In the context of the 2023 annual work plan of the AFF-UNREDD partnership project on “ Strengthening REDD+ implementation in Africa: capitalizing on lessons learned for an evolving environment” AFF is recruiting six national experts, one each for Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Republic of Congo, and Uganda to take stock of progress made on implementing REDD+ in these countries, and identify gaps in implementation and any opportunities that could have arisen or were identified to improve the REDD+ process, and also taking in account progress made through technical assistance offered by UN-REDD.
The study is expected to generate knowledge on best practices, key innovative/breakthrough achievements, challenges encountered, opportunities for increasing efficiency in implementation, as well as capacity gaps across different REDD+ practitioners and decision-makers in the selected countries. Further, the key findings from these national consultations are expected to guide sharing of information at planned regional exchanges, involving countries beyond the current UN-REDD portfolio, in order to stimulate peer-to-peer learning between countries well advanced in the REDD+ process and others that have not advanced much. The outcome will also contribute to tailor knowledge products and events to better address specific capacity needs of African countries.
Specific tasks
In each selected country, the expert will:
(i) Document the existing institutional (including UNREDD and national REDD+ focal points) and policy frameworks and analyse their effectiveness in guiding the implementation of the REDD+ process at the national level.
(ii) Analyse and document national financing strategies, especially the relevance and efficiency of the national investment plan, in filling the gaps for REDD+ implementation, and scaling up forest-based climate action, including the sustainability of such strategies.
(iii) Assess the barriers to accessing climate finance at national level and make policy recommendations on how these barriers could be overcome.
(iv) Evaluate the potential for private sectors investment in forest-based climate actions in the country including options for leveraging both public and private financing mechanisms to support REDD+ implementation.
(v) Identify options for supporting the national government to engage with local authorities, local communities and the private sector and facilitate the implementation of key environmental and social safeguards in their activities including REDD safeguards,
(vi) Assess REDD+ stakeholders’ knowledge and capacity to produce saleable high-integrity, high-quality carbon credits taking into account associated issues like land, forest, and associated carbon rights and tenure; effectiveness of existing legislation for gauging benefit sharing agreements/mechanisms and ensuring appropriate incentives for an inclusive REDD+ implementation by all stakeholders.
(vii) Evaluate how the social inclusion is being addressed in selected countries, and considering socioeconomic, institutional, and cultural incentives for strengthening gender responsiveness in national REDD+ process.
(viii) Document approaches for generating, promoting, and sharing REDD+ benefits and co-benefits, and analyse their contribution to strengthening stakeholders’ engagement, commitment and securing the appropriate countries’ REDD+ outcomes.
Deliverables
The experts will be expected to deliver the following at the end of the consultancy period:
(i) A report of about 40-pages including policy recommendations on how to operationalise some of the key findings to support implementation and decision making for REDD+ implementation on the ground.
(ii) At least one journal article to be published together with staff at the Secretariat who will get involved in this work.
(iii) Draft policy brief, and fact sheet to be finalised with the AFF Secretariat
(iv) A power Point presentation summarising the key findings and policy recommendations to be shared during knowledge exchange events organised by the project.
Minimum qualifications and skills
The interested applicant should meet the following minimum qualifications and skills:
(i) Be a forestry professional or a natural resource research scientist with proven knowledge and experience in current and emerging issues in forestry and climate change globally, and especially in the African context.
(ii) Have good experience in forest, climate change and associated sectoral policies and governance.
(iii) Demonstrate familiarity and proven evidence with the REDD+ mechanism and processes.
(iv) Have a good scientific writing skills and have at least written a book chapter and/or published peer reviewed journal papers.
(v) Have at least a master’s degree in any of the following areas: forestry, natural resources management, environmental issues, climate change, or any related area.
(vi) Excellent written and oral communication skills in English (for Anglophone countries) or French (for Francophone countries); knowledge of both languages is an asset.
Application requirements
The applicant shall submit the following:
(i) Cover letter stating how the above qualifications and experience requirements are met.
(ii) A brief and concise technical proposal / concept note (not more than 4 pages) containing:
(a) key results area; corresponding specific activities and the methodological approaches for conducting them.
(b) draft work plan (clear deliverables plotted against work weeks for each key results); and
(iii) Curriculum vitae, of not more than 6 pages, focusing on the most relevant trainings, skills and experiences related to the current assignment.
Duration
The work is expected to take 1.5 person-month.
Deadlines
(i) Applications must be received by the AFF Secretariat on or before 30 June 2023.
(ii) Successful applicants will be informed by 07 July 2023.
(iii) Consultancy activities must begin no later than 17 July 2023.
(iv) The selected consultant will attend and facilitate a methodologies harmonisation workshop that will be held online on 22 July 2023.
How to apply
All applications must be submitted by e-mail with the subject line: “Consultancy No: 03-2.1. “Strengthening capacity for policy change to improve REDD+ implementation and integration in Africa: capitalizing on best practices and lessons learnt in an evolving environment” to Prof. Marie Louise A. T. AVANA-TIENTCHEU through the following e-mail addresses: m.avana@cifor-icraf.org and copied to Dr Dayamba Djibril (d.dayamba@cifor-icraf.org) and Dr. Daud Kachamba (d.kachamba@cifor-icraf.org) and exec.sec@afforum.org.
For more information, download the Terms of Reference.
