Mafalda Duarte

CEO, 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, Duarte led policy and corporate
work and managed climate-related portfolios at the African Development Bank
and the World Bank.