National consultant - Stakeholder Engagement and Data Collection

A stakeholder-validated dataset and documentation package, including harmonized sectoral data (Energy, AFOLU, Waste, IPPU), verified assumptions and proxies, records of institutional consultations and endorsements, and structured notes on mitigation measures, pathways, and alignment with LTS 2050. These outputs ensure data credibility, transparency, and institutional ownership to support the NDC 3.0 development process.

Banjul, The Gambia

Part-time / 1 month

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. To remain aligned with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, countries are expected to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The first Global Stocktake (GST) under the Paris Agreement highlighted the need for increased ambition and accelerated climate action, calling for significant reductions in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and 2035. The Gambia submitted its second NDC in 2021, covering the period 2020–2030, and has since developed its Long-Term Strategy (LTS) providing a pathway for reaching net zero GHG emission by 2050. With support from the NDC Partnership, the Government of The Gambia has requested assistance from UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC) to support the preparation of its third NDC (NDC 3.0), which will define climate mitigation and adaptation commitments for the 2035 horizon and align with the outcomes of the Global Stocktake as well as The Gambia’s LTS. The process builds on ongoing stocktaking of the current NDC 2.0 and involves consultations with national stakeholders across key sectors. To support this process, a national consultant will be recruited to support stakeholder engagement and data collection. The purpose of this assignment is to design and implement a structured stakeholder engagement and data collection process that directly supports emissions modelling, mitigation scenario development, and national validation of NDC 3.0. The consultant will ensure that: stakeholder inputs are systematically translated into modelling inputs; sector data is collected, validated, and documented; consultations are aligned with NDC development phases and national ownership and validation of the NDC are achieved. The consultant will work under the technical guidance of the NDC Technical Lead and in close coordination with: ● Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECCNAR) ● National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) ● Sector ministries and agencies ● UNEP-CCC team/Technical Lead -NDC 3.0 The overall objective of the consultancy is to support the development of The Gambia’s NDC 3.0 by facilitating stakeholder engagement, collecting and validating sectoral data, and ensuring institutional ownership and technical credibility of all modelling inputs, assumptions, and outputs. Specifically, the consultant will: ● Facilitate structured engagement with sector ministries, agencies, and other stakeholders throughout the NDC 3.0 development process. ● Collect, compile, and validate sectoral datasets (Energy, AFOLU, Waste, IPPU), macroeconomic and demographic assumptions, and policy/mitigation measures. ● Document and consolidate stakeholder feedback, assumptions, and decisions to support transparency, auditability, and alignment with UNFCCC reporting requirements. ● Ensure the consistency of all data and inputs with previous phases (baseline, mitigation scenario, LTS alignment) and prepare them for integration into the final NDC 3.0 submission. The methodology for developing The Gambia’s NDC 3.0 (2035 horizon) is organized into five integrated phases as described below. The methodology combines rigorous modelling, structured stakeholder engagement, and long-term alignment to deliver an NDC 3.0 that is technically defensible, politically endorsed, fiscally realistic, and internationally credible strengthening The Gambia’s leadership in climate ambition among least developed countries. Phase 1 Consultations -Technical Stocktake and Scoping: Phase 1 establishes the analytical foundation for NDC 3.0. The consultant supports the Technical Lead by ensuring that stakeholder engagement and data collection are structured to validate the GHG inventory, confirm sectoral assumptions, assess NDC2 implementation, and define a robust modelling framework aligned with LTS 2050 and UNFCCC reporting requirements. Specific tasks managed by the consultant: ● A1. The consultant will design and implement a structured stakeholder engagement process that directly supports data validation and modelling preparation. This includes conducting a comprehensive stakeholder mapping to identify institutions responsible for sectoral data provision, distinguishing between data providers, technical validators, and decision-makers across energy, transport, AFOLU, waste, and IPPU sectors. ● A2. The consultant will coordinate and facilitate