Nigerian-American Tariye Gbadegesin leads a global $11 billion investment fund to finance climate mitigation projects in 72 developing countries.
Global temperatures have risen by approximately 1.1°C since pre-industrial times, with two-thirds of this warming occurring since 1975. This increase has led to more frequent and intense extreme weather events, such as heat waves, torrential rainfall, flash floods, droughts and severe storms. The warming climate has also been linked to the growing frequency and severity of wildfires, as seen in recent events across various regions.
Despite contributing the least to global emissions, Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change. The Sahel, Horn of Africa, and other parts of Southern Africa are experiencing prolonged droughts, reducing arable land and water availability. Furthermore, rising sea levels threaten West African coastal cities like Lagos and Accra, while extreme rainfall causes flash floods in East Africa.
Experts estimate that approximately $2.7 trillion is needed annually until 2030 to combat these climate challenges effectively, yet only about $1.3 trillion is currently available. The climate finance gap disproportionately impacts regions like Africa, which requires between $166 billion and $260 billion annually to adapt to existing climate effects.
Instead of merely discussing the problem, Tariye Gbadegesin is actively seeking solutions. Officially appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) in March 2024, she has led efforts to advance climate-friendly initiatives and mobilise financial resources for impactful solutions.
Gbadegesin’s leadership at CIF
Gbadegesin is the first African woman to lead CIF, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Her career spans major global institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investments, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Guinness, where she helped mobilise over $3 billion for infrastructure projects throughout Africa.
Since taking on the CEO role in one of the world’s largest climate finance mechanisms, Tariye Gbadegesin has led initiatives that actively address the climate crisis. In 2024, she secured a significant deal that increased CIF’s funding capacity to over $11 billion, facilitating investment in climate solutions across more than 70 developing countries. In addition, she promotes inclusivity by expanding CIF’s board to include representatives from underrepresented nations such as Benin, Chad, and Dominica.
The business leader spearheaded the creation of the Capital Markets Mechanism (CCMM) to engage capital markets and attract private investments to enhance climate finance in emerging economies. In early 2025, CIF issued its inaugural $500 million climate bond to support clean energy projects, battery storage, and coal transition efforts. This established CIF as the first multilateral climate fund to use capital markets in this manner.
Her office has also witnessed the CIF’s approval of $34 million for climate resilience and clean energy projects in Zambia. They also allocated nearly $300 million for nature-based solutions, renewable energy integration, and fossil fuel transition projects across key regions, including Kenya, Brazil, India, and the Dominican Republic. Additionally, they endorsed $860 million in concessional finance to support African countries.
Tariye Gbadegesin also advocates for strategies that ensure all communities benefit from climate initiatives, especially those most impacted by environmental degradation.
Drawing from her experience, she actively involves private investors in climate finance and co-chairs the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) to enhance high-integrity carbon markets. CIF has also strengthened its collaboration with key multilateral development banks such as the World Bank, African Development Bank (AFDB), and Asian Development Bank to improve funding for green infrastructure.
