Co-designing Energy Transition Impact Funds for the Global South

The Gilas Fellowship Program is an exciting opportunity for motivated graduate students eager to gain hands-on experience in social finance, impact investing, and sustainable energy transitions. This fellowship offers the chance to enhance your professional skills, expand your portfolio, and forge valuable connections within the global development community, all while working toward a just energy transition in the Global South. Fellows will join the Social Finance Lab to co-design country-specific Energy Transition Impact Funds that catalyze funding and support for renewable energy infrastructure in emerging markets. The Afterglow Climate Justice Fund is one example of a fund in this category.

As a Fellow, you’ll be at the forefront of impact fund design, engaging country-level stakeholders and the Social Finance Lab team. You’ll have opportunities to collaborate with local partners, contribute to the fund’s technical and strategic vision, and potentially co-manage a fund that attracts both concessional and private capital. Fellows will design innovative financial structures, build cross-sector partnerships, and ensure fund solutions align with the unique energy transition needs of your selected country. We encourage Fellows to form small teams, creating a rich peer-learning environment within the cohort.

Your Role May Include:

• Fund Design and Strategy: Collaborate on the technical strategy for an Energy Transition Impact Fund, focusing on renewable energy projects and sustainable deployment models.

• Financial Structuring: Work with Social Finance Lab experts and investors to design financial products that attract investment in renewable energy projects.

• Project Due Diligence: Support technical and impact assessments of renewable energy projects, ensuring each aligns with key impact metrics.

• Partnership Building: Engage with government, industry, and community stakeholders to co-create policies and frameworks that de-risk projects and foster concessional capital investment.

• Portfolio Development: Lead the creation of a pipeline of scalable projects, guiding them from concept to deployment.

• Technical Engagement: Act as a key technical representative, collaborating with regulatory bodies, investors, and diverse partners.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Passionate about renewable energy, impact investing, and social finance, with at least 2-3 years of relevant professional experience.

• Strong foundational skills in finance, engineering, sustainable development, or policy design.

• A track record of leadership in entrepreneurial settings or cross-functional projects, especially within renewable energy, finance, or venture creation.

• Ability to drive projects from concept to completion, balancing technical understanding with strategic vision.

• Knowledge in emerging markets, B2B energy solutions, rural development, or agriculture is a plus.

What You’ll Gain:

• Professional Growth: Receive guidance from the Social Finance Lab on engaging with concessional and venture capital networks.

• Global Connections: Build partnerships with renewable energy leaders, investors, and policy makers.

• Hands-on Mentorship: Learn from experienced practitioners in social finance, energy transition, and impact investing.

Be a catalyst for change. Lead sustainable energy initiatives and contribute to a brighter future with the Gilas Fellowship Program.