CARE Nederland is currently looking for a Consultant PSAA Green Futures in the Highlands

The consultant will support CARE Nederland and its partner Country Offices in preparing and submitting a high-quality GCF PSAA Concept Note and Pitchbook between July 2025 and February 2026.

Background about CARE Nederland

We are CARE Nederland, part of CARE, an international development organization active in more than 90 countries. Originating from American food aid to Europe after the Second World War, we have been committed for 75 years to those who need it most. CARE strives for a world without poverty. We are committed to equal rights and fair distribution of wealth. CARE Nederland (CNL) in collaboration with partner CARE Country Offices (COs) in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand are preparing a Project-Specific Assessment Approach (PSAA) application to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), aiming to support climate adaptation for women and youth in Indigenous highland communities across the Mekong Basin.

Objectives and expected outcome

- Support CARE in strategically designing its Green Climate Fund (GCF) PSAA application by clearly identifying and leveraging the organization's unique strengths and capacities;

- Support the CARE Country Offices to understand and align with NDA engagement strategies as well as develop engagement strategies to ensure country buy-in and ownership;

- Conduct in-depth vulnerability and climate risk analyses. Working with the CO to access and secure third party data review;

- Co-develop feasible, evidence-based adaptation strategies;

- Produce a PSAA-grade feasibility study, pitchbook, and concept note;

- Ensure alignment with GCF's six investment criteria: impact, paradigm shift, sustainability, recipient needs, country ownership, and efficiency.

Stakeholder & NDA Mapping

• Guide CARE Country Offices in building relationships with National Designated Authorities (NDAs) and developing Stakeholder and NDA engagement plan.

• Support the identification of relevant stakeholders (government, civil society, local actors).

• Assist in securing NDA nomination and/or No-Objection Letter, in line with GCF PSAA guidelines.

Co-Design Project Adaptation Strategies

• Facilitate co-creation workshops with COs to re-define outcomes, target communities, theory of change, and logframe structure, financial viability, summary budget and implementation timeline, proposed solutions and expected impact, roles and capacities of CARE and implementing partners.

• Ensure alignment with national climate priorities and locally led adaptation principles.

• Mapping of co-funding opportunities and ensuring alignment with other GCF, CARE initiatives, or related projects within the confederation, with support from COs and CNL

Feasibility study, Climate Risk & Vulnerability Analysis

- Compute and visualize vulnerability indexes of target communities distinguishing between vulnerabilities caused by climate hazards from those linked to remoteness or weak governance.

- Ensure content includes:

o Climate vulnerability and risk assessment results (with geospatial maps and third-party climate data);

o Analyze agroclimatic zones, exposure to hazards (e.g., drought, flooding), and socio-economic vulnerability.

o Conduct preliminary assessments of gender, Indigenous People and Environmental and Social Assessment; Recommend gender-responsive indicators and impact metrics;

o Baseline analysis;

o Validate Climate Adaptation rationale and theory of change;

o MEAL framework and risk mitigation and safeguards analysis and strategy;

o Alignment with GCF investment criteria (impact potential, paradigm shift, sustainable development, country ownership, efficiency/effectiveness).

Feasibility Study Findings and Validation Workshop; Present key findings to COs and CARE NL and ensure alignment with NDA feedback and priorities. Submit final feasibility study report and related documentation.

Pitchbook and Concept Note Development ; Update the CARE PSAA pitchbook, project summary and prepare a full GCF Concept 

Note, incorporating GCF feedback from prior review. Documents must align with GCF PSAA screening criteria and digital submission standards.

Closing Workshop: Review, Feedback & Final Submission. Provide clear recommendations for the next phase of proposal development, including:

• Indicative technical, coordination, and financial resources required from CARE NL and Country Offices;

• Suggested sequencing and priority activities for Project Preparation Facility (PPF) funding;

• Risks and opportunities associated with progressing to full funding proposal development.

Note: If the concept note is shortlisted by the GCF, a new ToR will be developed for full proposal development. This is subject to performance, funding, and mutual agreement.

Timeline for the consultancy

The estimated level of effort is approximately 120 working days over the 8-month period. The consultant is expected to allocate time flexibly, with more intensive input required during the following phases:

- Phase I (July-Sep2025): Stakeholder & NDA Mapping, Co-Design Project Adaptation Strategies.

- Phase II (Oct 2025-Nov 2025): Risk & Vulnerability Assessments, Feasibility Study & Findings / validation Workshop with COs/CNL.

- Phase III (Nov 2025-Feb 2026): Pitchbook and Concept Note Development and submission.

- Payment schedule linked to milestone completion and quality deliverables

Required qualifications

- Home-based, with field travel to target countries in the Mekong highlands

- Minimum 10 years of experience in climate change adaptation, vulnerability and risk assessments, and climate finance (especially GCF/PSAA), ideally in the Asia/Pacific/Mekong region.

- Proven expertise in developing successful pitchbooks and concept notes under the GCF PSAA or similar climate finance mechanisms.

- Strong understanding of GCF investment criteria, gender policy, Environmental & Social Safeguards, and Indigenous Peoples Policy.

- Demonstrated ability to submit quality documentation via GCF’s Digital Platform (DPS) and align with submission standards;

- Experience with stakeholder mapping, NDA and focal point engagement, and aligning with government climate priorities.

- Excellent strategic writing, storytelling, and pitch framing skills for high-level climate adaptation proposals.

- Fluent in English; knowledge of relevant local languages is an asset.

- Consultant or registered entity authorized to work in the Asia Pacific region, with willingness to travel as needed.

Technical Requirements

- Advanced climate-data analysis, risk modeling, vulnerability index computation.

- Use of GIS for agroclimatic zone mapping: Proficiency in geospatial mapping tools (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS) and ability to analyze and interpret spatial datasets related to climate risk, agroecological zones, and natural hazards.

- Familiarity with GCF PSAA pitchbook and concept note formats, digital submission portal.

- Experience with proposal development tools/annexes: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Environmental and Social Management System (ESMP), gender analysis, procurement planning, financial modeling.

- Results-oriented approach aligned with MEAL frameworks.

Recruitment Process

Interested consultants or firms are requested to submit the following via the ‘Solliciteren’ button. Please combine the two proposals written below in one document, as you can only upload two documents (1: resume/CV and 2: financial and technical proposal).

If you have any questions regarding the consultancy vacancy, please contact Victoria Nesci (nesci@carenederland.org) 

- Financial Proposal: A detailed budget, including daily rates, number of anticipated working days, and a breakdown of any other expected costs (e.g. travel, data procurement, or subcontracted services). Please indicate whether VAT is applicable.

- Technical Proposal: A concise but comprehensive proposal outlining:

o The proposed methodology and approach to delivering the scope of work

o A high-level timeline and workplan

o Recommendations on the balance between remote and in-person work

o Suggestions for travel, stakeholder meetings, and primary data collection (if needed)

o Proposed tools and approaches for data analysis and geospatial mapping

Acquisition with regard to this advertisement is not appreciated.