Resource Mobilization & Financial Specialist

1. Your New Organization

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an intergovernmental organization of 125 Member Countries working to accelerate the deployment of solar energy to achieve universal energy access, energy security, and a sustainable, low-carbon future. Co-founded by India and France under the Paris Agreement, ISA serves as a platform for cooperation among solarrich nations to mobilize investments, build capacity, and promote innovation in solar energy deployment across the Global South. Its mission is to unlock solar investments by 2030, while reducing technology and financing costs. Through initiatives across agriculture, health, transport, and power generation, ISA Member Countries are driving change by shaping policies, sharing best practices, setting standards, and mobilising investments.

2. Your New Role

The Resource Mobilization & Financial Specialist will drive ISAs fundraising from philanthropic and donor sources and support the development of the Global Solar Facility (GSF) with dedicated focus on the Africa Solar Facility (ASF) and Asia Facility. This role blends strategic donor engagement with programmatic coordination, including setting up the financial facilitys legal and commercial framework, building a pipeline of solar projects, and ensuring funds are mobilized and disbursed effectively. The Specialist will work cross-functionally within ISA (particularly with legal, finance, and program teams) and externally with funders and partners to achieve ISAs resource mobilization targets.

3. Your Broader Scope of Work

1. Resource Mobilization Strategy Execution & Donor Engagement

Fundraising execution

Execute a robust resource mobilization strategy targeting philanthropic foundations, donor governments, corporate donors, and climate finance institutions, aligned with ISAs global priorities. This includes identifying and mapping potential funding sources.

Donor Cultivation

Cultivate and maintain trust-based relationships with current and prospective donors in the climate and energy sector. The Specialist will engage stakeholders through regular bilateral meetings, networking at relevant forums, and strategic outreach events to expand ISAs donor base. Building a broad coalition of support among private philanthropies, multilateral funds, and government aid agencies is expected.

Proposal & Concept Note Development

Lead the creation of high-quality concept notes, grant proposals, and pitch decks that persuasively articulate ISAs initiatives (with a focus on GSF programs in Africa/Asia) and funding needs. This involves coordinating with technical program teams to gather data and impact projections, and tailoring proposals to donor priorities. Each proposal should clearly outline the expected impact (both climate and social benefits) and how donor funds will be leveraged or blended to achieve ISAs goals.

Donor Engagement Materials

In collaboration with ISAs communications team, develop customized outreach materials for donors including impact stories, case studies from ISAs work, and marketing collateral to demonstrate ISAs results and vision in a compelling manner. Ensure consistency of messaging that highlights ISAs unique value proposition in accelerating solar energy access.

Expand Partnerships

ISAs funding network by exploring innovative partnerships, for example with ultra-high-net-worth philanthropists, donor-advised funds, and climate-aligned corporate CSR programs. The Specialist will serve as a representative of ISA in high level donor interactions, effectively communicating ISAs mission and the strategic impact of contributions.

2. Donor Communication, Reporting & Stewardship

Donor Stewardship

Serve as the primary point of contact for philanthropic donors regarding ISAs programs under the Resource Mobilization Unit. Provide responsive, professional engagement to donor inquiries and foster long-term partnerships through regular check-ins and recognition of donor contributions. The Specialist will maintain a relationship map and CRM records of all donor interactions to inform engagement strategies.

Financial & Impact

Reporting Ensure transparent, timely, and high-quality reporting to all funding partners. This includes preparing periodic progress reports, financial statements of grant utilization, and impact reports that measure outcomes against targets for projects funded by donors. The Specialist must institute a schedule of donor updates (quarterly, annual reports, etc.) and coordinate with M&E colleagues to gather data on results. Clear, data-driven reports will hold ISA accountable for the use of donor funds and demonstrate impact, in line with best practices of donor stewardship.

Continuous Communication

Implement a system of continuous communication with donors throughout the project lifecycle, not just at reporting intervals. This may involve brief email updates, informal newsletters, or interim calls to share milestones and successes, thereby keeping donors engaged and informed. By proactively communicating challenges and achievements, the Specialist will build confidence that ISA is a transparent and effective partner.

Addressing Donor

Requirements Tailor communication to meet specific donor requirements or formats. Ensure donor feedback is incorporated to improve satisfaction. The goal is to avoid any lapses that could lead to donor dissatisfaction, as timely and accurate reporting is crucial for donor retention.

Grant Compliance

Work with ISAs finance and legal teams to monitor that all expenditures of donor funds are in compliance with the grant agreements. The Specialist will help track deliverables and conditions tied to funding and ensure ISA fulfills all obligations, reporting any significant variances with explanation.

Impact Storytelling

In coordination with the communications unit, distill technical results into compelling impact stories or human-interest case studies for donor audiences. This can be used in annual reports or donor stewardship meetings to illustrate the real-world changes enabled by their support (for example, a story of a community getting electricity via solar through an ASF-funded project). Such storytelling helps reinforce the value of continued funding.

3. Global Solar Facility (Africa & Asia) Program Implementation & Coordination

Support implementation of ISAs Catalytic Finance Hub Progamme

Support and lead in the conceptualization, incubation and operationalization of new financial instruments, like blended financing risk mitigation facility, solar bonds, etc, in partnership with MDBs, DFIs, UN agencies, private sector players, and climate funding entities, like the Green Climate Fund and others; The Specialist will coordinate preparations of ISAs Investment Mobilization Roadmap and Investors series projects for scaling-up financing. Ii addition, the incumbent will coordinate engagements of ISA, including for mobilizing financing for implementation of various programmes and projects, with MDBs, DFIs, UN agencies and others; coordinate implementation of ISAs private sector engagement strategy and support in implementation of ISAs partnership strategy.

Global Solar Facility (GSF) Operationalization

Play a key role in operationalizing the Global Solar Facility (GSF) and its regional funding windows, specifically the Africa Solar Facility (ASF) (initial $200M facility) and the planned Asia Solar Facility. The Specialist will support the Chief of Resource Mobilization in translating the GSF concept into an operating reality. This involves multitasking across financial, legal, and programmatic work streams to launch and scale these facilities.

Fund Deployment & Coordination Once donors commit funds and the GSF / ASF is operational, coordinate the disbursement of funds to selected projects. This involves working with counterparts on all sides the donor/fund trustee, the fund manager, and the project implementers or borrowers to make sure funding agreements are in place and funds flow according to schedule. The Specialist will monitor that conditions precedent are met by projects before disbursements and troubleshoot any bottlenecks in getting projects financed. Successful performance will be measured by how quickly and effectively ISAs mobilized funds translate into operational solar projects on the ground.

4. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing:

Organize /conduct training for ISA Staff on resource mobilization and financial instruments and synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in resource mobilization and financial instruments. The Specialist will provide regular, relevant contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice & ISAs advocacy efforts on issues related to resource mobilization.

4. What You Will Need to Succeed

Education

Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in a relevant field such as Business Administration, International Development, Finance, Environmental Policy, or related discipline. A background or coursework in climate finance or energy is a plus. (A first-level university degree with additional relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.)

Required Experience

At least 8-10 years of professional experience in resource mobilization, fundraising, or partnerships, preferably in an international organization, development finance institution, or large NGO context. Experience should include developing and writing successful grant proposals, managing donor relationships, and securing significant funding from philanthropic or public donors. Prior exposure to climate change, renewable energy, or infrastructure financing initiatives (such as working with climate funds, multilateral development banks, or impact investors) will be highly advantageous.