Call for experts: Green Climate Fund project preparation and readiness

Overview

The Climate Policy & Finance Practice at Oxford Policy Management (OPM) is seeking experienced consultants and technical experts to join our pool of specialists for upcoming Green Climate Fund (GCF) project preparation, readiness and capacity-building assignments. Engagements will be on a consultancy basis, contingent on the successful outcome of bids and the availability of suitable project opportunities.

 

These positions would be located in our OPM offices.

 

We are an international development consultancy working to improve lives through sustainable policy change in low- and middle-income countries. Our vision is for fair public policy that benefits both people and the planet.

 

Through our global network of offices, we work in partnership with national stakeholders and decision makers to research, design, implement, and evaluate impactful public policy. We draw on our local and international sector experts to provide the very best evidence-based support. We deliver projects with expert knowledge and experience and can be relied upon for excellence in all aspects of project delivery. We work collaboratively, with ambition, to help deliver impactful public policy that will bring about lasting change.

 

Position Summary

The position of GCF Project Preparation and Readiness Expert within OPM's Climate Policy & Finance Practice would involve providing specialist technical expertise and contributing to the development and delivery of GCF-funded and GCF-related assignments. Experts would support OPM in preparing high-quality concept notes, funding proposals, project preparation studies and readiness activities, ensuring that outputs meet GCF requirements and respond to the priorities and institutional contexts of partner countries.

Depending on their area of specialisation, experts may lead assignments, provide technical inputs to multidisciplinary teams, undertake assessments and analytical work, or support capacity building and institutional strengthening. They will work closely with OPM project managers, team leaders, country partners, accredited entities and other technical specialists to deliver high-quality outputs throughout the GCF project cycle.

 

Project development and proposal preparation

• Lead or contribute to the development of GCF concept notes, funding proposals and Project Preparation Facility applications, ensuring alignment with GCF investment criteria, policies and submission requirements.
• Undertake climate rationale development, climate vulnerability and risk assessments, and support the identification and design of adaptation and mitigation interventions.
• Contribute to project design, results frameworks, theories of change, logical frameworks, monitoring and evaluation arrangements and implementation plans.
• Support the development of project budgets, implementation arrangements and institutional and governance frameworks.

 

Technical and thematic expertise

• Provide specialist technical inputs in relevant sectors, including agriculture and food security, water security, coastal resilience, nature-based solutions, energy, urban development and health.
• Conduct gender assessments and develop Gender Action Plans (GAPs) in accordance with GCF gender policy and requirements.
• Undertake environmental and social assessments and prepare Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMFs) and stakeholder engagement plans.
• Provide climate finance expertise, including blended finance approaches, financial structuring, economic and financial analysis, and the design of climate funds and financing facilities.

 

Institutional strengthening and capacity building

• Support Direct Access Entities with pre-accreditation gap assessments and the strengthening of fiduciary, environmental and social safeguards, gender and institutional systems.
• Design and deliver training, technical assistance and capacity-building activities to strengthen country ownership and institutional capacity to access and manage GCF resources.
• Support stakeholders in understanding and navigating GCF processes, policies, accreditation requirements and project approval procedures.

Stakeholder engagement and project delivery

• Work collaboratively with national governments, GCF accredited entities, implementing partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders throughout project preparation and implementation planning.
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations, technical workshops and validation processes, ensuring inclusive participation and alignment with national climate priorities.
• Produce high-quality technical reports, assessments, analytical outputs and other project deliverables within agreed timelines and budgets.
• Demonstrate OPM's values, have a passion for social impact and contribute to our mission of improving lives through evidence-based and sustainable public policy.

Key Qualifications / Experience / Skills / Behaviours

• Professional qualifications or equivalent experience: A postgraduate qualification (Master's degree or equivalent professional experience) in climate change, environmental science, international development, economics, finance, gender studies, engineering, natural resource management or another relevant discipline.

• Relevant technical expertise: Demonstrable expertise in one or more of the specialist areas outlined below, with a strong understanding of climate change adaptation, mitigation and sustainable development.

• GCF and climate finance experience: Proven experience working directly on GCF concept notes, funding proposals, Project Preparation Facility assignments, Readiness programmes or comparable climate fund processes. Familiarity with GCF policies, investment criteria and project cycle requirements is highly desirable.

• Professional and interpersonal skills: Excellent analytical, research, writing and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams and engage with government and development partner stakeholders.

• Project delivery and autonomy: Ability to manage technical inputs independently, deliver high-quality outputs to agreed deadlines and contribute effectively to complex, multi-stakeholder assignments.

Specialist areas of expertise

We welcome expressions of interest from experts in the following areas:

1. Team Leaders and Climate Project Development Specialists

• Demonstrated experience leading the preparation of GCF or other climate fund proposals, from initial project identification and concept development through to funding proposal submission and Board approval.

• Strong sectoral expertise in areas such as agriculture and food security, water security, coastal resilience, nature-based solutions, energy, urban development and health.

• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams, coordinating technical inputs and engaging with national governments and accredited entities.

2. Gender and Social Inclusion Experts

• Experience conducting gender assessments and developing GCF-compliant Gender Action Plans.

• Knowledge of gender-responsive climate programming, social inclusion and participatory approaches.

• Experience integrating gender equality and social inclusion considerations into project design, implementation and monitoring frameworks.

3. Environmental and Social Safeguards Experts

• Experience preparing ESIAs, ESMPs, ESMFs and stakeholder engagement plans for climate and development projects.

• Familiarity with GCF environmental and social policies, safeguards standards and risk categorisation requirements.

• Experience in stakeholder consultation, environmental and social risk assessment and mitigation planning.

4. Climate Finance and Financial Structuring Experts

• Experience in climate finance mobilisation, blended finance and innovative financing mechanisms.

• Expertise in financial and economic analysis, financial modelling, investment appraisal and project financial structuring.

• Experience designing climate funds, financing facilities and other mechanisms to mobilise public and private sector investment.

5. Accreditation and Institutional Capacity-Building Experts

• Experience supporting Direct Access Entities with GCF pre-accreditation assessments and institutional strengthening.

• Knowledge of fiduciary standards, environmental and social safeguards systems, gender policies and accreditation requirements.

• Experience designing and delivering training, technical assistance and capacity-building programmes on GCF processes and climate finance access.

 

Our Offer

Whether you join us in a corporate position, as a project delivery colleague, or as an independent contractor driving programme management - at OPM you will find a company that places equal value on excellence and integrity. As a leading international development consulting firm, we strive to enable and empower everyone who works with us to do their best work in an environment that welcomes ambition, creativity and passion for positive change.

 

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

 

We strongly believe in a fairer distribution of power between all stakeholders, and we commit to reflecting this in our organisational structures and in the design and delivery of our projects. We proactively work to evolve ourselves and our stakeholders to shape inclusive and fair programming, implementation, and policies. Our recruitment and procurement processes reflect our ambition to make the international development sector more diverse and inclusive.

Application

If you share our vision for fair public policy that benefits both people and planet, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application through our careers’ site. We review and interview applicants on a rolling basis and encourage you to apply by way of CV via our careers site at the earliest.