IC: Preparation of analytical inputs for the GCF full concept note GVTC

Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

The Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL) is a vital transboundary ecosystem spanning Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is home to diverse and unique biodiversity, including endangered species such as mountain gorillas, and provides essential resources for millions. However, climate change poses significant threats to this region, impacting ecosystems, livelihoods, and local communities. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and the increased frequency of extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, exacerbate environmental degradation, reduce agricultural productivity, and threaten water and forest ecosystems.

Given its importance, there is a growing need for integrated, cross-border climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts that address these challenges. Transboundary climate initiatives in the GVL aim to enhance ecosystem resilience, promote sustainable land use, reduce deforestation, and strengthen adaptation to climate impacts. These efforts focus on fostering collaboration among Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC to ensure climate action is holistic, sustainable, and inclusive, safeguarding both natural ecosystems and the livelihoods of local populations.

Equitable and sustainable development of the GVL will require a coordinated, cross-sectoral, and multidisciplinary approach to identify and implement sustainable solutions to the challenges surrounding the nexus between climate adaptation and mitigation. Such challenges are linked to invasive species, land use, disease prevalence, water quality and quantity, food security, access to affordable renewable energy, land-use planning, biodiversity conservation, job creation, and vulnerability. Thus, GGGI and the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), under the auspices of the East Africa Climate Finance Director Level Meeting hosted by the Climate Finance Unit in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development ( all parties collectively hereinafter the project proponents) seeks to address problems around the root causes of ecosystem degradation and the above-mentioned nexus to enable climate-resilient livelihoods. Given its importance, there is a growing need for integrated, cross-border climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts that address these challenges. Transboundary climate initiatives in the GVL aim to enhance ecosystem resilience, promote sustainable land use, reduce deforestation, and strengthen communities' capacity to adapt to climate impacts. These efforts focus on fostering collaboration among Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC to ensure climate action is holistic, sustainable, and inclusive, safeguarding both natural ecosystems and the livelihoods of local populations.

Given these issues, and to strengthen the resilience of communities and ecosystems in the GVL, the project proponents seek to prepare and submit to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) a detailed concept note (CN) for a transboundary project titled “Transboundary Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation for Resilient Ecosystems and Communities in the Greater Virunga Landscape”. The CN will be submitted to the GCF for consideration by the Project Preparation Facility (PPF).

Effective preparation of the GCF Concept Note requires strong analytical groundwork supported by inclusive stakeholder engagement and validated technical evidence. Understanding current policies, institutional capabilities, and ecosystem challenges is essential to shaping interventions that are realistic, transformative, and regionally owned. Therefore, GGGI in collaboration with the GVTC is recruiting a consultant to undertake preparatory studies and use them to design and develop the CN. The consultant under this ToR will provide the technical foundation for the broader GCF Concept Note by generating stakeholder inputs, conducting gap and technical analyses, and producing preparatory reports that will guide climate rationale development for the main GCF Concept Note.

Specific objectives of the assignment/consultancy

The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

1. Comprehensive situation analysis report`

This deliverable will provide an in-depth assessment of the ecological, environmental, and institutional conditions across the GVL spanning Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It will examine the key drivers of climate vulnerability, ecosystem degradation, biodiversity pressures, land-use change, and human–wildlife interactions within this critical conservation landscape. The analysis will review existing national and transboundary policies, protected area governance arrangements, and climate-related strategies relevant to the GVL. It will also assess livelihood dependencies, natural resource use patterns, cross-border conservation dynamics, and ecosystem services at risk. The situation analysis will define the overall problem statement, outline regional interlinkages, and identify opportunities for integrated, nature-based climate mitigation and adaptation solutions.

2. Stakeholders Engagement report

This report will consolidate insights gathered from consultations with a wide range of actors, including national and local government institutions, conservation authorities, community structures, civil society organizations, and private sector stakeholders involved in tourism, natural resource management, and value chains linked to the GVL. It will capture stakeholder priorities, perceived climate challenges, institutional capacities, and opportunities for regional collaboration. The consultations will help validate assumptions, ensure alignment with existing transboundary cooperation frameworks, and reflect shared priorities for safeguarding ecosystems and strengthening climate resilience. The engagement process will support ownership and harmonization of the proposed interventions across the three countries.

3. Technical Assessment Inputs

This deliverable will generate the analytical evidence required to shape the proposed GCF investment. It will assess potential climate mitigation and adaptation pathways at a landscape level, weigh in on existing and innotivative options such as such as landscape restoration, strengthening forest and ecosystem carbon sinks, reducing pressures on protected areas through alternative livelihood options, among other options. It will also identify environmental and social considerations, scalability opportunities, and linkages with ongoing regional initiatives.

The consultant will be responsible for leading a participatory and technically rigorous process to develop a concept note for submission to the GCF. The assignment will be carried out over a five-month period and will include the following, not limited to activities:

1. Planning and inception; conduct an inception meeting with the contract manager to finalise the work plan, methodology and deliverables.
2. Stakeholder consultations: wider consultation across the board of the stakeholders to build ownership and gather insights.
3. Situational analysis and field visits analysis: conduct situational analysis for selected areas in the GVL area
4. Compile reports on the respective activities of this assignment and provide key iputs for full concept note development.

The selected Consultant shall have the following experience and qualifications:

• Must posess a Master’s degree or higher in natural resources management and climate change, Environmental Policy or Management, Public Policy, or other related disciplines.
• Proven experience in working on transboundary climate change-related assignments within the Greater Virunga Landscape
• Over 7 years of experience related to the formulation of climate change and natural resourcerelated legal and policy frameworks (policies, plans and strategies) at the national and sub-national level
• Proven experience in coordination and organisation skills of projects that relate to climate change management, conducting policy and institutional reviews, climate risk and vulnerability assessments and working with government ministries, districts, and/or development partners in Uganda or similar contexts
• Familiarity with  climate change policy framework, decentralization structures, and development planning processes within the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL) is desirable.
• High level of self-motivation, diplomatic tact and political awareness.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and motivational skills and sensitivity to the local environment, as well as the ability to work with minimal supervision.

• Experience in stakeholder engagement and facilitating consultative processes with government entities, development partners, and civil society organisations.

• Fluent in English with strong skills in both written communication and technical reporting.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION:

• All relevant technical papers, reports, and other documents prepared from the start to the end of the assignment shall be attached to the Final Report.
• The Consultant shall submit the report in both hard copies and electronic versions readable by a Microsoft Office application.
• All outputs must be in English. In addition, the Consultant may be required to submit the outputs in other languages. 
• Final report must be approved by the GGGI with the agreement of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Commission.