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Terms of Reference for the Independent Expert Group for the ARISE Program
Background and Purpose:
The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) was established in 2008 to provide scaled-up concessional climate finance to developing countries in support of low-emission, climate-resilient development. CIF’s business model combines country-led, programmatic investment planning with coordinated multilateral development bank (MDB) delivery, predictable and flexible financing, and large-scale investment packages designed to support market creation, private investment, policy reform, systems transformation, and social inclusion. It also emphasizes participatory, multi-stakeholder engagement, including civil society, the private sector, and other non-state actors.
Building on CIF’s proven business model and 17 years of experience under the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) in supporting transformational climate-resilient development, ARISE will support vulnerable developing countries to address systemic constraints to adaptation and resilience through a country-led, programmatic approach that strengthens national resilience systems, mobilizes public and private finance at scale, and delivers inclusive economic and social outcomes. The program promotes a holistic, integrated, gender-responsive, and socially inclusive approach to resilience, anchored in national development priorities and long-term economic sustainability.
The CIF recently launched a Call for Expressions of Interest (EoIs), inviting eligible countries and their MDB partners to apply for funding.
About the Accelerating Resilience Investments and Innovations for Sustainable Economies (ARISE) Program
ARISE is designed1 to support developing countries in translating adaptation and resilience priorities into investable, country-led pathways for resilient development. CIF’s concessional finance may be deployed to catalyze transformational investments that strengthen economic stability, protect livelihoods, and build resilience across critical systems, including food, water, infrastructure, energy, and financial systems.
Through coordinated engagement with governments, multilateral development banks, and other partners, ARISE will support countries in integrating climate risk and resilience into planning, investment, and financing decisions, while mobilizing public and private finance for scalable adaptation and resilience outcomes. Countries interested in receiving funding through this program must submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) by June 8th, 2026.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Independent Expert Group
The Independent Expert Group (IEG) will consist of six experts acting in their personal capacities, selected on the basis of their strategic, technical, and operational expertise and experience in areas relevant to the CIF ARISE program. These include climate change adaptation and resilience, adaptation policy and finance, socio-ecological sustainability, just transition, climate change, development economics, and the mobilization of public and private finance for resilience and social development.
Once formed, the group will select two co-chairs: one a national of a CIF eligible recipient country and the other a national of a CIF contributing country. The group will include a balanced representation of experts from contributing and eligible recipient countries and will also consider geographic and gender balance.
IEG will perform the following tasks, in consultation with the CIF Secretariat and the MDB Committee:
a. Evaluate countries’ EoIs against the assessment criteria established in Section 6 of the Country Selection Process document.2
b. Present a ranked list of countries, along with recommendations, to the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF) Trust Fund Committee (TFC) for the program.
To assess and rank countries’ Expressions of Interest (EoIs) and make recommendations to the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF) Trust Fund Committee (TFC), the IEG will:
a. Review EoIs against the assessment criteria as outlined in Table 1 of the Country Selection Process document.
b. Review the official documents annexed to or referenced in the EoIs.
c. Undertake additional desk research, as needed, drawing on program-specific indicators from the attached Integrated Results Framework (IRF) and other relevant information and indicators at the country or regional level.
d. Interview representatives of selected countries (if required) to gain a better understanding of their context-specific circumstances, absorptive capacity, and priorities and opportunities for climate action.
e. Consult with CIF partner multilateral development banks (MDBs) to ensure that prospective countries meet the “MDB Partnership” criteria in Table 1 of the Country Selection Process document and that the criteria above are taken into consideration.
The final report to be submitted by the IEG to the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF) Trust Fund Committee (TFC), must comprise the following components:
a. A ranked list of Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from eligible countries for the program.
b. Methodological notes and justification that led to the proposed ranking.
c. An assessment of key issues and shortcomings encountered during the assessment process, together with recommendations for improvement.
d. Concluding remarks on the recommended ranking.
e. A list of stakeholders consulted.
Deliverable timeline
The primary components of IEG’s work are expected to take six to eight weeks, from June 2026 to October 2026.
IEG members should be available to engage in this assignment from June to October 2026.
Selection Criteria
Applicants to the IEG must meet the following criteria:
I. Hold a Master’s degree or PhD in a field relevant to the CIF ARISE program, including climate change adaptation and resilience, adaptation policy and finance, socio-ecological sustainability, just transition, climate change, development economics, and the mobilization of public and private finance for resilience and social development.
II. Have at least 12 years of professional experience in their area of expertise.
III. Demonstrate experience working in developing country contexts.
IV. Have prior experience working with or for multilateral, regional, or international organizations (preferred but not required).
Remuneration
Experts in the IEG will be remunerated in accordance with the World Bank’s rules and regulations on the procurement of consultants.
Application
a. Applications for the expert group should only be submitted through the CIF Secretariat email: CIFSecretariat@cif.org. Applications received through any other means will not be accepted.
b. Applications and nominations for IEG members should include the expert’s name, contact information, area of expertise, and a resume demonstrating professional experience and expertise in the target areas.
c. Applicants must also disclose if they have potential conflicts of interest (e.g., they work on behalf of a government that is submitting an EoI or are currently employed by a CIF partner MDB).
d. Please submit your application no later than May 21st, 2026.