IC: Support the establishment of the Scaling Equitable Ecological Devlopment
Project background
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is supporting regional and national agricultural institutions across Africa to strengthen their readiness and access to adaptation finance. This includes enhancing the capacity of regional associations of National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), rural credit associations, and agricultural stakeholders to mobilize and channel climate finance for resilience-building interventions.
Within this broader effort, the Scaling Equitable Ecological Development (SEED) Fund is being developed as a long-term financing mechanism to sustain agricultural research and innovation in Africa. Anchored by CORAF (West and Central Africa) and ASARECA (Eastern and Central Africa), the Fund is designed to mobilize and allocate resources to support climate-smart agriculture, ecological resilience, and equitable, community-centered development.
The SEED Fund is conceived as a Reserve/Sinking Fund with Capital Buffer, underpinned by ESG principles and a focus on equity, sustainability, and transparent governance. Initial concept development has been undertaken with support from NPB, GGGI, and independent experts. The next step is to consolidate the Fund design based on comprehensive stakeholder inputs, refine governance and operational modalities, and begin positioning the SEED Fund with prospective donors and investors.
To advance the Fund towards operationalization while simultaneously strengthening the institutional capacity of agricultural finance stakeholders across the continent, GGGI seeks to engage a consultant with expertise in strategic, financial, and institutional support.
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.
Objectives of the assignment
The consultancy aims to strengthen the capacity of regional associations of NARS, particularly through CORAF and ASARECA, to mobilize climate finance by structuring the SEED Fund in alignment with inputs from key stakeholders, including NARS, donors, and governments, while enhancing AFRACA membersโ institutional capacity through tailored climate finance training and peer-learning programs. In addition, a survey of AFRACA members will be conducted to capture insights on their needs and potential engagement with the Fund. The selected consultant will report to the Africa Regional Office โ Regional Investment Lead.
Produced Theory of change, Governance and implementation framework
Craft a funder-ready concept note incorporating stakeholder feedback and ESG principles Finalize and consolidate the concept note into a funder-ready version Mission statement and core principles Linkages to food security, climate resilience, and sustainable development Governance roles of CORAF and ASARECA Integration with broader climate finance ecosystemFund Structure and Governance Design
Refine governance arrangements based on stakeholder consultations to ensure fiduciary integrity, regional leadership, and donor confidence Produce a Fund Structure and Governance Options Paper, including recommendations on fund management, replenishment strategy, and oversight mechanisms Incorporate feedback from NARS, governments, and potential donors into governance frameworkStakeholder Consultation and Input Integration
Conduct comprehensive consultations with key stakeholders including NARS, potential donors, governments, and regional organizations Synthesize stakeholder inputs into refined Fund design and operational framework Ensure alignment between Fund structure and stakeholder needs and expectationsDonor and Investor Positioning
Map and profile prospective donors/investors (bilateral, multilateral, philanthropies, corporate ESG) Prepare donor-facing materials: One-pager on SEED Fund's value proposition Short investment case tailored to target audiences Stakeholder endorsement documentationAFRACA Members Capacity Building and Survey
Survey Implementation: Conduct a comprehensive survey of AFRACA members regarding: Current climate finance needs and gaps Interest in and potential participation in SEED Fund mechanisms Institutional readiness for climate finance access Preferred capacity building priorities Online Capacity Building Program: Design and deliver online training sessions for AFRACA members to strengthen institutional capacity in: Access to traditional climate finance sources (GCF, Adaptation Fundsโฆ) Green financing mechanisms and climate-smart agricultural investments Tools and strategies for addressing climate change impacts on agricultural lending Best practices in sustainable agricultural finance and ESG integration Facilitate peer-learning exchanges between AFRACA members to share experiences, challenges, and innovative solutions Develop comprehensive training materials including presentations, case studies, and practical toolkits Conduct follow-up sessions to assess learning outcomes and provide ongoing technical supportStakeholder Engagement and Outreach
Facilitate consultative meetings with CORAF, ASARECA, GGGI, AFRACA, and partners Support donor outreach activities, including: Participation in initial outreach sessions Preparation of donor updates and briefing materials Coordination of stakeholder validation meetingsPhased Roadmap and Operationalization
Develop a comprehensive phased roadmap (short/medium/long term) with milestones, sequencing of legal/institutional steps, and immediate next actions Define clear responsibilities for CORAF, ASARECA, GGGI, NPB, and AFRACA Include capacity building continuation strategy for AFRACA membersDeliverables and Payment schedule
The Senior consultant will be paid upon delivery of key performance indicators:
S/N
Description of Deliverable
Submission timelines
Payment (percentage of contract value)
1
Inception Report
The report must include:
A refined theory of change for the SEED Fund, aligned with ESG and equity principles. A stakeholder mapping and engagement strategy, identifying key actors and consultation modalities. A proposed structure for governance and fund management options. A timeline and sequencing of deliverables, including milestones for capacity building, donor outreach, and fund design. Risk assessment and mitigation strategies. Alignment with GGGIโs strategic priorities and quality assurance protocols.
10 working days after contract signing
20%
2
AFRACA capacity-building program and AFRACA member survey report
Design and deliver a structured online capacity-building program for AFRACA members, including:
A modular training curriculum tailored to climate finance access and ESG-integrated agricultural lending. Comprehensive training materials (presentations, case studies, toolkits). Peer-learning facilitation documentation capturing shared experiences and innovations.Conduct and analyze a survey of AFRACA members to assess:
Institutional readiness for climate finance. Capacity gaps and preferred learning modalities.Submit a consolidated report synthesizing training outcomes and survey insights, with recommendations for continued capacity development and integration into SEED Fund governance and outreach strategy.
25 working days after contract signing
40%
3
A fully integrated package of outputsโincluding the final phased roadmap, stakeholder meeting documentation, and consolidated deliverablesโrefined through iterative consultation and aligned with GGGIโs technical feedback and quality assurance protocols. The roadmap must define short-, medium-, and long-term milestones, assign responsibilities across key partners, and reflect strategic sequencing of legal, institutional, and financial steps for SEED Fund operationalization.
50 working days after contract signing
40%
Expertise required
Minimum 10 years of professional experience in agricultural finance, development banking, or fund management. Advanced degree in finance, economics, development studies, or related field. Proven expertise in fund design, governance structures, and donor engagement. Demonstrated background in capacity building and training delivery, particularly online. Experience in survey design and implementation for institutional assessments Strong knowledge of the African agricultural finance ecosystem and climate financing mechanisms. Experience with regional organizations, multilateral institutions, and international NGOs. Excellent communication and facilitation skills in English; French proficiency desirable. Demonstrated experience in stakeholder consultation processes and input synthesis.
Administrative information
Date to close is October 3rd, 2025 at 23:59 Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Application. CV (including at least 3 professional references) and Workplan must be sent in English. A consortium, or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.
Child protection โ GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGIโs Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.