BACKGROUND: 

 

Grow Asia was established by the World Economic Forum in 2015 in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat in response to the urgent need to transform food systems to be more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient to climate change.  As a multi-stakeholder platform, Grow Asia works with more than 600 global and regional partners to broker market-driven solutions across Southeast Asia. We do this by convening leading decision makers from public, private, and civil society organizations, mobilizing partnerships and funding models, and delivering best practices through the implementation of collaborative public-private projects at a field-, national-, and regional level.

The Grow Asia network comprises our regional office in Singapore and five country chapters in Cambodia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. The network operates through 44 national and sectoral Working Groups and is already reaching more than 2.5 million smallholders across Southeast Asia with market-led solutions.

 

In 2020, Grow Asia was accredited as an Entity Associated with ASEAN. This accreditation recognizes the important role Grow Asia plays in the region, particularly in facilitating multi-stakeholder partnerships and acting as a delivery mechanism for ASEAN Technical Assistance.

 

Grow Asia is one of four regional Hubs for the World Economic Forum’s Food Action Alliance, a global platform that supports South-South learning and cooperation, and scaling and amplifying learnings from the Hubs’ national and regional pilots. Through the Food Action Alliance, Grow Asia and the World Economic Forum are supporting the Government of Viet Nam to establish a Food Innovation Hub in Viet Nam that will accelerate innovation around and adoption of climate-smart solutions and farmer-centric digital technologies.

 

THE ROLE:

 

Grow Asia is seeking a Regional Lead, Energy Transition and Climate Finance to contribute expertise on energy transition and climate finance and to lead our collaboration with an international climate partner, as part of a new International Hub that will coordinate and enhance a portfolio of climate grants and activities.

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We are looking for a seasoned climate specialist with a strong sense of self-motivation and purpose who thrives in a highly collaborative, dynamic team environment. The successful candidate should bring experience in designing and implementing innovative climate and energy transition programs across multiple disciplines and countries and be passionate about delivering sustainable impact.

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Reporting to the Executive Director, the Regional Lead, Energy Transition and Climate Finance will accelerate engagements and partnerships with financial institutions and donors that contribute to the goals of the organization.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to:

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• Work as part of a newly established International Hub of staff working globally, including in India, Japan, and Indonesia.

• Seek to develop synergies with potential climate funders in Singapore and wider Southeast Asia, and develop a broader stakeholder network among government, financial, and philanthropic stakeholders.

• Provide regional perspectives and international clean economy finance expertise to existing grants.

• Support the Powering Past Coal Alliance and work on the Coal Transition Commission, with a particular focus on engagement with Indonesia.

• Identify executable strategies to mobilize finance to support the energy transition in emerging markets and developing economies.

• Explore the potential for Coal Transition Mechanisms, working in collaboration with the Coal to Clean team.

• Lead and supervise market research and analysis to support the selection of partners and projects in Southeast Asia.

• Conduct comprehensive due diligence on finance models and solutions, encompassing financial analysis, operational assessment, and risk evaluation.

• Collaborate with operations and finance teams to prepare and finalize contracts with partners and donors.

• Stay informed about industry trends, competitive landscapes, and macroeconomic factors affecting stakeholders and partners.

• Develop a foundational group of senior advisors who will support the success of the International Hub in Southeast Asia.

• Lead reporting processes to donors and partners; contribute to organization-wide M&E reporting processes.

• Support alignment of program outcomes with international, regional, and national policies and targets.

• Identify and develop tools, systems, processes, and approaches that continuously improve technical excellence in Southeast Asia.

• Lead the development of insight reports, toolkits, and case studies to document learnings.

• Contribute to team meetings, both strategic and operational.

• Work closely with all staff to integrate a gender-inclusive approach across all programs.

 

 

THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT:

 

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, economics, climate finance, or another ESG-related field.

• 8-10 years of relevant professional experience in a top-tier consulting firm or institution, and/or in a sustainability role related to the climate and energy sector, ideally focused on energy transition.

• A proven track record of successfully engaging with donors and partners on implementing ESG and impact methodologies.

• Demonstrated expertise and knowledge about the intersection between government, business, and environmental and sustainable development issues.

• Deep knowledge of climate finance taxonomies, frameworks, and standards, and the ability to analyze sustainability issues and effectively communicate these to donors and partners.

• Experience in areas such as climate/natural capital risk assessment, sustainable supply chain management, soft commodities, and green financing is an asset.

• Expansive network in development and energy transition in Asia is an advantage.

• A proven record of self-motivation, strategic planning, results delivery, as well as project and budget management.

• Excellent communication skills with outstanding presentation abilities in written and spoken English, with other Asian languages an asset.

• Effective computer skills in MS Office and other relevant digital tools.

• Skilled in team leadership and management of diverse teams across geographies.

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interface at all levels of seniority, both internally and with senior stakeholders in the public, private, and civil society sectors.

• High level of integrity and commitment to socioeconomic development and food systems transformation.

 

Location: Singapore 

Travel requirement: Up to 40%, mainly within Southeast Asia

Start date: Immediate

 

 

WHAT’S ON OFFER:

 

In addition to a competitive salary, this role provides a unique opportunity to (1) develop your capabilities and broaden your skill set in an organization that supports continuous growth, (2) work with a highly motivated, collaborative, efficient, and compassionate team that also values autonomy, (3) be part of a dynamic, well-respected and credible entity in Southeast Asia, (4) connect with the World Economic Forum and its Food Action Alliance, participating in the global agenda on food security and agricultural development, and (5) contribute to social, economic and environmental progress in Southeast Asia and beyond.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

 

Qualified applicants are invited to submit the application form along with your resume, cover letter and writing samples by14 April 2025. We ask that you kindly include your name and the position you are applying for in the subject line (e.g., “Application: Regional Lead, Energy Transition and ClimateFinance–Your Name”).Due to the volume of applications expected, only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

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As a multi-stakeholder platform, we believe all voices matter, and we actively seek to bring them to the table. Aligned with this ethos, Grow Asia is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or gender identity.