GCF Projects Consultant, Mexico

Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

Based in Seoul, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote a model of economic growth known as "green growth", which targets key aspects of economic performance such as poverty reduction, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. The organization partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and private sector to help build economies that grow strongly and are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change.

GGGI has a diverse portfolio of programmes in developing countries around the world. These in-country programmes, together with global products and services, focus on delivering results through an integrated approach of evidence-based green growth planning and implementation aligned to countries’ development priorities. The organization also focuses on knowledge development and management activities which build a strong theoretical and empirical basis for green growth, while providing concrete options and guidance for policymakers; as well as building the conditions for public and private green infrastructure investments. 

Over the last decade, the Global Green Growth Institute has consolidated its role as a trusted advisor to Mexico’s federal and subnational governments, actively working collaboratively with key counterparts to establish a strong green growth foundation in the country. In 2014, the Mexican Senate ratified the Agreement for the Establishment of GGGI, which signals Mexico’s commitment to green growth and its recognition of the shared value of this development paradigm in cooperation with GGGI. In 2021, the Country Agreement between GGGI and Mexico was signed between the Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretariat and GGGI; hence, formally recognizing GGGI as one of the country’s key partnering international intergovernmental organizations.

Mexico’s development priorities have evolved in the context of global and domestic changes, resulting in a significant push to transform the public life to achieve a greater benefit for all. This intent is ingrained in the National Development Plan 2025-2030, which serves as an umbrella for sectoral and institutional plans and a key tool for cooperation fostering inclusive development. The goal of its political, social, and economic pillars is to bring the nation toward prosperity, security, sustainability; thus, green growth and a low-carbon society are key development objectives for the country.

Between 2019 and 2021, the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of Mexico (SHCP for its acronym in Spanish) as National Designated Authority (NDA) of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), through the GCF Readiness Programme, has received funding to support activities that enhance and strengthen Mexico’s sustainable finance architecture to mobilize public and private, national, and international, climate financing for mitigation and adaptation projects and programmes in the country.

In 2023, a Multiyear GCF Readiness Programme (MEX-RS-003) started its implementation to support the enhancement of Mexico’s priorities via Direct Access Entities (FIRA and NadBank), the SHCP requires support to develop inputs that will allow the prioritization of projects based on national strategies and objectives. Additionally, FIRA requires support in providing inputs for the development of a Manual to continue advancing with the PSAA process.  

The objective of this consultancy is to strengthen the National Designated Authority’s (NDA) technical and operational capacity to (i) efficiently evaluate, prioritize, and manage climate finance project proposals, and (ii) enhance the strategic involvement of the private sector in climate finance initiatives, with a specific focus on access to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), including its Private Sector Window.

The consultancy will support the NDA in improving the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of project screening and service delivery processes, ensuring that project proposals are assessed using robust climate, technical, and financing criteria, and that private sector participation is strategically integrated in line with national priorities and GCF requirements. The assignment requires the application of specialized conceptual and technical knowledge related to climate finance, blended finance structures, and multilateral fund requirements.

The Consultant will undertake, but not limited to, the following activities related to the role of the SHCP as Mexico’s NDA to the GCF:

1. Enhancement of NDA Project Evaluation and Prioritization Processes

• Conduct assessments of existing NDA evaluation tools for GCF Concept Notes and Funding Proposals.

• Design, refine, and operationalize streamlined prioritization tools and methodologies to improve efficiency, consistency, and transparency in project evaluation.

• Develop analytical dashboards and pipeline status reports to support senior decision-making and strategic prioritization of climate finance projects.

2. Strengthening Private Sector Engagement and Access to the GCF Private Sector Window

• Assess the role of the NDA in fostering private sector participation, including mapping institutional responsibilities and interministerial coordination mechanisms.

• Identify gaps and opportunities to enhance alignment between public sector priorities and private sector investment schemes under the GCF.

• Support stakeholder engagement processes, including structured roundtables and capacity-building activities, to inform pipeline development and project structuring.

3. Strategic and Operational Support to the NDA

• Provide technical inputs related to the NDA’s ongoing management of the GCF, Adaptation Fund (AF), and Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) pipelines.

• Support the integration of national climate strategies, financing frameworks, and institutional priorities into project evaluation and pipeline management processes.

• Ensure consistent provision of high-quality technical outputs under varying operational demands, contributing to effective service delivery and informed decision-making.

