The Institute for Human Rights & Business (IHRB) has opened applications for a Research & Engagement Lead – Adaptation Finance (Africa) role, a fully remote consultancy focused on reshaping how climate adaptation finance and insurance systems function across African contexts. The position sits within IHRB’s Just Transitions Programme, which works at the intersection of climate action, finance, and human rights to ensure that climate solutions are both effective and socially inclusive. About the Organisation: Institute for Human Rights and Business The Institute for Human Rights and Business is a global think tank focused on ensuring that business activity respects the rights of workers, communities, and affected stakeholders. For over 15 years, it has worked with governments, businesses, civil society, and multilateral institutions to advance rights-based approaches to economic and climate transitions. Within this mandate, IHRB’s climate work emphasizes that climate action is not purely technical or financial, but fundamentally social—requiring participation, accountability, and equity in decision-making processes. A Focus on “Just” Adaptation Finance The new research role responds to growing gaps in climate adaptation finance, particularly across Africa, where funding remains fragmented, under-scaled, and heavily reliant on public or concessional sources. A key concern highlighted by IHRB is that insurance and risk-transfer mechanisms, while increasingly important in climate resilience strategies, often fail to reach vulnerable populations and may unintentionally reinforce inequality if not designed with social outcomes in mind. The research project aims to examine how financial systems and insurance markets interact, and how they can be reoriented toward people-centred, resilient adaptation outcomes. Purpose of the Role The Research & Engagement Lead will design and deliver a flagship report exploring just adaptation finance in Africa, with a strong focus on: Financial institutions and development finance actors Insurance and reinsurance markets Risk-transfer and blended finance mechanisms Community-led resilience models The role builds on previous IHRB work, including its analysis of transition finance systems, extending it into the adaptation and resilience space. The goal is not only to map existing financial tools, but to critically assess how decisions are made, how risk is priced, and how capital flows shape real-world climate resilience outcomes. Key Responsibilities 1. Research Design and Stakeholder Engagement The consultant will lead an action-oriented research process engaging: Banks, investors, and development finance institutions Insurance and reinsurance providers Policymakers and public finance actors Community leaders and civil society organizations Engagement will go beyond consultation, serving as a mechanism to test hypotheses, surface constraints, and identify opportunities for systemic change. 2. Analytical Framework Development A core deliverable will be the creation of a framework mapping the spectrum of adaptation finance instruments, including: Public, private, and blended finance models Insurance and risk-transfer tools such as sovereign risk pools and parametric insurance Guarantees and other de-risking instruments The analysis will examine how these systems allocate climate and social risk, influence investment flows, and shape resilience outcomes. 3. Case Studies and Evidence Building The role will involve identifying and documenting real-world case studies across African contexts, including: Financial instruments supporting climate adaptation Insurance products designed for climate risk Hybrid finance-insurance models Community-led resilience initiatives and their financing structures Structured interviews will be conducted with financial institutions, insurers, regulators, governments, and community stakeholders to identify what works, what fails, and what conditions enable scale. 4. Report Development and Insight Translation The consultant will lead the drafting of a flagship publication aimed at financial institutions, policymakers, donors, and community stakeholders. The report will translate complex financial systems into: Clear frameworks and typologies Practical insights for decision-makers Case-based evidence of scalable solutions Narrative examples demonstrating community impact The final output is intended to influence financial product design, institutional strategy, and policy approaches to climate adaptation. Required Experience and Skills Applicants are expected to bring at least seven years of experience in climate finance, sustainable finance, or development finance, with strong familiarity in African financial systems. Key requirements include: Experience working with or engaging financial institutions, investors, or insurance actors Strong understanding of adaptation and resilience finance systems Ability to translate complex systems into clear analytical frameworks Proven experience producing high-quality research or policy reports Desirable experience includes: Work with development finance institutions or climate funds Experience in insurance, reinsurance, or climate risk markets Familiarity with just transitions, human rights due diligence, or social risk frameworks Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to communicate with senior-level practitioners across finance and policy sectors are essential. Contract Structure and Timeline The consultancy is expected to begin as soon as possible (ideally April 2026) and will run for approximately 7–9 months. The role is structured as a part-time engagement of approximately 2.5 days per week, with flexibility for intensity during key phases such as research design, case study development, and final reporting. The position is fully remote, though candidates based in Africa are strongly preferred due to the regional focus of the work. The total consultancy budget is £48,600, with applicants expected to propose a day rate and working schedule within this envelope. Application Process Interested candidates are invited to apply via IHRB’s recruitment platform. Deadline: 6 May 2026 (11:59pm UK time) Interviews: Mid-May 2026 (virtual rounds) Applicants must submit responses through the online application system, including a financial proposal and supporting information. Why This Role Matters As climate risks intensify across Africa, adaptation finance is becoming a critical determinant of resilience, equity, and long-term sustainability. Yet current systems often fail to reach the most vulnerable populations or reflect their lived realities. This role sits at the intersection of finance, climate risk, and human rights, aiming to reshape how capital and insurance systems are designed and deployed. By integrating social outcomes into financial decision-making, the work contributes to a broader shift toward just transitions, where climate solutions are both effective and equitable. APPLY HERE For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.