s) must demonstrate:Expertise in climate resilience and nature-based solutions and community-rooted urban interventions in Brazil.Demonstrated experience working in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments (e.G., municipal agencies, community organizations, funders) and navigating political sensitivitiesFamiliarity with social enterprise and community-based initiative scaling pathways.Experience conducting interviews, screening exercises, or early-stage project assessments.Ability to design and manage structured data repository (e.G., Excel; advanced data science skills not required).Familiarity with Porto Alegre’s institutional or NbS ecosystem preferred.Based in Brazil required; Porto Alegre or Rio Grande do Sul strongly preferred Fluency in Portuguese and English requiredReportingThe consultant will report directly to Pyxera Global’s COUGAR Senior Project Manager and coordinate regularly with the Pyxera Global team.RemunerationThis is a part-time consultant position with an estimated immediate start date and up to 100 hours anticipated. Pay will be based on past experience, the type of work required for this position, and prevailing local market rates for similar work. To ApplySend a cover letter, resume, three references, and hourly salary requirements no later than 17 May 2026 via e-mail to Please write “Porto Alegre NBS Diagnostic” in the subject line of the e-mail. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and this opportunity may be closed before the final deadline if a suitable candidate is selected.Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. If selected, Pyxera Global may elect to use the local project coordinator for future similar assignments.About Pyxera GlobalPyxera Global is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC. For thirty-five years, we’ve created groundbreaking partnerships between the public, private, and social sectors, leveraging the unique attributes of each to create shared value and innovative solutions to complex challenges. We work across thematic social areas, including circular economies, equity in healthcare, small business growth, and bridging the digital divide. Our initiatives include a wide range of methodologies, including enterprise development, skills-based employee engagement and designing impactful corporate social responsibility strategies, and community partnership efforts that transform lives and livelihoods. Pyxera Global endeavors to practice and elevate diversity, inclusion, and environmental sustainability within and outside of our organization. Visit our website to learn more!