compliance with GCF requirements, and improve the effectiveness and impact of GCFfinanced operations. The assignment will also contribute to portfolio-level learning,
operational improvements and the design and implementation readiness of future climatefinance investments.
▪ Under the supervision of the GCF Portfolio Manager, the GCF Coordinator and under the
general guidance of the Division Manager of the Environment and Climate Finance Division
(PECG.1), the Consultant’s core duties will include:
- Provide technical and operational backstopping to Bank Task Managers, sector
teams, and executing entities to strengthen project delivery and compliance with
GCF and the Bank’s requirements, throughout the project implementation cycle,
particularly in the areas of disbursement, legal processing, finance, gender,
environment and social safeguards in collaboration with relevant Bank departments
and expertise to ensure smooth implementation for projects.
- Support portfolio performance improvements, accelerate implementation and
disbursements, and advise on risk mitigation, adaptive management, and corrective
actions for the projects under its lead.
- Participate in project inception, supervision, monitoring, evaluation, and
completion missions, supporting problem-solving and follow-up on agreed actions.
- Facilitate engagement with the GCF Secretariat, NDAs, accredited entities, and Bank
departments to address operational challenges and advance portfolio
commitments.
- Coordinate results monitoring and quality assurance of GCF performance reports,
completion reports, and periodic portfolio reviews.
- Support portfolio management systems, performance tracking, operational
guidance, knowledge sharing, and institutional learning.
- Provide technical inputs to future GCF operations, ensuring implementation lessons
inform project design, financing arrangements, and operational readiness.
- Support the upstream activity on project designs by reviewing and informing the
draft Project’s Term Sheet then Funded Activity Agreement to identify and prevent
potential implementation hurdles.
Application Close Date
2026-11-15
Engagement Type
Individual Consultant
Job Family
5.Operations management & programming
A. Background Objectives
The Green Climate Fund (GCF or Fund) is the world’s largest climate fund. It aims to accelerate transformative climate action in targeting developing countries through a country-owned partnership approach. The Green Climate Fund was established in 2010 by the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as the Financial Mechanism of the UNFCCC. The GCF is accountable to and functions under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties (COP). The Bank was accredited by the GCF on 9th March 2016, at the highest level of funding activity size – “large” and could seek funding proposal amount greater than USD 250 million for projects with the highest category of environment and social impact risk (Category A/I-1). The African Development Bank is accredited since 2019 by the GCF at the highest level of funding activity size, designated as 'large,' enabling it to pursue funding exceeding $250 million for projects with the highest environmental and social impact risk (Category A/I-1). The Bank in its GCF portfolio has 10 approved funding proposals and in its pipeline a number of Concept Notes and Funding Proposals. The total GCF financing raised to date is USD761.2 million for which the Bank's co-financing totals $955.1 million, bringing the combined Bank-GCF project portfolio to $1.716 billion. The GCF Coordination team (GCT) is composed of a Coordinator, a Portfolio Manager, a Lead Climate Agriculture Portfolio Officer, a Lead Energy and Climate Mitigation Expert, FinancialManagement Specialist, a Climate Adaptation Expert, a Climate Mitigation Expert, and an Assistant. Following portfolio restructuring and in response to implementation delays, disbursement constraints and reporting demands, the Bank seeks expert support to strengthen portfolio delivery specifically for Climate Smart Agriculture programmes, notably on disbursement readiness, results and reporting quality, operational technical backstopping, and systematic learning for future GCF investments. Agriculture, food systems and natural-resource operations account for 3 approved GCF projects representing programmes of USD320m of GCF resources in the Bank’s GCF portfolio. They carry a share of implementation features, owing to multi-actor/ country executing arrangements, dispersed smallholder beneficiaries, complex safeguards and results-measurement requirements. The consultant will therefore provide dedicated technical leadership on the agriculture and climateresilience segment of the portfolio, while supporting portfolio-wide delivery. This is the recruitment for a Lead Climate Smart Agriculture Portfolio Officer to provide senior technical and operational advisory services to the GCT and Bank operational teams to accelerate implementation of new and ongoing GCF-funded projects. A core function of the assignment is to ensure that GCF-financed operations meet GCF and Bank requirements through a single, coherent workflow: minimizing duplicate reporting, aligning timelines and conditions, and anticipating where the two frameworks diverge.
