Individual Consultant - Kenya Green Hydrogen (H2X)

Individual Consultant - Kenya Green Hydrogen (H2X)

Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

General Information

Duty Station: Kenya

Contract Duration: 8 Months

Consultant Level: 4

Total Fees: USD 20,000

Project background

Kenya has emerged as a strategic frontrunner in East Africa's green hydrogen economy, underpinned by its abundance renewable energy. Over 90% of the country's electricity is generated from clean sources, primarily geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar. Building on this foundation, the Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoEP), launched the Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap in September 2023, positioning green hydrogen not merely as an energy export commodity but as a cross-cutting enabler for domestic industrialization, food security, and Vision 2030.

The Strategy sets ambitious targets, including attracting USD 1 billion in direct investments and creating 25,000 direct jobs. Phase 1 (2023–2027) prioritizes domestic market development, with targets of 100,000 tonnes of green nitrogen fertilizer (replacing 20% of imports), 5,000 tonnes of methanol, 150 MW of renewable capacity, and 100 MW of electrolyser capacity. Phase 2 (2028–2032) shifts toward regional export and scale-up, while post-2032 envisions applications in green steel, transport, and shipping fuels.

Despite this ambition, the sector faces early-stage barriers. Across Africa, only about 1% of green hydrogen projects reach Final Investment Decision (FID), reflecting systemic constraints including a high weighted average cost of capital, demand uncertainty, regulatory gaps, and infrastructure limitations. Bridging the gap between political ambition and bankable projects requires concerted efforts to prepare an investment-ready pipeline and mobilize concessional and blended finance at scale.

Against this challenge, GGGI Kenya has been supporting the Government of Kenya, through the National Treasury as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) National Designated Authority (NDA) and MoEP, in operationalizing the Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap. Building on prior work under the Korea Green New Deal Trust Fund (KGNDTF), GGGI is now advancing a bankable green hydrogen project pipeline toward GCF financing. This requires the preparation of a GCF Concept Note, project pitch materials for high-level investor engagement and a subsequent Project Preparation Facility (PPF) proposal to unlock full funding proposal development.

To advance this workstream, GGGI seeks to engage an individual consultant to provide dedicated technical support to the GGGI Kenya country team and its government counterparts throughout this critical preparatory phase.

Objectives of the assignment

The primary objective of this consultancy is to support GGGI Kenya and the Government of Kenya in advancing a bankable green hydrogen project pipeline toward GCF financing. This includes: (i) convening a stakeholder inception process with the NDA and key hydrogen actors; (ii) developing a GCF Concept Note for a GGGI-supported green hydrogen project; (iii) preparing project pitch materials and providing content support for the Africa Green Investment Forum (AGIF); and (iv) supporting the preparation of a GCF Project Preparation Facility (PPF) proposal.

SCOPE OF WORK AND KEY ACTIVITIES

Work Package 1. Inception and Stakeholder Engagement: The objective of this work package is to establish the strategic direction of the assignment through a coordinated inception process with the National Treasury (as GCF NDA) and key green hydrogen stakeholders, and to translate the resulting alignment into a clear work plan for the consultancy.

• Sub-activity 1.1. Inception Meeting with Hydrogen Stakeholders: The Consultant shall support the design, preparation, and facilitation of an inception meeting with the National Treasury and key green hydrogen stakeholders, including MoEP, EPRA, KenGen, project developers, development finance institutions, and international organizations. Responsibilities include preparing the agenda and background note, coordinating logistics in collaboration with GGGI and the NDA, developing presentation materials, and capturing stakeholder inputs. The meeting shall confirm the shared strategic direction for GCF engagement on green hydrogen.
• Sub-activity 1.2. Inception Report: The Consultant shall prepare a comprehensive Inception Report that establishes the strategic roadmap for the consultancy. The report shall detail the methodological approach, the proposed structure for all subsequent deliverables, a timeline including specific reporting milestones, key risks and mitigation measures, and confirmation of the work plan — reflecting inputs and consensus from the inception meeting.

Work Package 2. GCF Concept Note Development: The objective of this work package is to develop a robust GCF Concept Note for a GGGI-supported green hydrogen project in Kenya, in line with GCF programming priorities and Kenya's Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap.

