Principal Evaluation Officer (Talent Pool)

Grade: IS-5

Deadline: 4 January 2026 (11:59 PM KST)

Job Category: International

Introduction

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a multilateral fund created to make significant, ambitious contributions to the global efforts to combat climate change. GCF contributes to achieving the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. In the context of sustainable development, GCF aims to promote a paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate resilient development pathways by providing support to developing countries to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to climate change, while accounting for their needs and supporting particularly those that are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. The GCF is governed by a Board, composed of an equal number of members from developed and developing countries.

The Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU) of the GCF is mandated by the GCF Board under paragraph 60 of its Governing Instrument to inform its decision making. The IEU has a mandate for both an accountability function and for supporting learning. These are central to the GCF as a learning organization as also laid out in its Governing Instrument.

The IEU has several objectives:

(a) Inform decision-making by the Board and identify, disseminate lessons learned; contributing to guiding the GCF and stakeholders as a learning institution, providing strategic guidance;

(b) Conduct periodic independent evaluations of GCF performance to objectively assess the results of the GCF and the effectiveness and efficiency of its activities;

(c) Provide evaluation reports to the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement for purposes of periodic reviews of the Financial Mechanism.

About the Green Climate Fund (GCF)

Set up in 2010 by the 194 countries who are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), GCF takes its responsibility as the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund to heart.  Over the past decade GCF has funded transformative climate projects across the developing world, supporting countries in their responses and actions to tackle climate change while fostering sustainable development within their communities. 

Our country-driven approach ensures that our actions are tailored to the unique circumstances and national aspirations of each nation we support. Beyond channeling public and private sector investment through diverse financing instruments, GCF builds the capacity of developing countries to take climate action through an extensive Readiness Programme equipping countries to increasingly manage their climate futures.

Headquartered in the Republic of Korea, GCF operates with a diverse and talented workforce of over 300 people.

Interested in more information? 

Learn about working for GCF: https://www.greenclimate.fund/about/careers 

View current vacancies: https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/

Position Objective

The Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU) of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) seeks to recruit a Principal Evaluation Officer, a senior technical expert responsible for leading or co-leading selected evaluations and related knowledge products under the IEU’s annual workplan.

The incumbent will provide intellectual and methodological leadership in the design and implementation of complex evaluations, including policy, programme, and thematic reviews. Drawing on substantial experience in multilateral and international contexts, the Officer will ensure methodological rigor, timely delivery, and the use of evaluation findings to inform GCF strategies and operations. “The Officer will lead and undertake evaluations end-to-end — from design and data collection to analysis, reporting, and dissemination.

The Officer will also contribute to the IEU’s strategic engagements with the GCF Board, Secretariat, Accredited Entities, and National Designated Authorities, and maintain networks in the global evaluation and climate-change communities. The role involves contributing to strategic reflections and supporting team learning and collaboration across the Unit.

Purpose 

     * Conduct and lead evaluations to assess/review the efficiency and effectiveness of GCF’s policies and strategies, operations structures, and funded activities;

     * Provide syntheses of evaluation findings and contribute in other ways to IEU’s knowledge and outreach;

     * Provide intellectual leadership to the IEU on evaluation methods (in particular, qualitative tools), and substantive issues related to evaluations;

Engagement

     * Liaise closely on behalf of the IEU with the relevant departments of the GCF Secretariat, as well as with accredited entities and other GCF stakeholders externally, to build and formalize relationships;

     * Represent the IEU at diverse platforms and undertake advocacy for evaluations and credible evidence;

Delivery

     * Contribute to the preparation and delivery of materials for GCF Board meetings and other IEU events;

     * Manage a small cohort of colleagues, as well as external consultants;

     * Coordinate evaluation workplans, timelines, and budgets under the supervision of senior staff;

     * Ensure quality assurance of evaluation deliverables through methodological review and peer feedback;

     * Contribute to internal planning, monitoring, and reporting processes within the IEU.

Requirements (Education, experience, technical competencies required of the job)

     * Master’s or Ph.D. degree in natural resources, environment policy, or evaluation;

     * A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of a postgraduate university degree. 

     * 11 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience after a Master’s degree;

     * Significant experience with evaluations for a multilateral institution, diverse evaluation experience is an advantage;

     * Expertise in methods for evaluations, in particular to strengthen IEU capacity on qualitative tools;

     * Experience living and working in a developing country is an advantage.

     * Previous experience working in an IFI/MDBs or other UN agencies is desirable;

     * Fluency in French or Spanish is desirable;

     * Experience across multiple sectors would serve well in this role that works with multiple partners;

     * Ability to speak publicly and represent the IEU, in addition to an ability to undertake individual level engagement and advocacy on behalf of the Unit and the Head;

     * Strong interpersonal skills, and highly developed cultural sensitivity in communicating with all levels of staff and external clients, both orally and in writing.

The closing date for application is 4 January 2026. Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

*The person assessed by the Selection Panel as most suitable for the position will be proposed for appointment. Selection among short-listed candidates will also take into account performance at interview, appropriate testing, and references.

Applications from women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged to apply.