Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Certification
Websites, Portfolios and Profiles
Publications
Additional information
Timeline
Generic
Rajib Ghosal

Rajib Ghosal

Kolkata

Summary

Global climate, development and humanitarian leader with 28+ years' experience co-mobilizing US$500M+ in inclusive finance, shaping policy agendas at Conference of the Parties, high-level intergovernmental forums, and driving transformative actions on mitigation, adaptation and climate justice across major climate funds, the United Nations, multilateral development banks and non-profits. Expert in programme management; strategic planning; policy influencing; change management; innovative finance; human rights; environmental, social and governance; sustainability; child rights; results-based management; strategic partnerships; monitoring, evaluation and action learning; knowledge capture; portfolio management.

Overview

2027
2027
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

International Consultant, Climate-Resilient Health Systems

World Health Organization
04.2026 - Current
  • Drove the design of climate-resilient health initiatives, delivering measurable improvements in system preparedness, risk management, and community resilience across the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
  • Eastern Mediterranean Region, India

Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer

INTDEV CONNECT
02.2026 - Current
  • Provided strategic leadership for INTDEV Connect's global climate action and environmental sustainability agenda, embedding climate resilience, low-carbon strategies, and environmental, social, governance (ESG) principles across service pillars and client engagements.
  • Led the development of high-impact climate and sustainability programmes for clients, specializing in climate mitigation, adaptation, green finance, and natural resource management, ensuring integration of cutting-edge science and robust safeguarding standards.
  • Leveraged expertise and networks to identify and secure funding from climate-focused grants, green bonds, and ESG-aligned investors, preparing compelling proposals and representing clients in high-level engagements with financiers and funds.
  • India

Principal Consultant

SURECO & Partners
08.2025 - Current
  • Co-developed a climate information services (CIS) and early warning systems (EWS) concept note, feasibility study, gender assessment and gender action plan for a multi-country programme in Latin America and the Caribbean, aligned with The Green Climate Fund's (GCF) priorities to mobilize innovative climate finance and de-risk investments in adaptation systems.
  • India
  • Designated expert on gender, diversity, equity and inclusivity by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
  • Designated expert reviewer of IPCC's Special Report on Climate Change and Cities (SRCITIES)
  • Subject Matter Expert, The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market
  • Member, Santiago Network
  • Board Member of 26th General Comment of the United Nations Committee on Climate Change
  • Member, ESG Business Unit
  • High-level panelist at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties
  • Keynote speaker and high-level panelist at multilateral environmental, gender and child rights forums
  • Designated expert by UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre to develop best practices on loss and damage indicators
  • Member of global core group that developed UNFCCC's first-ever gender action plan
  • Member, The Loss and Damage Collaboration
  • Member, Alliance for Locally Led Transformative Action on Loss and Damage
  • Member, Human Rights and Climate Change Working Group
  • Member, The Climate Innovation for Adaptation and Resilience Alliance

Principal Consultant

Save the Children Germany
08.2025 - 09.2025
  • Led a comprehensive assessment of Save the Children Germany's accessibility to German-based climate funds and non-traditional donors, identifying gaps, mapping strategic partners and recommending tailored engagement strategies that positioned Save the Children Germany to diversify and expand its climate finance portfolio.
  • India

Senior Quality Assurance Consultant

ALLEN MANZA INC.
06.2025 - 09.2025
  • Led quality assurance for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) project in Honduras, ensuring compliance with global carbon market standards, resulting in an investment-ready prefeasibility study, financial and economic analysis for project developers.
  • India

Global Head, Climate, Portfolio and Quality

Save the Children International
03.2021 - 06.2025
  • Secured Save the Children's accreditation with United Nations Environment Programme.
  • Co-mobilized knowledge partnership with World Meteorological Organization to promote accessible/child-friendly CIS and EWS.
  • Managed global climate change team (8 staff).
  • Finalized climate change and child poverty road maps and strategic initiatives for 2025-2027 period.
  • Provided key climate risk management inputs for the Trustees Report 2024.
  • Drafted climate change and child poverty inputs for Save the Children's Strategy Report 2024.
  • Finalized Save the Children's position paper on carbon credits.
  • Singapore/Republic of Korea