• Sub-activity 2.1. Draft GCF Concept Note: The Consultant shall draft the GCF Concept Note using the official GCF template, covering all required sections: project rationale and theory of change, alignment with Kenya's NDCs and the GCF investment framework, indicative financing structure and instruments, expected mitigation and adaptation impacts, project components and activities, key stakeholders and implementation arrangements, and preliminary risk assessment.
• Sub-activity 2.2. Stakeholder Consultation and Revision: The Consultant shall consolidate feedback from the National Treasury (NDA), MoEP, GGGI, and other key stakeholders through iterative consultations, and revise the Concept Note accordingly. The finalized version shall be ready for NDA endorsement and submission to the GCF Secretariat

Work Package 3. Project Pitching Deck and AGIF Content Support: The objective of this work package is to prepare high-quality project pitch materials for the GGGI-supported green hydrogen project and to provide content-level support for Kenya's participation in the Africa Green Investment Forum (AGIF), scheduled for late October 2026. Event logistics will be handled by the National Treasury; the Consultant's role is limited to content support.

• Sub-activity 3.1. Project Pitching Deck: The Consultant shall develop an investor-facing pitching deck for the GGGI-supported green hydrogen project, tailored for both concessional and commercial audiences. The deck shall cover the value proposition, market opportunity, technical concept, financing structure, expected impacts (climate, socio-economic, gender), risk-return profile, and asks.
• Sub-activity 3.2. AGIF Content Support: The Consultant shall provide content-level support for Kenya's participation in the Africa Green Investment Forum (AGIF), including preparation of talking points, speaker briefing notes, and post-event follow-up briefs. The Consultant's scope is strictly content development.
• Sub-activity 3.3. AGIF Event Report: Following AGIF, the Consultant shall prepare a concise event report capturing outcomes, key investor and partner engagements, follow-up actions, and strategic implications for the GCF Concept Note and PPF Proposal.

Work Package 4. GCF Project Preparation Facility (PPF) Proposal and Final Report: The objective of this work package is to support the preparation of a GCF PPF Proposal to unlock funding for the full development of the green hydrogen Funding Proposal, and to consolidate the overall output of the consultancy in a Final Report.

• Sub-activity 4.1. PPF Proposal Drafting Support: The Consultant shall support the drafting of a GCF PPF Proposal, including the scope of studies to be financed, indicative work plan and budget, terms of reference for expected studies (technical, economic, financial, environmental and social, gender), implementation arrangements, and expected outputs. The proposal shall build on the Concept Note and reflect strategic input from AGIF and stakeholder consultations.
• Sub-activity 4.2. Final Report: The Consultant shall prepare a Final Report consolidating the outcomes of all work packages, including a narrative of activities delivered, key outputs, lessons learned, and recommendations for follow-up actions on the GCF Concept Note and PPF Proposal pipeline. All technical papers, reports, and other documents produced during the assignment shall be attached to the Final Report.

Cross-Cutting Support. Ongoing Green Hydrogen Project Development Support: Throughout the assignment period, the Consultant shall provide ad-hoc technical and analytical support to GGGI Kenya on green hydrogen project development activities as required. This may include, but is not limited to, targeted research, review of technical documents, contribution to concept development for pipeline projects, support to donor and partner engagement, and inputs to strategic communications. This cross-cutting support is not tied to a specific deliverable and shall be coordinated with the GGGI project team on a rolling basis.

Deliverables and Payment schedule

GGGI requires the services of a qualified Consultant to deliver four work packages, culminating in four principal deliverables that will unlock progressive access to GCF financing for a GGGI-supported green hydrogen project in Kenya. The Consultant will work in close coordination with the GGGI Kenya project team, the National Treasury and MoEP throughout the assignment.

Notes:

• The Consultant is to provide his/her own equipment to produce all deliverables.
• The Consultant shall submit the report in electronic versions readable by MS Office application.
• All outputs must be in English.
• The Inception Report must be approved by the GGGI project coordinator and project manager. The Consultant shall submit the Inception Report which should include the proposed structure for all subsequent deliverables, a timeline including specific reporting milestones, and confirmation of the work plan.
• The Consultant's work progress will be monitored primarily through periodic review meetings, the precise schedule of which is to be determined based on consultation with the Consultant.
• The Consultant shall submit the Final Report which should reflect the outcome of all activities prepared by the consultant.
• All relevant technical papers, reports, and other documents prepared from the start to the end of the assignment shall be attached to the Final Report.
• The Final Report must be approved by the GGGI project coordinator and project manager. The Consultant shall consider the comments and necessary revisions proposed. Within 14 days from the receipt of the comments or modification proposal from GGGI, the Consultant shall prepare and submit the final versions of the report.

