Mafalda Duarte
Head of the Climate Investment Funds
Mafalda Duarte has spent most of her career living and working in more than 30 developing countries, where in partnership with Governments and other stakeholders she has led the design and implementation of policies, programs and projects that can make a real difference in people’s lives.
Under her leadership the $8.3 billion Climate Investment Funds has doubled down on work to accelerate global action on climate change, from first of its kind investments and innovative, pilot approaches to a strong emphasis on learning and sharing of knowledge and technical expertise. She is currently leading the strategic and policy efforts to take the tried and tested CIF model to the next level, including through new mechanisms to mobilize finance from capital markets.
Recognizing that developing countries are at risk of bearing the brunt of climate change-related impacts – from droughts to floods and the human suffering that comes with them – Mafalda Duarte has made helping countries build climate-smart, resilient economies the focus of her career. This mission has taken on a new level of significance in these challenging times caused by the global pandemic and Duarte is working hard to mobilize the CIF partnership to help ensure that public finance is channeled in ways that will help, not hinder, the transition to low-carbon economies, while equipping communities to better withstand future climate shocks.
Prior to taking the helm at the CIF in 2014, Mafalda led policy and corporate work and managed climate-related portfolios at the African Development Bank and the World Bank.