Global Head of Programmes, Climate Change (Interim)

Save the Children International
06.2024 - 12.2024
  • Represented Save the Children at Conference of the Parties (COP29).
  • Co-managed global climate change team (8 staff).
  • Provided key climate risk management inputs for the Trustees Report 2023.
  • Conducted workforce planning exercise for climate change experts for 2025-2027 strategy period.
  • Conducted analysis of the climate change portfolio and provided growth forecasts till 2030.
  • Singapore/Republic of Korea

Regional Senior Technical Advisor, Climate Change & Child Poverty

Save the Children International
09.2021 - 12.2024
  • Represented Save the Children as keynote speaker in United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6)/Global Youth Environment Assembly.
  • Prepared multi-million-dollar proposals on inclusive, gender-transformative climate change mitigation and locally led adaptation; disaster risk reduction (DRR); green jobs; and resilient health and education for funding by GCF and other donors (US$200M+).
  • Managed climate change and child poverty team (7 staff/interns) and portfolio in Asia-Pacific region.
  • Managed implementation arrangements on climate change and gender mainstreaming for a multi-million-dollar (US$15M) regional civil society strengthening programme financed by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
  • Co-created nature-based solutions hub for Save the Children Global Ventures and co-mobilized Save the Children's member countries and impact investors to fund pilots.
  • Facilitated inclusive consultations on loss and damage funding modalities between global think tanks, intergovernmental agencies, child-focused, youth-led, LGBTQI+-led and Indigenous Peoples organizations.
  • Singapore/Republic of Korea

Global Head of Programmes, Climate Change and Child Poverty (Interim)

Save the Children International
03.2024 - 06.2024
  • Developed goals, outcomes, indicators, targets, milestones on climate change and child poverty for 2025-2027 strategy period.
  • Co-managed Safety Nets and Resilient Families global goal team (14 staff).
  • Helped COs to integrate child-sensitive, youth-centric and gender-transformative considerations in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0).
  • Represented Save the Children as high-level panelist in forums on community resilience in blue economy organized by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and green budgeting by Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
  • Singapore/Republic of Korea

Regional Senior Advisor, Climate Change (International Lead Consultant)

Save the Children International
03.2021 - 09.2021
  • Prepared proposals for funding by GCF, SIDA, and European Union.
  • Prepared environmental and social assessments and finalized gender markers for projects in Asia-Pacific.
  • Supported COs and member countries in Asia-Pacific to finalize multi-year strategic plans, indicators, milestones on climate change; resilient livelihoods; food security; and community-based DRR.
  • Helped Save the Children's global climate change team to develop 2022-2024 strategy.
  • Singapore/Republic of Korea

International Consultant, Gender and Social Protection

UNDP
11.2020 - 07.2021
  • Designed concept notes for regional climate change mitigation and adaptation programmes in Africa.
  • Drafted gender assessments, gender and social inclusion action plans for Sub-Saharan Africa programmes on clean energy services in health sector, and Southern African Development Community (SADC) programmes on water conservation, regenerative agriculture and food security.
  • Developed climate-resilient social protection strategies for SADC programmes targeted at smallholder farmers and vulnerable female-headed households.
  • Republic of Korea

Senior Environmental and Social Safeguards Consultant

Asian Forest Organization Cooperation (AFoCO)
03.2021 - 06.2021
  • Assessed best practices and lessons learned on environmental and social safeguards (ESS) and Indigenous Peoples planning through regional/country-level stakeholder engagements.
  • Helped AFoCO finalize environmental and social management system.
  • Republic of Korea

Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor (International Consultant)

United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
  • Republic of Korea