B. Scope of work
Under the supervision of the GCF Portfolio Manager, the GCF Coordinator, and general guidance of the Manager, Climate Finance (PECG1), the Consultant shall undertake the following functions in collaboration with Task Managers, relevant Bank departments, and executing entities: Portfolio performance, delivery and disbursement acceleration o Assess assigned operations in coordination with the task Managers and sector team against approved implementation schedules, legal effectiveness and first/subsequent disbursement conditions, annual workplans, procurement plans and financing agreements; establish baseline status and priority constraints. o Participate to the development and maintenance of an integrated portfolio delivery dashboard covering milestones, disbursement forecasts versus actuals, undisbursed balances, aging conditions, implementation risks, decisions and responsible action owners. o Facilitate time-bound project recovery and disbursement acceleration plans with Task Managers and executing entities; coordinate resolution pathways for legal, procurement, financial management, safeguards, gender and implementation bottlenecks with the competent Bank units. o Prepare exception-based monthly portfolio performance reviews and recommendations for the GCF Portfolio Manager and Coordinator; escalate material risks and slippages promptlyand contribute to team/ division/ department as well as participate actively in the GCT regular meetings. o Provide technical leadership in adaptive portfolio management by reviewing implementation performance, emerging risks, contextual changes and results evidence; recommend course corrections, implementation adjustments and, where justified, restructuring options to Task Managers and the GCF Coordination Team, subject to Bank and GCF approval procedures. o Participate, as requested and authorized by the Bank, in project inception, implementation support, supervision, monitoring, mid-term review, evaluation, completion and problemsolving missions, jointly with Task Managers and relevant Bank staff; contribute to mission preparation, field-based performance assessments, aide-mémoires and technical findings, and follow up agreed recommendations and corrective actions. o Support the GCT upstream activity by reviewing and informing the draft Project’s Term Sheet and Funded Activity Agreement in order to identify and avoid potential implementation hurdle. Operational technical backstopping o As team expert on agriculture/climate the Climate Agriculture Lead Portfolio Officer, the Consultant will manage and coordinate the work related to the approved GCF Funding Proposals in this sector but will also provide technical advisory support to Task Managers of other sector teams, including natural resources, energy and adaptation operations as relevant, across implementation, supervision and restructuring processes. o Review implementation arrangements, approved Funding Proposals, Funded Activity Agreements (FAAs), project conditions, results frameworks and operational workplans to identify delivery risks and practical corrective options. o Support executing entities in understanding GCF requirements and translating approved designs into implementable schedules, deliverables and compliant evidence packages. o Prepare concise technical notes and options for project adjustments, extensions or restructuring, for consideration by authorized Bank and GCF decision-makers. o Coordinate technical exchanges with the GCF Secretariat, NDAs, partner accredited entities and relevant stakeholders as delegated by the GCT. o Support strategic and operational engagement with the GCF Secretariat, including relevant portfolio management, regional and technical teams; prepare and follow up joint portfolio reviews, implementation and disbursement consultations, reporting discussions and agreed commitments, under the direction of the GCF Coordinator and GCF Portfolio Manager.
C. Deliverables Expected
Specific deliverables to be produced during the assignment include: o Evidence of the smooth and timely reporting under the GCF formats, especially APRs and MTRs, implementation support, disbursement and restructuring/cancellation as deemed necessary of assigned projects and additional projects to be approved in 2027. o Support the development of projects’ implementation conditions under the GCF framework (notably Funding Activity Agreement negotiations, annexes’ preparation support, participation to launching/supervision missions, training of the Government Entity to be involved in the GCF project or project component on the GCF requirements), o Organize and lead projects’ coordination meetings and working sessions with the Bank Task Managers and the GCF Portfolio team in a proactive and efficient manner to ensure understanding and respect of GCF deliverables, o Support the use and knowledge-sharing of formats and outlines for AfDB-GCF reporting, training and submit GCF deliverables which adhere to prevailing GCF guidelines. o Support the internal knowledge sharing on the GCF co-financing conditions through various communication formats (mails, internal memos, PowerPoint), o Participate in the development of the AfDB-GCF Operations manual for the implementation of funded activities, o Support the content development for communications materials including 2026 GCF Annual Report, 2027 Annual Work Portfolio & Budget, draft press releases, and others. o Take minutes of meetings and keep GCF projects files and records up to date. o Prepare and share with the GCF Coordinator and Portfolio Manager weekly, quarterly and upon request, oral or written reports outlining the activities ongoing and or completed. As well as any other reports/assignments required by the GCF Coordination team or the Climate Finance Division Manager. o Contribute to achieve the objectives of the Bank’s Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Action Plan. At the end of the assignment, the Consultant’s outputs will be evaluated based on the following criteria: i. Capacity to foster the implementation of GCF’s project under his/her scope ii. Professional competence iii. Reliability and respect of contract iv. Quality of work produced v. Relationship skills with GCF focal points, AfDB GCF Coordination team and the AfDB ecosystem.