The information contained in the deliverables shall be for the restricted use of the Mexican Government. The progress of such deliverables shall be subject to validation by the Ministry of Finance, and only the public versions shall be shared with GGGI.

Deliverables

The expected deliverables are the following:

1. One workplan. A detailed document outlining tasks, sequencing, and timelines to achieve specific deliverables on GCF Readiness 3 NDA-strengthening outputs.

2. One diagnosis on the prioritization framework for GCF Concept Notes. One report analyzing and proposing recommendations to strengthen the NDA’s project prioritization framework for GCF Concept Notes.

3. One diagnosis on the prioritization framework for GCF Funding Proposals. One report analyzing the prioritization framework for Funding Proposals.

4. One updated prioritization tool for GCF Concept Notes. One tool (Excel) that integrates the recommendations and findings of the diagnosis carried out for GCF Concept Notes.

5. One updated prioritization tool for GCF Funding Proposals. One tool (Excel) that integrates the recommendations and findings of the diagnosis carried out for GCF Funding Proposals.

6. One draft GCF projects prioritization dashboard. One draft dashboard (Excel) to support consistent prioritization of projects by the NDA.

7. One GCF projects prioritization dashboard. One dashboard (Excel) with its user guide that includes indicators, ranking logic, and visualization features to support consistent prioritization of projects across the NDA pipeline.

8. One institutional assessment of the NDA’s role and interministerial coordination to foster private sector participation. One report with an action plan to enhance the NDA’s role and interministerial coordination to foster private sector participation through the GCF Private Sector Window.

9. One capacity building report. One report on workshop(s) delivered to the NDA and DAEs on project structuring to enhance access to the GCF Private Sector Window (including list(s) of participants disaggregated by gender and materials used).

10. One stakeholder consultation report. A stakeholder engagement report (PDF) documenting structured roundtables held with public and private sector stakeholders to inform updates to the national climate finance project pipeline. The report will synthesize stakeholder inputs relevant to private sector participation, investment barriers, and pipeline readiness, and will include meeting minutes, presentations, and gender-disaggregated participant lists.

11. One Updated National Project Pipeline Report. A report with the national updated pipeline with enhanced private sector participation.

12. One final report. A consolidated final report summarizing activities, findings, lessons learned, and strategic recommendations generated throughout the consultancy.

Deliverables, timeline, and payments

The development of the consultancy will be monitored and coordinated mainly through activities with the SHCP. The Consultancy will be based on-site at the SHCP offices located in Plaza Inn (Av. Insurgentes Sur 1971, Guadalupe Inn, Álvaro Obregón, CDMX) and the schedule will be defined by the SHCP.

All deliverables must be written in Spanish/English (when required), in accordance with GGGI’s formatting requirements, and submitted with proof of editable file back-up (e.g. .docx, .pptx) in an external hard-disk and GGGI SharePoint system. Where relevant, the consultant shall also provide sets of raw data, research materials, and meeting notes related to the contractual objective. Every deliverable must be previously approved by the SHCP before completing the payment process and should be kept in strict confidentiality as well as all project-related information.  The consultant's Employment period will be finished until the last payment is completed.

The consultant should follow the specific methods provided by the Contract Supervisors and ensure full confidentiality of the work delivered. The consultant will make the best use of both primary and secondary sources of information for the development of activities defined under the contract objective. The consultant will always provide the information to the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit and the ESG and Gender Officer of GGGI Mexico’s office for review and approval, prior to taking final action.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Political Science, International Relations, Environmental Sciences or another relevant discipline.

• Master’s Degree in Public Policy, International Cooperation, Climate Finance, Environmental Economy or another relevant discipline is desirable.

• At least four (4) years of experience in supporting the management of climate finance projects and/or analysis of international projects financed through environmental funds.

• Excellent writing and report preparation skills.

• Excellent skills in data analysis and critical thinking.

• Strong skills in assertive communication in English and Spanish.

• Analytical, problem-solving and strategic skills.

• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative working relationships with government counterparts.

• Demonstrated capacity to facilitate in-depth, outcome-oriented, stakeholder dialogues. 

• Maturity and professional ability to handle sensitive information and ability to respect the confidentiality of such information while working with GGGI even after the contract ends.

• Ability to lead and work effectively with people from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.

• Selection method/process: Competitive selection

• Timeline of selection: 7 days  

Date to close is Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered Application. Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English. A consortium or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.