Education

M.Sc. - International Relations

University of Bristol
UK
01-1996

B.A. - International Studies

Hamline University
Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
01-1994

Certification

  • Project Management Essentials, 2026-01-01, DisasterReady
  • The Health Effects of Climate Change, 2026-01-01, HarvardX
  • Renewable Energy Management, 2026-01-01, Alison Empower Yourself
  • Diploma in Sustainability and ESG, 2026-01-01, Udemy
  • Leadership Fundamentals, 2025-01-01, London School of Business Administration, UK
  • ESG and Climate Change, 2025-01-01, Wharton Online, University of Pennsylvania, US
  • Politics and Policy of Climate Change & Sustainability, 2025-01-01, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

Websites, Portfolios and Profiles

Rajib Ghosal

Publications

  • A people-first approach to achieving global climate and nature goals, One Earth, 2025-01-01
  • Global Youth Protest, Climate and Education, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2025-01-01
  • Reminder to the Board: The World Bank and The Loss and Damage Fund are Uncomfortably Paired, The Loss and Damage Collaboration, 2024-01-01
  • Standing in solidarity with those on the frontlines of the climate crisis: a loss and damage package for COP 28, The Loss and Damage Collaboration, 2023-01-01
  • Infrastructure for Climate Action, United Nations Office for Project Services, United Nations Environment Programme, University of Oxford, 2021-01-01
  • Mainstreaming Gender in Sustainable Climate Actions and Enhanced Transparency Framework, United Nations Office for Project Services, 2021-01-01
  • Integrated Results Management Framework, Policy Paper, The Green Climate Fund, 2021-01-01
  • Updated Gender Policy and Action Plan - 2020-2023, Policy Paper, The Green Climate Fund, 2019-01-01
  • Structure and Staffing of the Secretariat, Policy Paper, The Green Climate Fund, 2017-01-01
  • Mainstreaming Gender in Green Climate Fund Projects, The Green Climate Fund, UN Women, 2017-01-01
  • Enhancing the Scope for Social Cohesion and Community-Driven Development Approaches in Kyrgyzstan, Aga Khan Foundation, 2015-01-01
  • Gender Stock-take of World Bank India's Portfolio, Working Paper, World Bank, 2014-01-01
  • Building Development Intelligence and Constructing Futures, Global Development Network, 2012-01-01
  • State of Uttar Pradesh's Children, State Planning Commission, Government of Uttar Pradesh (India), UNICEF Uttar Pradesh (India), 2008-01-01

Additional information

English, fluent, Bengali, native, Hindi, fluent, Nepali, basic, Assamese, basic, India, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Kyrgyzstan, US, Worked remotely and/or on-site with countries across Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Middle East.

Timeline

International Consultant, Climate-Resilient Health Systems

World Health Organization
04.2026 - Current

Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer

INTDEV CONNECT
02.2026 - Current

Principal Consultant

SURECO & Partners
08.2025 - Current

Principal Consultant

Save the Children Germany
08.2025 - 09.2025

Senior Quality Assurance Consultant

ALLEN MANZA INC.
06.2025 - 09.2025

Global Head of Programmes, Climate Change (Interim)

Save the Children International
06.2024 - 12.2024

Global Head of Programmes, Climate Change and Child Poverty (Interim)

Save the Children International
03.2024 - 06.2024

Regional Senior Technical Advisor, Climate Change & Child Poverty

Save the Children International
09.2021 - 12.2024

Global Head, Climate, Portfolio and Quality

Save the Children International
03.2021 - 06.2025

Regional Senior Advisor, Climate Change (International Lead Consultant)

Save the Children International
03.2021 - 09.2021

Senior Environmental and Social Safeguards Consultant

Asian Forest Organization Cooperation (AFoCO)
03.2021 - 06.2021

International Consultant, Gender and Social Protection

UNDP
11.2020 - 07.2021

Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor (International Consultant)

United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

M.Sc. - International Relations

University of Bristol

B.A. - International Studies

Hamline University
Rajib Ghosal