Rajib Ghosal
Climate Justice and Sustainability
Kolkata,West Bengal
Summary
Global climate, development and humanitarian leader with 28+ years’ experience co-mobilizing US$500M+ in inclusive climate and development finance, shaping policy agendas at UNFCCC’s Conference of the Parties, high-level intergovernmental forums, and driving transformative actions on mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, and resilience across major climate funds such as The Green Climate Fund, United Nations agencies, multilateral development banks and global non-profits.
Overview
4
4
Languages
7
7
Certifications
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
International Consultant, Climate-Resilient Health Systems
World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Region Office
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.
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.
Principal Consultant
Sureco and Partners
08.2025 - 08.2026
- 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 on risk-informed adaptation systems.
Principal Consultant
Save the Children Deutschland
08.2025 - 09.2025
- Led a comprehensive assessment of Save the Children Deutschland’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 Deutschland to diversify and expand its climate finance portfolio.
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 pre-feasibility study, financial and economic analysis for project developers.
Global Head, Climate, Portfolio and Quality
Save the Children International (SCI)
01.2025 - 06.2025
- Secured SCI’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.
- Drafted climate change and child poverty inputs for SCI’s Strategy Report 2024.
- Finalized SCI’s position paper on carbon credits.
Global Head of Programmes, Climate Change (Interim)
SCI
06.2024 - 12.2024
- Represented SCI 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.
Regional Senior Technical Advisor, Climate Change & Child Poverty
SCI
09.2021 - 12.2024
- Represented SCI 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).
- 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 (NbS) hub for Save the Children Global Ventures and co-mobilized SCI’s member countries and impact investors to fund pilots.
- Facilitated inclusive consultations on loss and damage funding modalities between global think tanks, inter-governmental agencies, child-focused, youth-led, LGBTQI+-led and Indigenous Peoples organizations.
Global Head of Programmes, Climate Change and Child Poverty (Interim)
SCI
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 SCI 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.
Regional Senior Advisor, Climate Change (International Lead Consultant)
SCI
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.
Senior Consultant, Gender, Environmental & Social Safeguards, Indigenous Peoples
The Green Climate Fund (GCF)
08.2020 - 08.2021
- Reviewed funding proposals, annual performance reports, entity work programmes of accredited entities (AEs), and country programmes of national designated authorities (NDAs), Focal Points (FPs).
- Drafted operational guidelines for Fund-wide Gender Policy.
- Developed Secretariat-level assessments of funding proposals from a gender, ESS and Indigenous Peoples planning perspective.
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.
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.
Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor (International Consultant)
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
08.2020 - 04.2021
- Prepared theory of change (TOC) and strategy for Initiative for Climate Action Transparency Secretariat, UNOPS, which explored synergies between climate change mitigation and wider sustainable development benefits.
Senior Results and Data Management Specialist
GCF
09.2017 - 07.2020
- Represented GCF at Conference of the Parties (COP24).
- Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of Office of Portfolio Management (OPM) and represented OPM in senior management team meetings.
- Managed the multi-million-dollar (US$100M) Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme (RPSP) implemented by NDAs, Focal Points (FPs), Delivery Partners (DPs).
- Supervised 7 staff/interns on results-based management and portfolio analysis.
- Helped executive office develop strategies, operational results frameworks, annual work programmes and administrative budgets.
- Developed GCF’s Integrated Results Management Framework.
- Reported climate finance flows to OECD-DAC and prepared annual progress reports for key bilateral contributors.
- Reviewed mitigation and adaptation-focused funding proposals from the perspective of results measurement, gender mainstreaming, ESS, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and ESG.
Gender and Social Specialist
GCF
08.2015 - 09.2017
- Coordinated GCF’s first-ever strategic planning and change management exercise.
- Updated the Fund-wide Gender Policy and Action Plan.
- Provided guidance to public/private AEs on roll-out of policies, strategic plans, programme design features, implementation arrangements concerning gender and social inclusion, ESS and ESG.
- Reviewed climate change mitigation and adaptation funding proposals from the perspective of gender and social inclusion and ESS.
- Designed first-of-its-kind technical assistance facility (TAF [seed funded US$5M by GCF]) focused on off-grid and gender-responsive renewable energy solutions piggy-backed to a private equity fund.