OUTPUT / DELIVERABLE

PERCENTAGE

OF MAXIMUM AMOUNT

DUE DATE

Inception Report (incorporating outcomes of the inception meeting with the NDA and hydrogen stakeholders)

25%

Within one (1) month after the beginning of the consultancy

GCF Concept Note for the GGGI-supported green hydrogen project (final, incorporating NDA and stakeholder feedback)

25%

Within three (3) months after the beginning of the consultancy

Project Pitching Deck and AGIF Event Report (including speaker briefs and follow-up notes)

25%

Within three (6) months after the beginning of the consultancy

GCF PPF Proposal (draft) and Final Report consolidating all outputs of the assignment

25%

Within one (1) month before the end of the consultancy

Expertise required

Education and Experience

• Advanced degree (Master's or equivalent) in Climate Finance, Economics, Environmental Science, Public Policy, Energy Policy, Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of professional experience in climate finance, project development, or related technical advisory, with demonstrable engagement in energy, hydrogen, or industrial decarbonization sectors.
• Proven experience in developing GCF Concept Notes, PPF Proposals, or Funding Proposals, or comparable proposals for other multilateral climate funds (e.g., Adaptation Fund, GEF, CIF).
• Demonstrated experience in preparing investor-facing project pitch materials, financial structuring for blended-finance transactions, or project pipeline development in the renewable energy sector.
• Experience engaging with National Designated Authorities, development finance institutions, and private sector actors in emerging markets.
• Understanding of the Kenyan energy and climate finance context, including the Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, EPRA hydrogen guidelines, and National Treasury GCF programming is highly desirable.
• Experience in preparing, facilitating, and collecting inputs/feedback from multi-stakeholder consultations and workshops.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required, with strong analytical and report-writing skills.

Functional

• A proactive attitude, with an ability to find workable solutions promptly.
• Punctual, professional, and ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with multicultural and interdisciplinary staff.
• Ability to independently synthesize complex legal, regulatory, and technical data into concise concept notes and policy advisories.
• Corporate
• Understands and actively supports GGGI’s mission, vision, and values.
• Commits to team goals and works effectively across the organization with individuals of different views, cultures, nationality, gender, and age.
• Excellent problem solver.
• Exemplifies the highest standard of honesty, integrity, and professionalism.

Administrative information

In order to be considered for the position, the candidate must meet the minimum qualification listed below. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the evaluation criteria factor below. Please note that only shortlisted/finalist applicants will be interviewed or contacted. GGGI does not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews unless expenses are pre-authorized. Reference checks will be conducted on those candidates selected for an interview. The applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities.

Interviews may be requested. Applicants are required to prepare a brief narrative demonstrating how prior experience and/or education and training address selection criteria factors listed below:

• Professional Competency (10 points): At least a Master’s degree in Climate Finance, Economics, Environmental Science, Public Policy, Energy Policy, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience (40 points): A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in climate finance, project development, or related technical advisory. Proven track record in developing GCF Concept Notes, PPF Proposals, or Funding Proposals (or equivalent multilateral climate fund proposals). Prior experience engaging with NDAs, ministries of energy or finance, and DFIs is highly desirable.
• Communication (10 points): Strong ability to communicate in multi-stakeholder consultations, both written and verbally, in English. Previous experience preparing technical reports (e.g., concept notes, proposals), policy advisories, or investor-facing pitch materials for government, private sector, and development finance partners is essential.
• Technical Knowledge (40 points): Demonstrated understanding and practical experience in climate finance instruments, GCF programming, and blended-finance structuring. Working knowledge of the green hydrogen value chain and/or industrial decarbonization is essential. Familiarity with the Kenyan energy and climate finance context, including the Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, EPRA hydrogen guidelines, and National Treasury GCF programming, is highly desirable.

Maximum Points Available: 100

At GGGI’s discretion, reference checks and interviews shall be conducted as part of the evaluation process.

Applicants must also include in their application package as follows:

1. A cover letter of no more than 2 pages demonstrates how the candidate’s qualifications meet the work requirements.
2. A curriculum vitae of no more than 3 pages which, to a minimum, describes education, the latest experience and career achievements.
3. Names, current and accurate contract numbers (email and phone) of three professional references that have knowledge of the applicant’s abilities to perform the duties set forth in the solicitation.

All of the above information must be included in the application package in order for the package to be considered complete.

Interest candidates should send the above information directly in the link https://careers.gggi.org/vacancy/

Application submitted after the deadline will not be considered Application. Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English. A consortium may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.