Grant A. Kirkman

Lead, Climate Finance Country and Private Sector Engagement Unit @UN Climate Change

Bonn, DE

Mobilized and structured over USD 2.5 billion in climate finance pipelines across Africa, ASEAN, LDCs and SIDS, engaging the GCF, GEF, Adaptation Fund, MDBs, and private co-investors.Directed multi-regional teams of up to 20 staff and consultants, coordinating RCCs, ministries, and development partners across 30+ countries to prepare climate-resilient energy and industrial projects.Led design and negotiation of concessional lending facilities and blended finance structures, reducing risk premiums and unlocking private capital for renewable energy and industrial decarbonization.Convened high-level dialogues with ICAO, ISO, MDBs, and central banks, positioning the as a trusted platform to align global finance flows with Paris Agreement commitments.Organized and chaired investment forums with Regional Economic Communities (ECOWAS, SADC, EAC, ASEAN), generating >60 project concepts and securing follow-on partnerships with DFIs and technology providers.Supervised budgets exceeding USD 40 million under the Needs-Based Finance initiative, ensuring compliance with UN financial regulations, donor reporting, and audit requirements.Provided policy advisory to more than 25 developing country governments, integrating climate finance into NDCs, industrial strategies, and adaptation frameworks.Pioneered development of AI-based sovereign climate-risk profiling tools, piloted in Ghana and Bangladesh, enhancing investment transparency for both public and private financiers.

University of the Witwatersrand

Master, Atmospheric Statistics

University of KwaZulu-Natal

Bachelor, Agricultural Management

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Dr. (rer. nat.), Biogeochemistry