The Project
The Brazil Program is a strategic partnership between C40 Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM), funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, to accelerate the implementation of climate action across Brazilian cities. The program aims to unlock delivery at scale by identifying and preparing high-impact, finance-ready urban climate projects while strengthening the institutional frameworks that support long-term transformation. It combines on-the-ground implementation with targeted support to federal and multilevel governance, leveraging Brazil’s growing climate ambition and the opportunity presented by COP30 in Belém.
Over the next two years, the program will engage at least 50 cities, supporting them to move from planning to action through data-driven project identification, readiness assessments, and capacity-building. At least 20 priority actions—particularly in sustainable transport and waste—will be prepared for implementation, with a strong focus on financial viability, social inclusion, and emissions impact. These efforts will be complemented by cross-cutting strategies on climate budgeting, just transition, and strengthened data ecosystems. Working in close coordination with federal actors and national city networks, the program will create the enabling conditions for long-term, replicable investment in urban climate solutions across Brazil.
Alongside implementation, the program will leverage Brazil’s leadership in global climate diplomacy to elevate city voices, strengthen and establish a model of multilevel coordination for other countries, and integrate local action into the international climate agendas. With COP30 in Belém, the initiative brings visibility to the urban Amazon, supporting practical solutions in cities facing deep socio-economic and environmental challenges. It will also showcase CHAMP in action, using Brazil’s COP30 Presidency and co-chair role in the NDC Partnership to promote the inclusion of subnational contributions in NDCs. By advancing Climate Federalism and amplifying mayoral leadership—especially from the Amazon—the program aims to inspire globally just, inclusive, and locally driven climate action.
Finance component outcomes
Context setting
Despite the increasing availability of climate finance, Brazilian cities continue to face significant barriers in accessing and effectively deploying funds. Without adequate local capacity and stronger integration with national strategies, municipalities struggle to transform their climate plans into bankable, investable projects.
Intended Outcome
Twenty projects across Brazilian cities implement successful pathways to finance (via Brazil CHAMP Finance Working Group)
Program delivery to achieve the outcome:
Strengthen cities’ capacity and access to financial resources for urban projects through a convergent approach with technical and financial cooperation institutions. This includes positioning the Brazil Working Group (WG) on Local Climate Finance as the finance arm of CHAMP in Brazil and engaging with its members such as WRI to support the Network of Financial Institutions —particularly regional development banks— in overcoming financing barriers faced by cities. This will be done through a 3 pillar approach. All 3 pillars will feed in a structured approach to inform the MMA-WB-Gap Fund partnership work to ensure the voice of cities are included into the effort to consolidate PCVR as a subnational climate finance accelerator.
The City Finance Programme
C40’s City Finance Programme works to address a range of municipal climate finance challenges, at different stages of project maturity, and across major urban infrastructure groups: clean energy, zero-carbon buildings, transportation, waste and climate adaptation & resilience. By scaling up investment in these areas, and simultaneously divesting from fossil fuels, mayors are creating safer, healthier and more economically sustainable communities for the current and future residents of their cities. The team’s strategic focus is on strengthening city financial capacity, increasing the supply of climate finance and funding available to cities, facilitating engagement with finance providers, and building enabling environments that support urban climate investment. The core City Finance Programme team oversees and/or coordinates with special projects and initiatives within C40 that also have a finance focus, including ZEBRA, Laneshift, C40 Cities Finance Facility, UrbanShift, Climate Budgeting Pilot Project, and others.
The City Finance Programme’s transportation finance portfolio emphasises clean bus and freight technologies, and has potential to expand to additional strategic areas including walking & cycling, public transport improvement, clean air zones, vehicle charging infrastructure, and others.
The Brazil CHAMP Finance Working Group (WG) is a key part of the finance workstream of CHAMP (Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships) in Brazil. Partners currently include World Bank Brazil, GIZ-Brazil, C40xGCoM, WRI-Brazil, IDFC and the CCFLA Brazil Local Hub. The WG supports the Brazilian federal government in implementing climate federalism and the CHAMP pledge by coordinating among partners to increase the complementarity and effectiveness of each member’s individual programs aimed at increasing the finance and implementation of climate-relevant projects in Brazilian cities.
The WG is initially focused on supporting the development of funding and financing solutions for city investments aligned with the Green and Resilient Cities Program (Programa Cidades Verdes Resilientes (PCVR)), with the broader goal of strengthening cities’ access to finance for investments that meet the full range of federal climate priorities.
Scope:
The Senior Manager, CHAMP-Brazil Finance will be a key member of the C40’s City Finance Programme team and will lead the delivery of the finance workstream under the Brazil Program. This role will focus on strengthening Brazilian cities’ capacity and access to financial resources for urban climate projects through a cooperative approach among technical and financial institutions.
