Climate Specialist

The role

The Climate Specialist will serve as AECF’s in‑house expert and key advisor on climate finance and climate‑technical matters. The role will ensure that AECF’s programs are climate‑responsive, investment‑ready, and aligned with emerging global standards, funder priorities, and national climate strategies in the countries where they work. In addition, the specialist will lead the mobilization of climate finance resources and the design of high‑quality, fundable initiatives that position AECF competitively within the global climate landscape.

Key responsibilities

• Conceptualize and design new climate-responsive programs for the private sector that impact our target groups of low-income households in rural areas— including renewable energy technologies, climate‑smart agriculture, nature‑based solutions, and adaptation projects.
• Lead the development of AECF strategies to mobilize climate-related co‑financing from multilateral development banks, bilateral agencies, private investors, and philanthropic partners.
• Integrate climate rationale, climate metrics, and measurable mitigation/adaptation outcomes into all program concepts – and integrate climate metrics into existing programme performance measurement frameworks.
• Ensure alignment of AECF’s approach with funder requirements, national climate priorities (including NDCs), and international climate‑finance standards and frameworks such as the GEF, GCF, and the Adaptation Fund.
• Provide ongoing technical leadership and advisory support to existing programs to ensure they remain aligned with evolving climate priorities and funder expectations.
• Lead the technical review of concept notes and full proposals, ensuring they meet rigorous climate-related pipelines, investment standards, and environmental safeguard policies.
• Advise partnership and business development teams on alignment with national climate priorities in target countries, including NDCs, NAPs, sectoral climate strategies, and government investment plans. This includes guidance on country ownership.
• Support climate risk assessments using AECF’s existing methodology for investees and pipeline enterprises and recommend practical adaptation and mitigation actions, and embed them into investment contracts, technical assistance packages, and monitoring plans.
• Ensure climate risk screening and classification (mitigation/adaptation) is consistently maintained across all investees and projects, and further, review climate data from projects and ensure accuracy, integrity, and alignment with the methodological guidelines of key climate funds.
• Build strong networks with national authorities, climate finance entities, private-sector investors, research institutions, and implementing partners.

Required qualifications, experience, and attributes:

• Possess a master’s degree in climate science, environmental management, energy, agriculture, economics, finance, or related fields.
• Have eight (8) years of experience in climate program design, climate finance, renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, or adaptation/mitigation programming in Africa.
• Demonstrate experience developing proposals or managing initiatives linked to GEF, GCF, Adaptation Fund, and other climate finance facilities from bilateral and multilateral funding sources.
• Have strong analytical skills and comfort working with climate data, climate science, and quantitative climate indicators.
• Possess excellent stakeholder management, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of French is an added advantage.

How to apply

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered based on merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

AECF does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or otherwise).

If you believe you meet the criteria for the role, register and apply at https://recruitment.aecfafrica.org. To be considered, your application must be received by 29th May 2026.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.