Climate Impact Project Specialist

Green Climate Fund

Grade: IS-4
Deadline: 13 April 2025 (11:59 PM KST)
Job Category: International
Salary: USD 129,400 (plus attractive benefits, that include the following allowances (as applicable)): Relocation, dependency, housing, education assistance and home country travel.

Introduction
The Green Climate Fund is the world's largest dedicated multilateral climate fund and invests in impactful, innovative, catalytic programs and projects in developing countries across the globe. The GCF has a portfolio of 297 projects across 133 countries, with a total commitment of USD 16.6 billion to date.

In 2023, an additional USD 12.8 billion was pledged, to support our new strategic and programming cycle from 2024-2027; our ambition is to grow to become at least a USD 50 billion fund by 2030. Rooted in the core objectives of impact and efficiency, access and a focus on the most vulnerable, and mobilizing a much higher scale of public and private sector financial flows for climate action we have an unparalleled scale of resources, which, together with our risk appetite and flexibility allows us to bring together different partners and stakeholders in innovative partnerships for profound impact. 

GCF is seeking a top-tier individual with a demonstrable track record of harnessing experience, energy and networks to tackle complex global climate change challenges. You will be committed to making a positive, measurable difference through a mission-driven role, and thrive in a fast-paced, diverse environment.  

You will be able to quickly scan and analyze complex, competing issues and lead significant sized teams to find solutions in evolving contexts, across multiple geographic locations. 

You will be a nurturer of people: recognizing and growing the talent around you, exemplifying values of transparency, respect and innovation.

You will be committed to learning, knowledge-sharing, convening and communicating with partners to work together to ideate, develop and implement climate action initiatives that make a profound difference to people and planet.

You will join a team of talented, committed individuals representing almost 80 nationalities contributing skills and experience from academic, scientific, private, government and nonprofit backgrounds.  Together, we work with governments, communities and civil society, technical agencies, and the private sector across the world.

Interested in more information? 
Learn about working for GCF: https://www.greenclimate.fund/about/careers 
View current vacancies: https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/ 

About the Green Climate Fund (GCF)
Set up in 2010 by the 194 countries who are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), GCF takes its responsibility as the world's largest dedicated multilateral climate fund to heart.  GCF funds transformative climate projects across the developing world, supporting countries in their responses and actions to tackle climate change while fostering sustainable development within their communities. 

Our country-driven approach ensures that our actions are tailored to the unique circumstances and national aspirations of each nation we support. Besides channeling public and private sector investment through a broad range of financing instruments, GCF builds the capacity of developing countries to take climate action through an extensive Readiness Programme ensuring countries are increasingly well-equipped and financed to manage their climate futures.

Headquartered in the Republic of Korea, GCF operates with a diverse and talented workforce of over 300 people. 

This position serves as a talent pool for the Asia-Pacific; and Africa regions. Qualified individuals will be contacted based on their relevant experience.

Position Objective

The Climate Impact Project Specialist reporting to the Regional Director will be responsible for ensuring that the GCF's investments in funded activities lead to measurable, monitorable and credible results by ensuring the integrity of the estimates and targets of GHG emission reductions in all Funded Activities, as well as Readiness Proposals. The role would be focused on the Asia Pacific or Africa region and would also include wide collaboration across all GCF divisions, external stakeholders, and delivery partners.  The Climate Impact Project Specialist will provide scientific advice on funding proposals at all stages of their development to ensure that they are aligned with the latest knowledge on climate change and articulate a current or projected climate change risk.

The role would also include origination (technical review and structuring), implementation, and portfolio management support across the region. This includes both funded activities and GCF Readiness proposals.
The role will also involve:

- Project Origination, Implementation, and Portfolio Management support, ensuring successful project structuring and delivery across the department and stepping in to support individual projects if needed.
- Pipeline and Portfolio analysis and optimization, to support the Region to prioritize and optimize the portfolio while leveraging the different GCF departments, divisions and financial products to get the maximum impact through the GCF investment. 

The Climate Impact Project Specialist will manage these responsibilities based on the agreed scope with the Regional Director.

