Kikang Bae
Team Leader, Strategic Planning Team, Asian Forest Cooperation Organization
Seoul,11
Summary
Climate and forest specialist with over 12 years of experience in designing, appraising, implementing, and monitoring public-sector climate and forest projects across Asia. Proven track record in country engagement, project origination, portfolio management, and resource mobilization, including development and review of concept notes and funding proposals aligned with international climate finance standards. Lead AFoCO’s organizational strategy, donor relations, and partnerships with governments, multilateral agencies (FAO, IUCN, UNEP), MDBs, and private sector entities. Manage major regional platforms including the Landscape Partnership Asia (LPA) Secretariat and the Friends of Asia and Asian Forests (FAAF), working with NDAs, AEs, philanthropic funds, and corporate ESG teams. Experienced in project cycle management, readiness programming, adaptive management, analytical review, and coordination of inter-divisional teams—competencies directly aligned with GCF’s investment, monitoring, and portfolio management requirements.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Team Leader, Strategic Planning Team
Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO)
01.2023 - Current
- Portfolio Management & Project Oversight
- Provide analytical and operational oversight for AFoCO’s project portfolio across Member Countries, including project origination, design review, appraisal, and monitoring.
- Review and assess project concept notes and proposals (public-sector and mixed financing) for technical feasibility, climate rationale, alignment with national priorities, and resource mobilization potential—mirroring GCF’s investment criteria.
- Lead adaptive management processes including revisions to implementation plans, logical frameworks, and budgets.
- Country Engagement & Readiness
- Lead institutional engagement with national forestry ministries (de facto NDAs for forestry), development partners, UN agencies, and regional organizations.
- Support countries in identifying pipeline ideas, strengthening institutional capacity, and enhancing readiness for climate and forest financing.
- Coordinate LPA Secretariat activities involving multi-country planning, partner convening, and proposal development.
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Results Management
- Oversee monitoring frameworks, progress tracking, and results reporting for AFoCO programs—directly relevant to GCF’s IRMF and Monitoring & Accountability Framework.
- Produce analytical reports, impact assessments, portfolio summaries, and donor reports.
- Interdivisional Coordination & Leadership
- Coordinate across technical, finance, communications, and operations units to ensure quality project preparation and smooth implementation.
- Provide supervision, mentoring, and guidance to staff; lead consultant recruitment.
- Partnerships & Resource Mobilization
- Identify, assess, and cultivate partnerships with MDBs, UN agencies, private sector investors, and philanthropic entities.
- Lead AFoCO’s Resource Mobilization Strategy aligned with AFoCO Strategic Plan (2024–2030).
Program Officer – Project Development & Evaluation
AFoCO
05.2018 - 12.2022
- Designed, reviewed, and appraised project concept notes and full proposals submitted by 15 Member Countries.
- Developed project guidelines, appraisal frameworks, and evaluation methodologies.
- Conducted technical reviews similar to GCF CN/FP assessment: climate rationale, feasibility, cost-effectiveness, risks, safeguards, gender considerations.
- Coordinated expert panels for project appraisal (similar to interdivisional GCF reviews).
- Led M&E assessments, mid-term reviews, and lessons-learned studies across regional portfolios.
Project Manager – Education & Training Programs
ASEAN-ROK Forest Cooperation (AFoCo)
07.2015 - 04.2018
- Designed and delivered regional-level forestry and climate capacity development programs across Asia.
- Supported readiness-style training for climate/forest planning and implementation.
National Consultant
FAO
01.2015 - 07.2015
- Analyzed integrated forest policy, rehabilitation strategies, and livelihood impacts, producing an FAO technical report.
- Contributed evidence-based inputs to national forest development strategies.
International Cooperation Officer
Korea Forest Service
07.2013 - 06.2015
- Coordinated the ASEAN–ROK Forest Cooperation (AFoCo) projects as part of the government’s international cooperation agenda.
- Worked for the establishment of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), supporting intergovernmental negotiation processes.
- Served as spokesperson of the Republic of Korea on matters related to AFoCo cooperation and coordination.
Researcher
National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS)
09.2008 - 06.2009
- Conducted research on climate adaptation frameworks and forestry strategies.
Intern
FAO Asia-Pacific Regional Office
03.2008 - 09.2008
- Supported restoration project analyses and technical documentation.
Education
Ph.D. - Forest & Natural Resources Management
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
USAM.Sc. - Forest Environment
Seoul National University
Republic of KoreaB.Sc. - Forest Environment
Seoul National University
Republic of KoreaSkills
Project development (Logical frameworks, theory of change)
Accomplishments
- Led appraisal and review of over 50+ project concepts/proposals across forestry, adaptation, livelihoods, and ecosystem restoration.
- Managed multi-country program monitoring frameworks and produced results reports analogous to GCF portfolio performance reports.
- Built and coordinated regional partnerships involving governments, UN agencies, MDBs, and private sector.
- Co-developed climate-relevant project pipelines under AFoCO and LPA, supporting countries in readiness-like capacity building.
- Facilitated mobilization of new funding sources (public, private, philanthropic) for climate-resilient forestry initiatives.
- Represented AFoCO in international climate and forest events, promoting institutional priorities and strengthening government relationships.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Project Origination & Appraisal (Concept Notes, Funding Proposals)
- Portfolio Management & Adaptive Management
- Country Engagement with NDAs, AEs, Line Ministries
- Readiness & Capacity Development
- Climate Finance (GCF, GEF, bilateral donors, philanthropic funds)
- Analytical Review, Monitoring & Results Reporting (IRMF/logframes/M&E)
- Multi-stakeholder Partnership Coordination
- Strategic Planning & Policy Analysis
- Donor Relations & Negotiation
- Team Leadership & Staff Capacity Building
Timeline
Team Leader, Strategic Planning Team
Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO)
01.2023 - Current
Program Officer – Project Development & Evaluation
AFoCO
05.2018 - 12.2022
Project Manager – Education & Training Programs
ASEAN-ROK Forest Cooperation (AFoCo)
07.2015 - 04.2018
National Consultant
FAO
01.2015 - 07.2015
International Cooperation Officer
Korea Forest Service
07.2013 - 06.2015
Researcher
National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS)
09.2008 - 06.2009
Intern
FAO Asia-Pacific Regional Office
03.2008 - 09.2008
M.Sc. - Forest Environment
Seoul National University
B.Sc. - Forest Environment
Seoul National University
Ph.D. - Forest & Natural Resources Management
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)