Tara Climate Foundation is a philanthropic climate foundation dedicated to fostering a future where Asia’s unwavering commitment to climate action paves the way for just, thriving and resilient societies. Tara operates in East, Southeast and South Asia, excluding India and China.
Our mission is to support a diverse group of partners in accelerating Asia’s energy transformation and championing climate action. Tara plays three main roles in the region:
• Grantmaker: Tara works closely with mission-aligned foundations and philanthropists to pool resources and grant funds to organizations working to accelerate Asia’s energy transition and climate action (excluding China and India).
• Convenor: Tara cultivates networks that facilitate the exchange of ideas between business, civil society, and government throughout and beyond Asia.
• Local and regional expert: With strong networks spanning civil society, businesses and government, Tara funds thorough research and analysis to address knowledge gaps, stay abreast of emerging trends, and craft evidence-based strategies to advance our mission.
Since establishing its headquarters in Singapore in 2021, the foundation has provided grants to more than 300 organizations across 13 countries and jurisdictions. Our team of over 40 experts is spread across the Asia-Pacific region, working to combat climate change in this decisive decade.
Over the last 2 years, Tara has experienced significant growth, expanding our funding base to include more than a dozen philanthropic foundations. Currently, we provide grants to over 300 organisations operating across 13 countries and jurisdictions in the Asia region.
Despite heightened global focus on climate issues, philanthropic giving toward climate change initiatives remains disproportionately low, constituting just 2% of worldwide philanthropic giving, with an even smaller percentage allocated to Asia
Purpose of the Job
Tara is a regional granter, primarily focusing on clean energy and climate action across Asia. Their approach involves both national and regional strategies, with country teams focusing on specific political and economic contexts, while the regional team develops strategies for cross-cutting energy issues.
The Senior Strategist for Clean Energy will play a key role in developing and implementing Tara’s overarching clean energy strategy. This will involve leading and developing regional grant-making sub-strategies on key topics, whilst zooming into country level to provide technical advice and support for country leads. The strategist will identify regional opportunities, manage partnerships, and foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders.
This position is crucial to driving Tara’s mission to displace polluting fossil fuels and promote renewable energy and energy efficiency in Asia.
Knowledge of clean energy in the Asian context is important but not essential if candidates can demonstrate excellent strategy development skills and an aptitude for upskilling themselves quickly. While there can be flexibility on the level of geographical or technical experience, candidates with a strong background in renewable energy policy or government/industry experience will be well-suited to the role.
The successful candidate will be someone who understands the barriers to and drivers of clean energy transition, who has a strong ability to develop multifaceted strategies to generate impact. A clear understanding of enabling policy environments and the role of different stakeholders within this bigger picture will be important.
The candidate should be a self-starter who drives forward work independently whilst building collaborative relationships within and outside of the organisation. They must balance being proactive with working constructively alongside country teams.
The clean energy portfolio is a major focus for Tara and has long-term, sustained projects. The candidate will have the opportunity to grow the existing portfolio, building on the existing body of work while also exploring new areas. The role offers significant opportunities for engaging with global networks, travelling, engaging with other climate funders to learn from their best practices and participating in international clean energy forums.
The role may involve overseas travel 3-4 times per year, including global meetings and strategy sessions, with additional opportunities for professional development.
Team and Culture
This role sits in Tara’s regional programme team – a 15-person team comprised of thematic specialists who manage regional programmes and develop regional strategies, covering areas such as clean energy, diplomacy, communications and climate finance. This role will report into Sharon Lo, the Deputy Director, Program Strategy & Insights.
People genuinely love working at Tara and there are many reasons for this. Tara Climate fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported. Team members are highly mission-driven and passionate about tackling climate change, and Tara provides ample opportunities for learning and development.