Sustainable Finance Expert Consultancy
Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)
INTRODUCTION TO GGGI
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Context: In the Caribbean, the "blue economy" - comprising sectors like tourism, fisheries, and maritime transport - is a cornerstone of regional stability, contributing up to 20% of the total GDP and serving as a primary engine for employment. For nations like Saint Lucia and the Dominican Republic, the ocean is not merely a geographical feature but a vital economic asset. Recognizing this potential, both countries have emerged as regional leaders in pioneering blue finance mechanisms. Saint Lucia recently achieved a major milestone with the endorsement of its Blue Bond Framework at COP-28, targeting up to USD 150 million in funding by 2026, while the Dominican Republic has successfully piloted sophisticated public-private partnership models for marine protected area management.Project Objective / Purpose: The BLUECAR project leverages GGGI’s sustainable finance expertise to enhance the resilience of coastal ecosystems and blue economies in Saint Lucia and the Dominican Republic. By driving inclusive economic growth and improved livelihoods, the project aims to catalyze a sustainable blue transition. This is achieved through three key pillars: [1] establishing a project pipeline and Blue Bond Framework in the Dominican Republic; [2] developing tailored, bankable projects aligned with Saint Lucia’s existing framework; and [3] strengthening institutional capacity and knowledge-sharing to scale blue economy solutions – enabled by the Korean Green New Deal Trust Fund.
OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
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Strategic Mapping and Market Analysis: To conduct a rigorous market study that identifies and categorizes existing and emerging Blue Economy opportunities.
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Stakeholder Engagement and Pipeline Prioritization: To facilitate a participatory selection process that ensures national buy-in and sectoral alignment.
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Technical Project Development (Investment Readiness): To provide specialized technical assistance that transforms prioritized concepts into investment-ready proposals.
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Capacity Building, Learning and Communications: To coordinate the training of private and public sector stakeholders, raising blue economy project development capacity as well as to support project visibility and the synthesis of learnings.
DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
The Sustainable Finance Expert will report to GGGI’s BLUECAR Project Manager. The Expert will be responsible for implementing the following activities and producing linked deliverables:
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Consultancy Kick-Off
Deliverable 1: Work- / Implementation Plan to provide granular data on timeline, approach and deliverable content.
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Activity 2.1: Comprehensive Market Study and Strategic Alignment
Conduct a robust market assessment to identify and categorize existing and emerging blue economy initiatives. The analysis will verify and build upon the project briefs in Annex 5 of Saint Lucia’s Blue Bond Framework, performing a gap analysis to assess each for financial viability, environmental impact, and scalability. This study will map local opportunities - such as sustainable aquaculture, renewable marine energy, and circular waste management - against the specific eligibility criteria of the Saint Lucia Blue Bond Framework to ensure they meet international blue investment standards.
Deliverable 2: Market Study Report: A data-driven assessment featuring a strategic mapping of opportunities against the Blue Bond Framework. Beyond a simple inventory, the report will include a "Triple Bottom Line" analysis to identify a prioritized long-list of potential projects and provide a clear roadmap for addressing technical or regulatory barriers to investment readiness. Two versions of this deliverable will be submitted to GGGI: The first will be submitted for internal review and refinement, while the second and final will be submitted after external stakeholder feedback has been incorporated.
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Activity 2.2: Multi-Stakeholder Prioritization and Validation Workshops
Facilitate a series of structured national and sectoral workshops to ensure a participatory approach to project selection. These sessions will engage key actors, including fisheries cooperatives, tourism operators, and government agencies, to ground-truth the market study findings. Participants will use a weighted scoring matrix to validate and prioritize projects based on local economic needs, climate resilience, and community benefit.
Deliverable 3: List of Validated Projects and Methodology Report: A curated shortlist of high-priority initiatives, including a categorized registry of Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects. This deliverable must include a methodology report explaining the scoring logic used during the sessions and a stakeholder engagement summary to ensure the pipeline is both technically sound and nationally endorsed.
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Activity 2.3: Targeted Technical Assistance (TA) for Concept Note Development
Provide specialized technical and financial expertise to move projects from "idea" to "investment-ready." From the Tier 1 validated shortlist, and in consultation with the government stakeholders and the GGGI team, the Consultant will select two (2) priority projects for deep-dive development.
