Mafalda Duarte is the executive director of the Green Climate Fund,[1] the largest multilateral climate fund in the world.[2] Duarte previously worked at the African Development Bank and World Bank,[3] and has served as CEO of the Climate Investment Funds, managing a portfolio of investments for over 70 countries.[1] She was considered one of the "100 Most Influential Climate Leaders in Business for 2023" by TIME magazine[4][5] and as the third most powerful woman in business in Portugal in 2023 by Forbes Portugal.[6]
Mafalda Duarte | |
|---|---|
 Mafalda Duarte in 2013 | |
| Born | |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Occupation | Climate economist |
| Employer | Green Climate Fund |
Duarte emphasizes the need for funders to be proactive and work collectively to ensure that poorer countries which have little administrative capacity still get access to aid.[7][8][9] She emphasizes the importance of investing in developing nations and including women in decision-making.[10][11]
Early life and education
editDuarte was born in Covilhã, Portugal.[6][12][13] She attended the University of Minho, completing a degree in international relations in 1998.[14][6][15] Duarte then went to the University of Bradford in England, where she completed a Master's degree in international development studies and economics in 2000. In 2007, she earned a Master's degree in economic policy management at Columbia University, specializing in sustainable development and climate change.[16][17]
Career
editDuarte joined the World Bank in 2003, where she worked in a variety of roles. Among her activities, she led the Poverty Reduction Economic Management (PREM) Climate Change Work Program and was involved in developing policy and analyzing climate resilience. Duarte joined the African Development Bank in 2010, serving as a Principal Climate Change Specialist and later as Climate Finance Manager.[17] She was involved in developing policy and managing climate-related portfolios.[3] Upon visiting Asia and sub-Saharan Africa and witnessing firsthand the impacts of climate change, she became committed to climate action. [18]
As of 2014, Duarte became CEO of the Climate Investment Funds, with an $8.3 billion portfolio of investments involving clean energy, sustainability, land management, and resilience. She worked with over 70 middle and low-income countries, many of which are experiencing the impacts of climate change, to encourage climate-smart and resilient economic policies. Duarte worked to direct public finance in ways that would support transition to low-carbon economies.[1][3][19]
As of August 1, 2023, Duarte became the Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund, succeeding Yannick Glemarec and interim director Henry Gonzalez.[20] The Green Climate Fun (GCF) is associated with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and is the main instrument for climate finance under the Paris Agreement. The GCF is the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate finance institution. As Executive Director, Duarte is responsible for a portfolio of more than 200 projects, estimated at USD 42 billion.[1][21] Duarte aims to expand the GCF's climate investments in developing countries that are most affected by climate change, and states the link between social inclusion and climate justice.[4]
"It is essential for both companies and governments to act on the climate promises and commitments they have made. They should formulate clear plans based on science, make these plans public, and subject them to public scrutiny."
— Mafalda Duarte, “The 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders in Business 2023”, Time (2023)
Awards and honors
edit- 2024, Barbara Ward Lecture, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).[22]
Bibliography
editHer publications include Aid policy in war-torn countries : promoting development in conflict situations : the case of Angola (2003)[23] and Distributional impact analysis of past climate variability in rural Indonesia (2009).[24]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Executive Director". Green Climate Fund. 1 August 2023.
- ^ "Green Climate Fund". IFC.
- ^ a b c "Mafalda Duarte Head of the Climate Investment Funds". World Bank Blogs.
- ^ a b "The 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders in Business 2023". Time. 2023.
- ^ Extavour, Marcius (16 November 2023). "How We Chose the Most Influential Climate Leaders in Business". TIME.
- ^ a b c Peralta, Helena C. (6 August 2023). "Mafalda Duarte, a líder portuguesa do Fundo Verde para o Clima". Forbes Portugal (in European Portuguese).
- ^ Civillini, Matteo (19 March 2024). "Green Climate Fund tests new approach for left-out Somali groups". Climate Home News.
- ^ Evans, Lauren (19 January 2024). "Davos Dispatch: What's next for the Green Climate Fund?". Devex. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Green Climate Fund's new head seeks to reach left-out communities". Eco-Business. 5 October 2023.
- ^ Williams, Aime (June 20, 2023). "West faces climate 'hit' if global clean energy push fails, warns fund chief". Financial Times.
- ^ "Portuguesa Mafalda Duarte apontada para liderar o Banco Mundial". Expresso (in Portuguese). 2023-02-17. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Mafalda Duarte appointed Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF)". Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva. 21 June 2023.
- ^ The Europa Directory of International Organizations 2024. Taylor & Francis. 25 July 2024. ISBN 978-1-040-09286-6.
- ^ "Mafalda explica como se gere um fundo que vale €6,7 mil milhões". Jornal Expresso (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Mafalda Duarte, CEO do Green Fund: "Há muito a fazer nas organizações internacionais em matéria de igualdade"". Expresso (in Portuguese). 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Mafalda Duarte". Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP).
- ^ a b "Mafalda Duarte - Executive Director at Green Climate Fund". THE ORG. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ Nations, United. "Mafalda Duarte: Climate finance catalyses change". United Nations. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "Mafalda Duarte, Author at Sostenibilidad". Sostenibilidad. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ Farand, Chloé (14 March 2023). "Mafalda Duarte named as next chief of UN climate fund". Climate Home News.
- ^ "Green Climate Fund names Mafalda Duarte as new Executive Director". Green Climate Fund. 14 Mar 2023. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Barbara Ward Lecture 2024: Mafalda Duarte". International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). 14 May 2024.
- ^ Duarte, Mafalda (2003). Aid policy in war-torn countries: promoting development in conflict situations ; the case of Angola. Lanham, Md.: Univ. Press of America. ISBN 9780761824091.
- ^ Korkeala, Outi; Newhouse, David; Duarte, Mafalda (9 October 2009). Distributional Impact Analysis Of Past Climate Variability In Rural Indonesia. The World Bank.