The role will report to the Director of City Finance and work with the wider City Finance and Regional Mayoral Engagement teams, to set the Finance strategy for this grant programme. The role will be supervised by the Head of Implementation, who will ensure coordination with the other technical workstreams (data, finance, waste, transport, climate budgeting and inclusive climate action) and will work along with the Head of Engagement, who will be responsible for the city and national government engagements.
The post-holder will work closely with C40 and GCoM teams, CHAMP Brazil Finance Working Group members, federal and city authorities, technical consultants and financiers to unlock climate finance for subnational governments in Brazil by strengthening multilevel coordination and identifying actionable pathways to structure and access funding for transformative local projects.
Responsibilities and Deliverables:
Required experience:
Essential:
Desirable:
Please note that this is a consultancy opportunity, therefore the successful individual will be liable to pay their own taxes, in accordance with relevant legislation in Brazil.
Additional Requirements
Applicants need a legal right to work in Brazil. Occasional international and domestic travel may be required.
Reporting To: City Finance Programme Director
Term: Fixed Term until 31st May 2027
Location: Brazil - Please note that if your right to work in the listed location is not confirmed at the time of applying, C40 will be unable to proceed with your application.
Salary: (Grade 3) (IC) USD $76,745 gross per annum - Due to its commitment to maintain equity and fairness, C40 operates on a spot salary model. This means that our employees are paid the same salary according to their grade and location.
Application Process:
To apply, please submit a curriculum vitae and cover letter.
The closing date for receipt of applications is Tuesday 2nd September 2025 at 5pm BST. C40 reserves the right to close this job opening before the closing date for applications so please do submit applications early.
To learn more about the work of C40 and our cities, please visit www.c40.org, follow us on Twitter @c40cities, and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/C40Cities.
For any queries about the role, please contact [email protected]
C40 is an equal opportunity employer.
About C40 Cities
C40 is a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities, who are working to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis, and create a future where everyone, everywhere can thrive. Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using a science-based and people-focused approach to help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. Through a Global Green New Deal, mayors are working alongside a broad coalition of representatives from labour, business, the youth climate movement and civil society to go further and faster than ever before.
C40’s team of 400+ staff is based in offices in London, in New York, Johannesburg, Singapore, Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Copenhagen, Beijing and Paris, and individual staff based across 25+ different locations.
The strategic direction of the organisation is determined by an elected Steering Committee of C40 mayors, which is chaired by Mayor Sadiq Khan of London and Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown. Three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the C40 Board of Directors, responsible for operational oversight. A regionally diverse management team, led by Executive Director Mark Watts, leads the day-to-day management of C40. C40’s three core strategic funders are Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and Realdania.
Our international staff work with the C40 network under the leadership of city governments to deliver this mission. Using a data-driven approach, our team identifies and promotes the exchange of proven programmes and policies developed by cities; provides world-class research, technical expertise and access to key partners to deliver new programmes and policies with cities; and communicates cities’ individual achievements and collective leadership.
About The Global Covenant of Mayors For Climate & Energy
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM or Global Covenant), is a global coalition of cities and local governments with a shared long-term vision of promoting and supporting voluntary action to combat climate change and move to a low-carbon, resilient society. The alliance unites and inspires its stakeholders to strengthen global climate coherence, accelerate the energy transition, and generate locally-tailored solutions for a common purpose: creating an inclusive, just, low-emission, and climate-resilient future for all.
Co-chaired by former New York City Mayor and UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions, Michael R. Bloomberg, and European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, and with the support of global and regional city networks, the Global Covenant of Mayors represents the strongest and clearest signal to national governments that cities are not only acting to stop the effects of climate change, they are leading and leading together. Mayors from across all global regions serve on the Board, and represent city networks, Regional Covenants and bring locally specific perspectives – ensuring that the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy is truly led by mayors.
C40 Cities is the fiscal sponsor of the Bloomberg Philanthropies funded parts of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM). As the host organization, C40 provides financial, administrative, and operational services to GCoM. C40 and GCoM are working closely together on aligned programmes and areas of activity.
Diversity Statement
C40 is committed to supporting and promoting equity and diversity and creating an inclusive working environment for everyone. We believe that when people with different life experiences are involved in decision-making, we deliver better.
We believe having a diverse workforce ensures we connect better with all the different communities and people affected by the climate crisis. This enables us to make better decisions which lead to better outcomes in the work we do through increased creativity, productivity, greater global impact alongside a broader perspective and approach to our work.
We welcome applicants who are diverse in terms of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity and perspective. Our goal is for C40 to be an environment where everyone, from any background, can flourish and can be themselves whilst contributing to our mission. If you identify as a person with a disability, we work to provide reasonable appropriate measures and any additional support needed to provide an equitable working experience. If you are living with a disability, chronic illness or neurodiversity please inform us, to provide you with the proper assistance in the application process.
C40 promotes a work culture where staff can input to improve equity, diversity and inclusion through staff-led groups and formal forums. We know that creating our ideal working environment is a learning process and we are committed to the ongoing effort.