Deliverable 4: Investment-Ready Concept Notes (x2): Two high-quality proposals detailing technical specifications, preliminary financial models, and a robust risk mitigation strategy. These deliverables will establish a clear Impact Framework with defined Blue/Green KPIs, ensuring the projects meet the rigorous environmental and social governance (ESG) standards required to attract international institutional investors. Two versions of Deliverable 4 will be submitted to GGGI, with the first being an advanced draft for GGGI expert feedback and the latter being the final version.
Deliverable 5: Concept Presentation Event: The consultant will organize a stakeholder event to present the investment residents to key stakeholders in Saint Lucia, to secure buy-in. A short event report will outline the main outcomes of the meeting and include a participant list disaggregated by gender.
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Activities 3.2, 3.3 and 3.6
Develop a training program and supporting materials, to enhance the capacity of regional (private and public) stakeholders in conceiving / designing and securing finance for blue economy projects and pipelines, aligned with established policy and financing frameworks as well as governmental priorities (Activity 3.2). The consultant will, furthermore, coordinate at least 2 virtual and in-person workshops to build capacities and compile the necessary documentation for reporting of these events (Activity 3.3). Lastly, the consultant will support the preparation of communication materials and learning reflections to document progress of activities. (Activity 3.6)
Deliverable 6: A Data Pack consisting of [6a] Activity 3.2 Training Materials (at least 4 PowerPoint presentations on relevant topics such as project pitch development, securing stakeholder engagement and buy-in, business model development for project sustainability, and financing sources (e.g. bonds, grants, soft loans, PPPs, et al.) [6b] Activity 3.3 Training Reports per workshop, including a 1-page summary as well as participant list.
Deliverable 7: Activity 3.6 Communications and Learning Materials to be submitted at the end of the consultancy contract period, including at least 4 social media posts (describing progress on, or achievement of, Activity 2.1 – 2.3 and 3.3 milestones. The consultant will also contribute approx. 5 pages of text to a “Learning Report” that documents overall project achievements, challenges and take-aways.
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OUTPUT / DELIVERABLE |
PERCENTAGE OF MAXIMUM AMOUNT |
DUE DATES (2026) |
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Deliverable 1. Work- / Implementation Plan Development |
5% of contract value |
15 May |
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Deliverable 2. Market Study Report I & II |
14% of contract value |
Version I: 15 June |
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14% of contract value |
Final: 14 Sept. |
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Deliverable 3. List of Validated Projects and Methodology Report |
7% of contract value |
Version I: 10 July |
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7% of contract value |
Final: 14 Aug. |
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Deliverable 4. Investment-Ready Concept Notes (2) |
14% of contract value |
Version I: 10 July |
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19% of contract value |
Final: 14 Aug. |
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Deliverable 5. Concept Presentation Event |
5% of contract value |
30 November |
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Deliverable 6: Training Materials and Reports |
10% of contract value |
15 June |
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Deliverable 7: Comms and Learning Materials |
5% of contract value |
30 Nov |
EXPERTISE REQUIRED
The description of required expert may be split into following parts:
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An advanced university degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Public Policy, Law, or a related field.
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At least 5-8 years of relevant experience in the establishment, governance, and operationalization of financial institutions, such as investment funds, asset managers, trusts, and banks.
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Certifications such as CFA, CPA, or fiduciary management certifications are desirable.
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Experience in developing bankable sustainable development project, operational manuals, and risk allocation mechanisms for financial institutions.
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Experience working closely with government and non-government stakeholders and financial institutions.
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Experience in developing and managing financial instruments (debt, equity, concessional finance), defining investment policies, and overseeing pipeline development.
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Experience in investor relationship management and raising capital from institutional investors (international and local).
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Proven knowledge and experience in portfolio construction, performance and risk management frameworks. Knowledge of ESG integrated portfolio management principles is desirable.
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Proven background in MRV systems, tracking investments, and ensuring reporting compliance with international standards (GCF, GEF, etc.) is desirable.
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Sustainable finance accreditations and seminars is a plus.
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Excellent writing, analytical, organization and communication skills.
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Fluency in English is required.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Interested consultants shall submit the following documentation
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Curriculum Vitae
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Cover letter
Date to close is 31 March 2026 at 23:59 pm Korean Standard Time (31 March 2026 at 10:59 am Atlantic Standard Time). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. The Application, Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English. A consortium, or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.
Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.