Appointment of
Executive Director
of the Green Climate Fund
Secretariat
Candidate Information
July 2016
INTRODUCTION
At the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties in Copenhagen in 2009,
developed countries agreed to mobilize from public and private
sources a combined $100 billion annually by 2020 to help poor
countries reduce emissions and cope with climate change. The
Copenhagen Accord, the result of that conference, enshrined
the $100 billion goal, stating that the funding would be raised
from “a wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral and
multilateral, including alternative sources of finance.”
Separately, the Copenhagen Accord also called for the
formation of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as a new channel
for disbursement of climate finance. The Green Climate Fund
was formally established at the following year’s UNFCCC
meeting. The UN has stated that its current goal for initial public
capitalization is at least $10 billion by the end of 2014.
A strong initial public commitment will send a signal of
countries’ commitment to the GCF, and is also intended to
catalyse large amounts of private investment. As the GCF
states, “The dominant scale of global private capital and
fiscal challenges in many developed economies also
suggest that the large financial flows required for climate
stabilization and adaptation will, in the long run, be mainly
private in composition.”
The GCF will be used to help developing countries reduce
emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Developing countries are those that are likely to be hurt the
worst by a changing climate, and will need the most help
making a technological shift to a clean energy economy.
THE ROLE:
Executive Director The Executive Director will be appointed by, and accountable to, the
Board of the Green Climate Fund. The Executive Director will report to
the Board at its regular meetings and will be responsive to the Board,
nurture and maintain open channels of communication, and build an
effective relationship with the Board.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Executive Director, operating under the Board, will: Work to achieve the objective of the Fund, by establishing and
maintaining effective relationships with the Fund’s stakeholders in order
to mobilize resources, including partner Governments, its contributors,
recipients, and other components of the Fund, as well as the Trustee,
the Conference of the Parties, relevant bodies under the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, observer
organizations, multilateral, bilateral and development agencies and
other stakeholders;
Establish and maintain effective relationships with the Government of
the Republic of Korea; in maintaining the support provided to the
offices in Songdo and ensuring that the officials of the Fund continue to
enjoy the privileges and immunities associated with their official
functions and status;
Continue to recruit and retain a cadre of international and local
professional staff for the Secretariat, ensuring that selection is open,
transparent and based on merit, taking into account geographic and
gender balance, in accordance with the organizational structure and
administrative budget approved by the Board;
Effectively manage and develop staff in order to maximise performance
and promote an inclusive and healthy working environment; and
Provide regular and structured performance feedback to Secretariat
staff, including direct reports.
Key Responsibilities
continued
Lead the Secretariat's efforts in supporting the Board with the continued development and implementation of
The Fund's operational modalities, access modalities and funding structures;
Specific operational policies and guidelines, including for programming, project cycle, administration and
financial management, as necessary;
Funding criteria, modalities, policies and programmes;
Environmental and social safeguards and fiduciary principles and standards that are internationally accepted
as best practice;
Portfolio management and oversight;
Criteria and application processes for the accreditation of implementing entities of the Fund;
The arrangements for replenishment processes; and
A framework for the monitoring and evaluation of performance and the financial accountability of activities
supported by the Fund and any necessary external audits.
Lead the Secretariat’s team of professionals, responsible for the day­to­day operations of the Fund to: Organize and execute all administrative duties, including the preparation for meetings of the Board and its
subsidiary bodies;
Report information on the Fund's activities;
Liaise with members, implementing entities, and cooperating bilateral and multilateral institutions and
agencies;
Prepare performance reports on the implementation of activities under the Fund;
Develop the work programme and annual administrative budget of the Secretariat and Trustee for approval by
the Board;
Operationalize the project and programme cycle processes;
Prepare financial agreements related to the specific financing instrument to be concluded with an
implementing entity;
Monitor the financial risks of the outstanding portfolio;
Work with the Trustee to support the Board to enable it to carry out its responsibilities;
Carry out monitoring and evaluation function, as may be required by the Board;
Support the Board in arranging replenishment processes;
Establish and run effective knowledge management practices; and
Perform any other functions assigned by the Board.
Requirements and Person Specifications
The Executive Director will demonstrate:
Strong intellectual leadership, based on knowledge and experience of climate change, development, finance,
and their interrelationships;
Sound political judgment and excellent strategic and analytical skills which can be applied to complex
problems;
Enhanced communication and advocacy skills to enable successful interaction with decision­makers at the
highest level;
Leadership and management experience within a large organization in an international context;
Strong values and ethics, with the ability to mobilize and engage people;
A track record of robust and accountable management of financial resources at a senior level, preferably in a
development finance context;
Experience in working with a range of stakeholders in developing and developed countries; Sensitivity to political, gender, cultural, religious differences;
An impeccable reputation for honesty, integrity and expertise; Sufficient knowledge of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the
Paris Agreement; Degree in a relevant field, advanced degree desirable;
At least 15 years of relevant experience, including experience in, or working with, developing countries; and
Fluency in English, knowledge of Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish an advantage.
REMUNERATION, CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS AND TERM
Remuneration will be comparable to the level of a Vice President of the World Bank and an Assistant Secretary
General in the United Nations common system. The Board will appoint the Executive Director with
a performance based contract. The Executive Director’s performance will be evaluated regularly with a
performance framework to be approved by the Board. The term of the position will be four years, with the
possibility of reappointment once.
How to Apply
The Fund will be supported in this appointment process by the executive search firm Perrett Laver.
Perrett Laver will support the GCF Board’s Executive Director Selection Committee (EDSC) in the
discharge of its duties, both to assist in the assessment of candidates against the requirements for the
role and identify the widest possible field of qualified candidates. To apply, please upload an up­to­date resume/CV that includes details of key achievements along with
a cover letter of application summarizing suitability, motivation and interest in applying and addressing
the role description, key competencies, and person specification at www.perrettlaver.com/candidates,
quoting reference 2640.
The closing date for applications is Friday 12 August 2016 at 12:00 pm KST.
Contact: Jordan Williams in Perrett Laver's Chicago Office via jordan.williams@perrettlaver.com for
more information or to set up time for a call.
Process: Perrett Laver will conduct an executive search process in parallel with the public
advertisement of the role. Following a thorough review of all applications completed, candidates who
have proceeded to the first round (longlist) will be contacted in late August into early September. In
September, the EDSC will agree on a shortlist (of 6­8) of candidates. The shortlisted candidates will be
invited to a formal interview process with the EDSC in late September (location to be confirmed). The
GCF Board will decide on a new Executive Director of the Secretariat at its fourteenth meeting in mid­
October.
The GCF values diversity and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of
age, race, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship, religion, disability, or similar attributes.