Purpose 

- Provide thorough and actionable independent guidance on and assessments of climate rationale, Theory of Change, GHG reduction estimates/calculations, relevant indicators, methodologies and measurement approaches, as well as reporting and verification systems, as articulated in Concept Notes, Project Ideas and funding proposals at various stages of development to relevant Secretariat Divisions as well as AEs
- Ensures and validates that the project measures the climate change adaptation and mitigation impacts (including GHG mitigation calculations) to ensure the consistent and high quality of the GCF project pipeline and investment. 
- Support the application of the Fund's investment criteria and other policies and guidance in the review of funding proposals concept notes and readiness proposals
- Supports improvement and integration of ICT tools related to pipeline and portfolio management.
- Builds and capitalizes on lessons learned and good practices to optimize the pipeline review and post-approval process.
- Ensure optimal project design/delivery by the pipeline development, technical review of readiness grants, projects/programs funding proposals, and concept notes. 
- Applies relevant operational policies to the Funded Activity Agreement review/negotiation and post-approval process

Engagement

- Providing technical guidance to project teams, and external stakeholders (countries and accredited entities) to strengthen their capacities and improve the quality of the GCF Asia Pacific or Africa pipeline of project proposals in the context of articulating climate change vulnerabilities, risks, and impacts
- Interacts with internal stakeholders (relevant divisions) and external stakeholders (Accredited Entities) to facilitate the review of proposals and post-approval process -and to provide timely and effective action;
- Contributes to development of efficient process/procedures and dissemination towards internal/external stakeholders.
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Delivery

- Providing technical advice on climate change adaptation and resilience to support funding proposals over their full life cycle
- Leads on the analytical (technical review and structuring) and procedural stages of processing concept notes and funding proposals, including maintenance of the project database, across relevant stages of the GCF project cycle;
- Supports the management across the project cycle;
- Close coordination with the relevant teams and the Accredited Entities to make legal arrangements and all necessary arrangements properly done for effective project implementation after approval 
- Lead corporate, divisional and team initiatives and activities, as assigned.

Requirements (Education, experience, technical competencies required of the job)

- Master's degree in Climate Science (or other relevant Earth Science), OR engineering with knowledge of climate impact assessment, climate finance tools, enablers and implementation models across various sectors; OR a relevant Bachelor's degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience;
-  At least 9 years of relevant work experience of which at least 3 to 5 with a regional or multilateral development banks and/or development financing institution or in a climate impact consultancy context developing climate action proposals that tackle climate change adaptation and mitigation in developing countries
- Strong M&E design and implementation skills, especially those related to GHG accounting
- Proven track record in project management including but not limited to design, implementation
- Experience in a relevant sector and/or experience in climate finance or developing climate finance projects in international / developing countries
- Relevant experience in international setting
- Unquestionable integrity and adherence to the highest ethical standards.
- Excellent business writing and presentation skills
- Excellent presentation skills and strong data management skills
- Ability to articulate complex issues verbally and in writing in a concise manner 
- Fluency in English and relevant language proficiency related to GCF regions 
- A team-player with a proactive, solution-oriented and can-do attitude
 
The closing date for application is 13 April 2025. Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

*The person assessed by the Selection Panel as most suitable for the position will be proposed for appointment. Selection among short-listed candidates will also take into account performance at interview, appropriate testing, and references. 

Applications from women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged to apply.

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Important Application Information:
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How cinfo Can Support You in the Application Process for This Position

- Application and Interview Preparation: Whether you're preparing your application documents or getting ready for an interview, you can book a Job Application Support session to receive tailored guidance.
- For Swiss nationals invited to the first round of the selection process (e.g., written test, interview, assessment center): Notify us at recruitment@cinfo.ch, and we will inform our HR partners in the respective organization and the Swiss Government to help increase your visibility.
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Sector: Nonprofit/Community/Social Services/International Cooperation

Role: Other

Working hours (%): 80-100% / 100%

Job type: Staff (Permanent and Fixed Term)

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