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.
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)
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)
National Coordinator Climate Resilient Watershed Management at DAI Global LLC, IncNational Coordinator Climate Resilient Watershed Management at DAI Global LLC, Inc
Senior environment health and safety consultant – climate change and sustainability at Ernst and YoungSenior environment health and safety consultant – climate change and sustainability at Ernst and Young
<ul><li>Company Overview: Group Company of PUIG, Spain</li><li>Team Leadership & Process Excellence: Organised the transformation of the Finance & Accounts function, establishing performance-driven goals, and embedding a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Drove operational efficiency through process redesigns, SOP implementation and optimal resource deployment, leading to measurable improvements in turnaround time and accuracy.</li><li>Strategic Partnering with CXOs: Acted as a key advisor to the CEO, CFO, and other CXOs on business planning, pricing strategies, and business model pivots to support scale-up and profitability. Contributed to investor communications with data-backed insights to enhance stakeholder confidence and secure strategic funding.</li><li>Cross-Functional & Global Stakeholder Management: Functioned as the strategic finance business partner to cross-functional heads and the PUIG global finance team, aligning local execution with global financial strategies and compliance requirements.</li><li>ERP Transformation & System Automation: Led end-to-end ERP reimplementation to address system gaps, enforce role-based controls, and automate core finance processes—resulting in enhanced data accuracy, faster reporting and improved internal controls.</li><li>Costing, Inventory & Profitability Optimization: Designed and implemented plant-level costing models to ensure accurate COGS determination. Improved inventory management across pricing, consumption tracking, and aging analysis—enabling better working capital control and cost efficiency.</li><li>Manufacturing Finance & Statutory Compliance: Supervised end-to-end accounting for manufacturing operations and ensured full statutory compliance.</li><li>Financial Reporting, MIS & Profitability Analytics: Delivered accurate and timely monthly MIS reports, including P&L, Balance Sheet and KPI dashboards with deep-dive variance analysis across stores, business verticals, and geographies. Supported board-level decision-making through insightful presentations on financial health and business performance.</li><li>Budgeting, Forecasting & Business Planning: Led the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and rolling forecasts, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and market dynamics. Monitored key financial metrics to enable business decisions and proactive cost management.</li><li>Statutory, Internal & Tax Audit Management: Finalized standalone and consolidated financials under Ind AS and IFRS, ensured timely group reporting and compliance with international standards. Delivered clean and timely closures of statutory, tax, and internal audits in coordination with Big 4 auditors. Strengthened audit readiness through pre-audit diagnostics and rectification of recurring control gaps.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management: Ensured end-to-end compliance which includes ROC, RBI, FEMA, Income Tax, GST, Transfer Pricing, DTAA, and Customs. Reviewed cross-border contracts and transactions to ensure arm’s length pricing, accurate TDS application, and proper documentation under Transfer Pricing regulations.</li><li>Commercial Negotiation & Contract Governance: Led commercial negotiations and structured deals with vendors and franchisees. Reviewed key business contracts to ensure financial viability, risk protection, and compliance with regulatory standards.</li><li>Treasury & External Commercial Borrowing (ECB): Managed fund planning and liquidity management including ECB drawdowns, bank negotiations, and interest optimization. Improved working capital cycles through proactive cash flow forecasting and receivables control.</li><li>Internal Controls & Governance Framework: Led organization-wide reviews of internal control systems, identified process gaps, and redesigned or implemented over 40 SOPs and IFCs. Established a governance structure for financial discipline, risk mitigation, and policy compliance across departments.</li></ul> at Kama Ayurveda Pvt. Ltd. & PUIG India Pvt. Ltd.<ul><li>Company Overview: Group Company of PUIG, Spain</li><li>Team Leadership & Process Excellence: Organised the transformation of the Finance & Accounts function, establishing performance-driven goals, and embedding a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Drove operational efficiency through process redesigns, SOP implementation and optimal resource deployment, leading to measurable improvements in turnaround time and accuracy.</li><li>Strategic Partnering with CXOs: Acted as a key advisor to the CEO, CFO, and other CXOs on business planning, pricing strategies, and business model pivots to support scale-up and profitability. Contributed to investor communications with data-backed insights to enhance stakeholder confidence and secure strategic funding.</li><li>Cross-Functional & Global Stakeholder Management: Functioned as the strategic finance business partner to cross-functional heads and the PUIG global finance team, aligning local execution with global financial strategies and compliance requirements.</li><li>ERP Transformation & System Automation: Led end-to-end ERP reimplementation to address system gaps, enforce role-based controls, and automate core finance processes—resulting in enhanced data accuracy, faster reporting and improved internal controls.</li><li>Costing, Inventory & Profitability Optimization: Designed and implemented plant-level costing models to ensure accurate COGS determination. Improved inventory management across pricing, consumption tracking, and aging analysis—enabling better working capital control and cost efficiency.</li><li>Manufacturing Finance & Statutory Compliance: Supervised end-to-end accounting for manufacturing operations and ensured full statutory compliance.</li><li>Financial Reporting, MIS & Profitability Analytics: Delivered accurate and timely monthly MIS reports, including P&L, Balance Sheet and KPI dashboards with deep-dive variance analysis across stores, business verticals, and geographies. Supported board-level decision-making through insightful presentations on financial health and business performance.</li><li>Budgeting, Forecasting & Business Planning: Led the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and rolling forecasts, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and market dynamics. Monitored key financial metrics to enable business decisions and proactive cost management.</li><li>Statutory, Internal & Tax Audit Management: Finalized standalone and consolidated financials under Ind AS and IFRS, ensured timely group reporting and compliance with international standards. Delivered clean and timely closures of statutory, tax, and internal audits in coordination with Big 4 auditors. Strengthened audit readiness through pre-audit diagnostics and rectification of recurring control gaps.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management: Ensured end-to-end compliance which includes ROC, RBI, FEMA, Income Tax, GST, Transfer Pricing, DTAA, and Customs. Reviewed cross-border contracts and transactions to ensure arm’s length pricing, accurate TDS application, and proper documentation under Transfer Pricing regulations.</li><li>Commercial Negotiation & Contract Governance: Led commercial negotiations and structured deals with vendors and franchisees. Reviewed key business contracts to ensure financial viability, risk protection, and compliance with regulatory standards.</li><li>Treasury & External Commercial Borrowing (ECB): Managed fund planning and liquidity management including ECB drawdowns, bank negotiations, and interest optimization. Improved working capital cycles through proactive cash flow forecasting and receivables control.</li><li>Internal Controls & Governance Framework: Led organization-wide reviews of internal control systems, identified process gaps, and redesigned or implemented over 40 SOPs and IFCs. Established a governance structure for financial discipline, risk mitigation, and policy compliance across departments.</li></ul> at Kama Ayurveda Pvt. Ltd. & PUIG India Pvt. Ltd.