- Conducted capacity development sessions on gender and social inclusion for GCF staff, AEs, NDAs, FPs, DPs.
- Helped finalize GCF’s Environmental and Social Policy (2018) and Indigenous Peoples Policy (2018).
International Consultant – Community-driven Development (CDD) & Social Cohesion
Aga Khan Foundation
03.2015 - 08.2015
- Promoted social cohesion through CDD approaches in fragile contexts.
- Prepared TOC and operational plan on enhancing social cohesion through CDD approaches; DRR; gender justice including prevention of gender-based violence; resilient livelihoods; water and natural resources management; agriculture and food security; and local governance mechanisms.
Senior Social Development (Gender) Consultant
The World Bank Group
01.2014 - 06.2015
- Analyzed the India portfolio from the perspective of gender and developed action plan to integrate gender in World Bank’s programmes.
- Provided strategic inputs on gender and social inclusion for World Bank funded multi-million-dollar projects on vocational education; local self-government; economic inclusion; livelihoods security; agriculture and food security; renewable energy; natural resource management; integrated coastal zone management; urban development; disaster preparedness and protection; and water resources management and sanitation.
Senior Coordination and Supervision Consultant
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
06.2013 - 12.2014
- Supported Government of India’s National Skill Development Corporation to promote industry-led sector skill councils in information technology, education, agriculture, food security, life sciences, construction, retail and manufacturing sectors.
- Managed and monitored project inception and pre-implementation initiatives for urban/rural secondary education and skill development for multi-million-dollar loans/grants projects in Meghalaya and Kerala.
- Co-designed ESS frameworks and developed gender and social inclusion plans for skill development and inclusive growth projects in Meghalaya and Kerala.
- Supervised 3 project-level consultants/consultancy firms.
National Social Development (Gender and Development) Specialist
ADB
03.2011 - 06.2013
- Developed poverty, social and gender analysis, gender and social inclusion action plans, design and monitoring frameworks, ESS strategies, and communications plans for multi-million-dollar projects in urban infrastructure, human development, livelihoods, renewable energy, rural development, agriculture and food security, water resources management, and economic inclusion, enhancing project design and stakeholder engagement.
- Played an instrumental role in increasing the number of projects/programmes with a gender mainstreaming classification tag from 11 percent to 42 percent within two years.
- Co-managed TAFs to enhance women-led initiatives and promote energy-efficient livelihoods.
- Core member of loans negotiations and due-diligence missions on urban development, skill development, inclusive growth and energy-efficiency.
- Prepared annual progress reports for donors on TAFs, ensuring transparency and accountability in project funding and implementation.
Education
M.Sc. - International Relations
01-1996
B.A. - International Studies
01-1994
Skills
Strategic leadership
Policy influencing
Change management
Multi-stakeholder engagement
Team management
Program Leadership
Governance
Results-based management
Resource mobilization
Business process improvement
Accomplishments
- Designated expert on gender, diversity, equity and inclusivity by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- 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
- Advisory Board Member of 26th General Comment of the United Nations Committee on Climate Change
- 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
Certification
Project Management Essentials, DisasterReady 2026
PUBLICATIONS
Author/Co-Author:
- Chapter 6: “Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building” in “Strengthening National Responses to Loss and Damage,” United Nations Environment Programme Copenhagen Climate Centre, 2026
- “A people-first approach to achieving global climate and nature goals,” One Earth, 2025
- Chapter 9: “Bridging The Gap – Youth-Led Solutions to Climate Challenges in the Asia-Pacific” in “Global Youth Protest, Climate and Education,” Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2025
- “Reminder to the Board: The World Bank and The Loss and Damage Fund are Uncomfortably Paired,” The Loss and Damage Collaboration, 2024
- “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
- “Infrastructure for Climate Action,” United Nations Office for Project Services, United Nations Environment Programme, University of Oxford, 2021
