AFOLU Expert

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP was established in 1972 and has since grown to encompass a diverse range of initiatives and programs aimed at addressing environmental challenges worldwide. The organization operates in over 150 countries and employs thousands of professionals dedicated to environmental sustainability and climate action. UNEP's mission is to encourage sustainable development through sound environmental practices, and it plays a critical role in coordinating responses to global environmental issues, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Job Overview:
The AFOLU Expert position is a consultancy role aimed at enhancing the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) component of the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Cost Model (GACMO) tool developed by UNEP. The consultant will be responsible for reviewing and updating existing AFOLU mitigation options and technology tables, revising technical and economic parameters, and developing new AFOLU mitigation options based on the latest scientific evidence and internationally recognized methodologies. The role requires a deep understanding of AFOLU-related climate change mitigation strategies and the ability to integrate these into the GACMO tool effectively. The consultant will work closely with the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC) team to ensure that the updates align with the latest IPCC guidelines and international mitigation accounting methodologies. This position is part-time, expected to last for 28 working days, and is home-based, allowing for flexibility in work arrangements.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake several key tasks to fulfill the objectives of this consultancy. These tasks include:

• Reviewing existing AFOLU mitigation options in GACMO, assessing technical assumptions, activity data requirements, emission factors, cost assumptions, and mitigation potential calculations.
• Updating existing AFOLU technology tables by incorporating updated technical and economic parameters, applying the latest scientific literature, and ensuring consistency with IPCC guidelines and other recognized methodologies.
• Developing new AFOLU mitigation options by identifying gaps in the current options and proposing additional measures for inclusion in GACMO. This includes preparing complete technology tables for each selected option, detailing technical descriptions, parameters, activity data, emission reduction methodologies, and associated costs.
• Supporting methodological improvements in GACMO by contributing to the design of enhanced AFOLU functionality, including recommendations on activity data and emission factor approaches.
• Ensuring quality assurance and documentation by preparing technical documentation that describes data sources, assumptions, and methodological approaches used in the consultancy. The consultant will also review AFOLU-related sections of GACMO guidance material and provide necessary technical inputs.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in a relevant field such as forestry, agriculture, environmental science, climate change, natural resource management, or land-use planning. Candidates must have a minimum of 7 years of professional experience in AFOLU-related climate change mitigation and greenhouse gas accounting. Demonstrated experience with IPCC AFOLU methodologies for GHG emissions accounting, national GHG inventories, and emission reduction quantification is essential. Familiarity with climate mitigation planning and supporting national climate commitments such as NDCs, LT-LEDS, and BTRs is also required. Additionally, candidates should have experience with GHG projection/modelling tools and carbon market methodologies, including CDM and Article 6 methodologies. Experience working in developing countries is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in fields related to forestry, agriculture, environmental science, climate change, natural resource management, or land-use planning. This educational background is critical for understanding the complexities of AFOLU-related climate change mitigation strategies and methodologies.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of professional experience specifically in AFOLU-related climate change mitigation and greenhouse gas accounting. Candidates should have a proven track record of working with IPCC methodologies, national GHG inventories, and emission reduction quantification. Experience in supporting climate policy processes and familiarity with GHG projection tools is highly desirable. Additionally, experience working in developing countries will be advantageous for this role.

Languages:
Fluent communication skills in English are mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be beneficial but is not specified as a requirement.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is part-time, expected to last for 28 working days, and is home-based. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring a transparent and fair hiring process. The position does not specify any additional benefits or compensation details.