Program Lead, Climate Technopreneurship Program

POSITION SUMMARY

The Program Lead for the Climate Technopreneurship Program will lead the implementation of Components 1 (Country Driven Acceleration Readiness) and 4 (Technical Assistance) of the Program across Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, and Vietnam, in close collaboration with GGGI country offices and other EEs (KDB, NHIS and NHARP) focusing on accelerating climate technology uptake and strengthening national innovation ecosystems). The responsibility involves leading and and guiding regional and national Sustainability Management Units (SMUs), designing a general acceleration readiness framework to be customized for National Climate Entrepreneur Accelerator Programmes, overseeing the sourcing and acceleration of local entrepreneurs, delivering capacity building, leading the development of MRV protocol for impact assessment and M&E implementation plans, and supporting the design of national IP reframework in close collaboration with GGGI country teams and other partners. The Program Lead is responsible for monitoring the overall program delivery and regular reporting to KDB, supported by country teams. These tasks will engage extensively with KDB, national governments, local partners, and other EEs. The role is central to driving country ownership, ensuring effective coordination and delivery of GGGI's commitments, and contributing to a paradigm shift towards low-carbon, climate-resilient development in the target ASEAN nations.

The Program Lead will work closely with the national project managers and Country Representatives (CR) of the five targeted countries. He/she will also support the Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director in managing and overseeing the implementation of projects in Asia and globally when requested.

PURPOSE

• Responsible for the successful execution of Components 1 (Country Driven Acceleration Readiness) and 4 (Technical Assistance) of the Program, ensuring alignment with GGGI's role as co-Executing Entity.
• Establish and manage the Sustainability Management Units (SMUs) at regional (GGGI HQ) and national levels (in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Vietnam) to drive country ownership and effective program management and coordination for Components 1 & 4.
• Facilitate climate technology uptake and innovation acceleration within the five target countries by supporting local entrepreneurs and strengthening the enabling ecosystem.
• Ensure project activities contribute to the overall goal of promoting climate technology transfer and fostering low-carbon, climate-resilient development pathways in the target ASEAN nations.
• Contribute to building sustainable, country-owned mechanisms for climate technopreneurship that endure beyond the project lifecycle.
• Assess issues and opportunities within targeted sectors for development

ENGAGEMENT

• Collaborate closely with the Korea Development Bank (KDB) as the Accredited Entity and co-Executing Entity, through the Regional SMU and informal communications, ensuring alignment and effective coordination.
• Collaborate with country teams in its engagement and coordination with National Designated Authorities (NDAs) and relevant line ministries in each of the five target countries through the National SMU.
• Liaise and partner with local implementing partners, entrepreneurship associations, academic institutions, and other ecosystem stakeholders in each country to support program activities including sourcing local companies for acceleration support.
• Coordinate with the Executing Entities of Components 2 (NHIS) and 3 (NH ARP) via the Regional SMU to ensure seamless integration and investment linkages between program components.
• Collaborate with other GGGI teams and experts such as Climate Action and Inclusive Development (CAID), M&E, and Finance for effective delivery of relevant outputs such as impact assessment, M&E and financial reports.
• Collaborate with country teams, units, and divisions of GGGI on identified joint activity opportunities to ensure integrated delivery as “One GGGI”
• Liaise between GGGI and stakeholders to identify and define project requirements, scope, and objectives

