The Institute for Human Rights & Business (IHRB) has announced the opening of applications for a Research & Engagement Lead – Adaptation Finance (Africa) role. This fully remote consultancy aims to transform climate adaptation finance and insurance systems within African contexts, addressing the growing challenges in this area.
Sitting within IHRB’s Just Transitions Programme, this position works where climate action intersects with finance and human rights. The Programme aims to ensure that solutions to climate change are not only effective but also socially inclusive, considering the needs and rights of marginalized communities.
About the Institute for Human Rights and Business
The Institute for Human Rights and Business is a renowned global think tank dedicated to ensuring business practices uphold the rights of workers, communities, and stakeholders affected by corporate activities. With over 15 years of experience, IHRB collaborates with a diverse range of actors, including governments, businesses, civil society, and international organizations, to promote rights-based approaches to economic and climate transitions.
IHRB’s climate initiatives maintain that effective climate action must extend beyond technical or financial solutions, emphasizing the social dimensions that require participation, accountability, and equity in decision-making processes.
The Importance of “Just” Adaptation Finance
The Research & Engagement Lead role is a direct response to the significant gaps in climate adaptation finance, particularly in Africa, where funding is often fragmented and heavily reliant on public or concessional sources. IHRB highlights that while insurance and risk-transfer mechanisms play pivotal roles in enhancing climate resilience, they frequently fail to support vulnerable populations and may inadvertently exacerbate inequalities.
This research initiative aims to scrutinize the interactions between financial systems and insurance markets, seeking ways to orient them toward people-centered, resilient adaptation outcomes, thereby promoting justice in climate finance.
Core Responsibilities of the Position
The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive flagship report that explores just adaptation finance in Africa. The focus areas include:
- Engagement with financial institutions and development finance actors
- Analysis of insurance and reinsurance markets
- Evaluation of risk-transfer and blended finance mechanisms
- Investigation of community-led resilience models and their financing
This role aims to critically assess existing financial tools, including how decisions are made and how capital flows impact real-world climate resilience outcomes.
Key Skills and Experience Required
Applicants should possess a minimum of seven years of experience in climate finance, sustainable finance, or development finance, with strong expertise in African financial systems. Essential qualifications include:
- Experience engaging with financial institutions, investors, or insurance actors
- A solid understanding of adaptation and resilience finance systems
- Capability to translate complex financial frameworks clearly
- A proven track record in producing high-quality research or policy reports
Desirable experience encompasses involvement with development finance institutions or climate funds, as well as familiarity with just transitions, human rights due diligence, or social risk frameworks.
Application Process and Timeline
The consultancy is expected to commence as soon as possible, ideally in April 2026, lasting approximately 7 to 9 months. This part-time role, requiring about 2.5 days per week, offers flexibility during critical research phases. Although the position is fully remote, candidates based in Africa are preferred due to the regional focus of the project.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals through IHRB’s recruitment platform by the deadline of May 6, 2026 (11:59 pm UK time). Virtual interviews will take place in mid-May 2026. Successful candidates will prepare their financial proposal and provide supporting documentation through the online application system.
Why This Role Matters
As climate risks escalate across Africa, adaptation finance emerges as a vital determinant for resilience, equity, and sustainable development. However, current financial systems often overlook the needs of the most vulnerable communities. This role occupies a crucial intersection of finance, climate risk, and human rights, striving to reshape the design and deployment of capital and insurance systems.
By integrating social outcomes into financial decision-making, the work aims to advance a broader movement toward just transitions, ensuring that climate solutions are both effective and equitable for all stakeholders involved.
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Applications & CVs should not be sent to GSO as we cannot process them. Due to high email volumes, responses may not be possible. Thank you for understanding.
Exciting Opportunity: Research & Engagement Lead in Climate Adaptation Finance
The Institute for Human Rights & Business (IHRB) is inviting applications for a pivotal consultancy role focused on climate adaptation finance in Africa. This fully remote position is designed to enhance the functionality of climate adaptation finance and insurance systems within various African contexts, ensuring equitable access and sustainability.
About IHRB: Championing Human Rights in Business
The Institute for Human Rights and Business stands as a global think tank dedicated to promoting responsible business practices that respect the rights of individuals, communities, and stakeholders. With over 15 years of experience collaborating with governments, businesses, and civil societies, IHRB advocates for rights-based approaches to economic and climate transitions, emphasizing the intertwined nature of climate action and social equity.
A Focus on Just Adaptation Finance
The newly created research position addresses critical gaps in climate adaptation finance, particularly in Africa, where funding mechanisms often lack coherence and scalability. IHRB identifies a pressing need for insurance and risk-transfer solutions that not only support climate resilience but are also structured to benefit vulnerable populations, thereby avoiding inadvertent reinforcement of existing inequalities.
Role Responsibilities: Driving Systemic Change
The Research & Engagement Lead will be responsible for developing a comprehensive report that delves into just adaptation finance, focusing on key sectors such as:
- Financial institutions
- Insurance and reinsurance markets
- Risk-transfer mechanisms
- Community-led resilience initiatives
This vital role builds upon IHRB’s previous climate finance research, expanding the conversation into the adaptation and resilience arena. The objective is to not only map existing financial tools but also critically evaluate how these tools influence climate resilience outcomes and risk assignment.
Key Engagement and Analytical Framework Development
The consultant will spearhead an action-driven research process involving key stakeholders, including banks, policymakers, community leaders, and civil society organizations. Engagement will extend beyond consultation to actively test hypotheses and uncover systemic challenges, leading to robust opportunities for transformative change.
Real-World Case Studies and Report Insights
This role will require the documentation of tangible case studies across African contexts, exploring diverse financial instruments and community-led initiatives designed for climate adaptation. Through structured interviews with stakeholders, the consultant will assess what strategies prove successful and what factors enable effective scaling of climate finance solutions.
Qualifications for Applicants
Candidates should possess a minimum of seven years of experience in climate finance or sustainable development, with substantial knowledge of African financial systems. Key qualifications include:
- Experience engaging with financial institutions and insurance entities
- Deep understanding of adaptation finance frameworks
- Strong analytical skills for developing clear frameworks
- Proven research or policy report writing experience
This position requires excellent stakeholder engagement capabilities and the ability to effectively communicate across various finance and policy sectors.
Contract Details and Application Process
This consultancy, anticipated to commence in early April 2026, is structured for approximately 7–9 months with a part-time commitment of 2.5 days per week. The total budget for this consultancy is £48,600, with candidates expected to propose their working schedule and day rate.
To apply, interested applicants should submit their materials through the IHRB’s recruitment platform by the deadline of May 6, 2026. Final interviews will occur in mid-May through virtual meetings.
The Importance of This Role
As climate challenges escalate across Africa, effective adaptation finance emerges as a crucial factor for sustainability and equity. This role represents a unique opportunity to influence how financial and insurance systems are structured to promote resilience for marginalized populations. By integrating social considerations into financial decision-making, this position is vital for fostering just transitions where climate responses are not only effective but also equitable.