D. Duration and Timetable for the Assignment
The assignment will commence at completion of the selection process and upon contract signing. The contract with the selected Consultant will last for a period of 12 months, with the possibility of further renewal, based on satisfactory performance and relevant procurement rules. The duty station will be home-based. A precise work program will be agreed upon with the GCF and Portfolio Manager on commencement of the assignment.
E. Bank Contribution and Institutional Arrangement
The Bank shall pay the consultant the amounts specified below in respect of the Services and for all costs, fees, and expenses whatsoever reasonably incurred by the Consultant in performing its obligations under this Contract: ▪ The source of the funding is from the GCF Accredited Entity fees perceived by the Bank. ▪ All travel arrangements and payments shall be in accordance with the Bank’s Travel Policy. ▪ The Consultant is requested to: - Submit his/her bank account details and a copy of his/her passport as soon as preferably at the time of the contract signing - Adhere to the start and end dates specified in Article 2 of the contract. Ensure that all services required under the Terms of Reference are completed during this period. - Ensure compliance with the reporting schedule and the associated invoice. - Ensure that all invoices are submitted before the contract expiration date specified in Article 16 of his/her contract. The Bank cannot process payments for invoices submitted after this date.
F. Duty Station
The duty station will be homebased.
G. Essential Specialized Skills/Knowledge/Competencies
The qualifications required for this assignment are: o Advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate or equivalent) in sustainable development, climate change, agriculture, agricultural economics, agronomy, natural resource management, international relations, development studies, economics, business administration, or related field; o At least 10 years of being progressively responsible experience in project/programme/portfolio management, development of environment and climate change operations, policy formation and capacity building, trust fund management, knowledge of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and public or private financial institutions, and familiarity with development activities or related areas; o Experience with projects or portfolio management and trust fund operations in international organisations, multilateral institutions, large NGOs; similar experience in MDBs or within the GCF would be a strong advantage; o Demonstrated experience with GCF or comparable multilateral climate funds, including funding agreements, disbursement conditions, results frameworks, APRs, implementation monitoring and portfolio reporting. o Knowledge of climate change and green growth, the multilateral climate governance framework and global climate finance architecture, with a focus on Africa. Strong understanding of adaptation and mitigation investments; agriculture, natural resources or resilience operations are advantageous. o Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues; o Proven capacity to advise sector operational teams and executing entities, diagnose portfolio underperformance and propose implementable corrective actions. o Proven ability to work in a team and multi-task; great facilitation, communication, and computational skills, resourcefulness, attention to details, excellent organisation skills and client orientation; experience working with Donors would be a plus;o Strong analytical, dashboard, results management, stakeholder facilitation and concise technical writing skills; familiarity with Bank systems and digital portfolio tools is desirable. o Competence in the use of various tools available and applied by the Bank such as SAP, and fluency in standard MS office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point), knowledge on PowerBi would be a plus; o Ability to communicate and write effectively in French and in English, with professional capabilities proven in both languages; o Open attitude to learn on the job, proactiveness and appetite for problem solving.
H. Supervisor
The Lead Climate Smart Agriculture GCF Portfolio Officer will report to the Portfolio Manager of the GCF Coordination Team. Contact information Further information from the African Development Bank by writing to the following emails addresses: Mr. Phillips Gareth Division Manager, PECG.1 African Development Bank Tel.: (225) 20 26 42 53 E-mail: G.PHILLIPS@AFDB.ORG
Consultancy Input Days
261.00
Qualifications
Qualification
Assessment
Regular Consultant
Less than 32 years old at the time of signing the contract and during contract execution