DELIVERY

• Oversee and manage the implementation of the projects, including the full project management cycle, including but not limited to workplan development, budget management, resource planning and management, risk management, and project monitoring and evaluation. This includes donor, government, and GGGI internal reporting tasks, including the preparation of reporting documents for KDB and GCF, in collaboration with country teams, when applicable.
• Support the setup and operationalization of the Regional SMU and five National SMUs, including team building and establishing governance structures.
• Lead the development of the general framework for the National Climate Entreprendru Acceleration Program (N-CEAP) and collaborate with country teams to localize it. The N-CEAP will consist of a set of modules around relevant topics for acceleration readiness of local JV candidates. Lead stakeholder consultations and workshops with N-SMUs and local partners for feedback.
• Manage the design and delivery of tailor-made N-CEAP acceleration readiness services in each country to prepare local entrepreneurs for global partnerships and technology uptake; support demo day events in each country to select qualified local candidates for global acceleration.
• Oversee the development and implementation of country-specific sourcing strategies to identify and shortlist qualified local entrepreneurs (JV candidates) under the National Climate Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme (N-CEAP), ensuring gender focus.
• Ensure that the required KPIs are achieved for Components 1 and 4.
• Drive the formulation of national climate technopreneurship network frameworks and communication hubs to facilitate knowledge sharing and ecosystem strengthening on a country and regional level.
• Engage with the country teams to develop a national IP regulatory framework to enable climate technology transfer and market uptake and facilitate investments.
• Collaborate with CAID team to create the MRV protocol for key technology groups/mitigation & adaptation actions and review the impact assessment developed by the Climate Technopreneurship Fund.
• Coordinate with M&E specialist in HQ to develop project-specific M&E implementation plans.
• Identify project delivery issues and ensure effective coordination of project activities and resources to ensure attainment of objectives against established time frames
• Organize program activities, including consultation and validation meetings & workshops, capacity building programs when necessary.
• Capture lessons learned in project management to support refinement/improvement of existing policies and procedures.
• Develop project concept notes and proposals as requested under the guidance of the Regional and Deputy Regional Directors to support Regional Office resource mobilization. 
• Other relevant duties assigned by the Regional and Deputy Regional Directors

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced academic degree in the fields of, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Engineering, International Development, and or any discipline related to the assignment. Relevant professional experience may be considered to supplement an educational degree.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in the relevant fields, with at least 2 years of international experience living and working outside of home country
• Strong track record and experience from project cycle management
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal required.  Fluency in Korean is a plus
• Experience in engaging with multiple stakeholders, including international organizations, financial institutions, government institutions, NGOs, civil society, and others, would be an advantage.
• At least 3 years of project management experience engaging multiple stakeholders. Experience in climate technology businesses, venture/impact investment, and/or inclubation and acceleration services preferred

FUNCTIONAL

• Proven project management skills, including planning, budget management, execution, monitoring, reporting (M&E), and financial management, particularly in multi-country contexts.
• Strong understanding of climate change adaptation and mitigation issues, climate technology, innovation ecosystems, and entrepreneurship support (incubation/acceleration).
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and coordination capabilities, with experience working with the financial sectors, governments (NDAs, ministries), international organizations, private sector partners, and local communities in developing countries.
• Demonstrated experience in managing grant-funded projects, including procurement, financial controls, and compliance with donor requirements (experience with GCF standards preferred).
• Knowledge of gender mainstreaming principles and experience integrating gender considerations into project design, implementation, and monitoring.
• Strategic thinking with a proven project delivery experience, i.e. managing the delivery of results on budget and time.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work under pressure and to establish and maintain effective work relationships with people of different backgrounds.
• Experience in a developing country context, preferably in project development and investment.

CORPORATE

• Understands and actively supports GGGI’s mission, vision and values.
• Promotes an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership,
• Processes and shares information easily and is excellent at problem solving.
• Manages emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily.
• Promotes creativity and innovation among staff.

PROJECT SUMMARY

GGGI has been collaborating with the Korea Development Bank (KDB) in the design of the GCF Program “The Collaborative R&DB programme for Promoting the Innovation of Climate Technopreneurship (FP240)” (henceforth, the Program) to support climate technology industries and entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia. The funding proposal (total project size USD 221 million) was approved by the 39th Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board meeting in July 2024. (https://www.greenclimate.fund/project/fp240)

The Program is composed of four components:

• Component 1. Country Driven Acceleration Readiness
• Component 2. Global Acceleration for Collaborative R&DB (R&D + Business)
• Component 3. Climate Technopreneurship Fund (CTF)
• Component 4. Technical Assistance (TA) for Strengthened Ecosystem

The Program will create an incubation and acceleration platform to build capacity of local entrepreneurs, support joint ventures and technology transfer between local entrepreneurs and global climate technology firms, and strengthen the ecosystem for climate technology in five countries in Southeast Asia – Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. The Program will contribute to their transition to low emission and climate-resilient development and enable investment in climate ventures/companies in the region by establishing a USD 200 million Climate Technopreneurship Fund co-financed by the GCF and private investors.

GGGI will lead country-level acceleration readiness activities (Component 1) and ecosystem building (Component 4) as an Executing Entity (EE) together with KDB. The program will invest in approximately 40 companies in climate technology and business in the region, expecting to ultimately avoid 1.6 million tons of GHG emissions and reach 2.3 million direct and indirect beneficiaries.