- “Integrated Results Management Framework,” Policy Paper, The Green Climate Fund, 2021
- “Updated Gender Policy and Action Plan – 2020-2023,” Policy Paper, The Green Climate Fund, 2019
- “Structure and Staffing of the Secretariat,” Policy Paper, The Green Climate Fund, 2017
- “Mainstreaming Gender in Green Climate Fund Projects,” The Green Climate Fund, UN Women, 2017
- “Gender Stock-take of World Bank India’s Portfolio,” Working Paper, World Bank, 2014
- “Building Development Intelligence and Constructing Futures,” Global Development Network, 2012
- “State of Uttar Pradesh’s Children,” State Planning Commission, Government of Uttar Pradesh (India), UNICEF Uttar Pradesh Field Office, 200
Peer Reviewer/Expert Reviewer/Lead Contributor:
- “Special Report on Climate Change and Cities,” First Order Draft, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (forthcoming)
- “Born into the Climate Crisis 2. An Unprecedented Life: Protecting Children’s Rights in a Changing Climate,” Save the Children International, 2025
- “Let’s Get To Work, Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage in 2024: A Technical Discussion Paper,” The Loss and Damage Collaboration, 2024
- “SDG Projects and Impact Investor Landscape in Asia – Roadmap for Innovative Financing,” SIPA-Columbia University, Desai & Associates, Asian Venture Philanthropy Network, The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2024
- “First Findings: Scoping Community-Led Voluntary Carbon Market Opportunities,” Save the Children International, Save the Children Global Ventures, Carbon Neutral, 2023
- “Operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund – Learning from the Intended Beneficiaries,” International Centre for Climate Change and Development, Stockholm Environment Institute, 2023
- “From most vulnerable to most valuable – A scoping study to put young children at the heart of climate actions and environmental protection,” Asia-Pacific Regional Network Secretariat, 2022
- “Climate – Poverty Connections: Opportunities for Synergistic Solutions at the Intersection of Planetary and Human Well-Being,” Project Drawdown, 2022
- “Comparative analysis of the efficiency of different social protection delivery mechanisms in the context of climate resilience,” International Institute for Environment and Development, UK, Working Paper, 2021
- “The Climate Crisis is a Child Rights Crisis: Introducing the Children’s Climate Risk Index,” UNICEF, 2021
- “Action Piece: Gender Equality and Inclusion in Water Resources Management,” Global Water Partnership, UKAID, 2017
- “Our Voices, Our Environment: The State of Funding for Women’s Environmental Action,” Global Green Grants Fund, Prospera, Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action, 2017
- “Leveraging Gender Equality and Climate Action for Sustainable Development,” UN Women, 2017
Timeline
International Consultant, Climate-Resilient Health Systems - World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Region Office
04.2026 - Current
Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer - INTDEV CONNECT
02.2026 - Current
Principal Consultant - Sureco and Partners
08.2025 - 08.2026
Principal Consultant - Save the Children Deutschland
08.2025 - 09.2025
Senior Quality Assurance Consultant - ALLEN MANZA INC.
06.2025 - 09.2025
Global Head, Climate, Portfolio and Quality - Save the Children International (SCI)
01.2025 - 06.2025
Global Head of Programmes, Climate Change (Interim) - SCI
06.2024 - 12.2024
Global Head of Programmes, Climate Change and Child Poverty (Interim) - SCI
03.2024 - 06.2024
Regional Senior Technical Advisor, Climate Change & Child Poverty - SCI
09.2021 - 12.2024
Regional Senior Advisor, Climate Change (International Lead Consultant) - SCI
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
Senior Consultant, Gender, Environmental & Social Safeguards, Indigenous Peoples - The Green Climate Fund (GCF)
08.2020 - 08.2021
Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor (International Consultant) - United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
08.2020 - 04.2021
Senior Results and Data Management Specialist - GCF
09.2017 - 07.2020
Gender and Social Specialist - GCF
08.2015 - 09.2017
International Consultant – Community-driven Development (CDD) & Social Cohesion - Aga Khan Foundation
03.2015 - 08.2015
Senior Social Development (Gender) Consultant - The World Bank Group
01.2014 - 06.2015
Senior Coordination and Supervision Consultant - Asian Development Bank (ADB)
06.2013 - 12.2014
National Social Development (Gender and Development) Specialist - ADB
03.2011 - 06.2013
Hamline University - B.A., International Studies
University of Bristol - M.Sc., International Relations