Support research on Strategic Engagement

Coral reefs are some of the most biodiverse, ecologically complex, and valuable ecosystems on the planet. Supporting a quarter of marine species globally, reefs provide vital ecosystem services valued at $2.7 trillion annually including food security, coastal protection, and livelihoods for more than one billion people globally. Despite their immense value, coral reefs are Earth’s most endangered ecosystems. Without urgent action and scaled resources, coral reefs could face extinction by 2050 as a result of climate change and local drivers of degradation. The Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) is a blended finance mechanism designed to address the SDG14 funding gap and support implementation of the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework. Taking a science-based approach, this United Nations multi-partner initiative focuses on reducing local drivers of degradation in reef ecosystems that exhibit resilience to climate change (i.e., climate refugia). To facilitate blue economic transition the GFCR, with the support of the Green Climate Fund, incubates and scales investable pipelines that accelerate climate resilience for both marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Investable solutions supported by the Fund include sustainable revenue streams for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), sustainable ocean production (i.e., fisheries and aquaculture), plastic recycling, waste and sewage management, blue carbon credits, as well as sustainable agriculture and eco-tourism. By scaling sustainable revenue streams to save reefs from the brink of extinction, the GFCR supports long-term ocean conservation aims, tackles food insecurity, and mobilises capital for climate adaptation and mitigation.

This role will be situated within the UN Global Team of the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), a multi-partner initiative convened by United Nations Capital Development Fund, United Nations Development Programme, and United Nations Environment Programme. GFCR works to help protect coral reef ecosystems and support the coastal communities that depend on them, through innovative financing, partnerships, and on-the-ground implementation. Coral reefs are among the most economically valuable ecosystems globally, contributing an estimated USD 9.9 trillion annually through ecosystem services such as fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection. However, financing for reef conservation remains fragmented and insufficient relative to this value. GFCR has been established to help address this gap by mobilising and blending public, philanthropic, and private capital to support reef-positive solutions at scale. Within this broader context, the GFCR operates as both: A UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund providing catalytic grant financing; and A broader investment platform working with partners to unlock additional private and impact investment into reef-positive sectors such as sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, wastewater management, and circular economy solutions. The volunteer contribution will support ongoing efforts to strengthen this integrated approach. This includes advancing elements of GFCR’s seascape-based model, which links science, policy, delivery systems, and finance to enable scalable and sustainable interventions across priority coral reef geographies. The volunteer’s work will contribute to one or more of the following organizational priorities: Strengthening the science–policy–finance continuum, ensuring that reef conservation priorities are translated into actionable and investable opportunities; Supporting resource mobilisation and partnership development, including engagement with governments, donors, and private sector actors; Enhancing knowledge products, communications, and strategic materials, which are used to inform high-level decision-making and global advocacy; Contributing to the development of innovative financing mechanisms and investment pipelines aligned with sustainable ocean economy objectives. To successfully contribute to this assignment, the volunteer should be aware that GFCR: Operates through a multi-stakeholder partnership model, involving governments, UN agencies, financial institutions, and civil society; Focuses on climate-resilient coral reefs with the potential to serve as long-term ecological “bio-banks”; Emphasizes blended finance approaches, combining grants with concessional and private capital to de-risk investments; Works primarily in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal developing countries, where reefs are central to livelihoods and economic resilience; Aligns its work with global frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG14 (Life Below Water). The volunteer will therefore be contributing to a high-impact, globally coordinated effort aimed at closing the gap between the ecological importance of coral reefs and the financial systems required to sustain them. Their work will directly support the development of scalable solutions that link conservation outcomes with economic opportunity and long-term resilience.

We are looking for 5 of Online Volunteers who have experience in research with excellent writing skills. The task will include the following responsibilities: - Discuss and determine parameters for the research - Identify and gather sources - Conduct research - Develop a short report on the findings The average estimated workload is expected to include roughly reviewing 8 documents (these can include articles, studies, etc.) throughout the assignment duration. The Online Volunteer/s will have the opportunity to build connections with the GFCR Secretariat and learn about how research on innovative environmental finance can support resource mobilisation and knowledge building.