technical consultations with sector ministries and agencies to validate existing GHG inventory datasets, confirm activity data sources, and review sector assumptions and baseline trends. Particular attention will be given to capturing lessons learned from NDC2 implementation and identifying gaps in data availability, quality, and institutional coordination. ● A3. In close collaboration with the Technical Lead, the consultant will support the establishment of a structured data collection framework, including standardized sector data templates, metadata requirements, and data tracking tools. The consultant will document all institutional inputs, agreements, and decisions to ensure traceability and consistency for subsequent modelling phases. The consultant will also identify missing or weak datasets and support the Technical Lead in proposing proxy data and assumptions, ensuring that all limitations are clearly documented for transparency. Deliverable – D1: Stakeholder Engagement and Stocktake Report A comprehensive report including: ● Stakeholder Mapping Report & Engagement Plan: Stakeholder mapping and categorization (data providers, validators, decision-makers) and updated stakeholder engagement plan aligned with NDC phases (A1) ● Consultation Report (Stocktake & Scoping): Summary of consultations and institutional inputs (A2) ● Initial Data Gap Assessment & Data Framework: Documentation of validated inventory data, sector assumptions, and baseline trends and initial data gap assessment and documentation of data limitations (A3) Phase 2 Consultations - Baseline Reconstruction (BAU/WEM) to 2035: Phase 2 focuses on developing a credible and nationally validated emissions baseline to 2035. The consultant supports the Technical Lead by ensuring that sectoral data and modelling assumptions are systematically collected, validated, and documented, and that institutions have ownership of the baseline projections. Specific tasks managed by the consultant: ● A4. The consultant will coordinate closely with sector ministries, agencies, and data providers to collect and compile detailed sectoral datasets required for baseline modelling, including energy balances, transport activity data, AFOLU statistics, waste and wastewater data, and macroeconomic and demographic projections. ● A5. The consultant will organize and facilitate technical working group meetings and bilateral consultations to validate baseline assumptions, activity data, emission factors, and the inclusion of existing policies under the With Existing Measures (WEM) scenario. These consultations will ensure that modelling inputs used in tools such as LEAP and GACMO are consistent with national data and institutional knowledge. ● A6. The consultant will maintain a structured data management system, including data tracking sheets, metadata documentation, and a continuously updated data gap log. All institutional feedback, agreements, and validation decisions will be systematically recorded to ensure transparency and traceability. ● A7. In coordination with the Technical Lead, the consultant will support the identification of proxy data and assumptions where gaps exist and ensure that all data limitations are clearly documented for use in modelling and reporting. Deliverable – D2: Validated Baseline Data and Assumptions Package A comprehensive package including: ● Sector Data Collection Report (validated datasets): Verified sectoral datasets across all sectors and validated baseline assumptions and WEM policy inputs (A4, A5) ● Baseline (BAU) stakeholder input package: Documentation of stakeholder inputs and validation decisions. Metadata and data source documentation for modelling use (A6) ● Updated Data Gap Assessment: Data gap assessment with proposed proxies and assumptions (A7) Phase 3 Consultations - Mitigation Scenario Development and Target Formulation Phase 3 translates the validated baseline into quantified mitigation ambition for 2035. The consultant supports the Technical Lead by facilitating structured stakeholder engagement to identify, validate, and prioritize mitigation measures, ensuring that scenario development reflects national circumstances, feasibility, and LTS alignment. Specific tasks managed by the consultant: ● A8. The consultant will coordinate engagement with sector ministries, private sector actors, local governments, and development partners to collect and validate data related to mitigation measures across all sectors. This includes technical parameters, costs, implementation timelines, and institutional responsibilities required for MACC analysis and scenario modelling. ● A9. The consultant will organize and facilitate sectoral and multi-stakeholder workshops to present preliminary mitigation scenarios (including moderate and high ambition pathways) and gather structured feedback on feasibility, conditionality, sequencing, and investment requirements. ● A10. The consultant will document stakeholder inputs on barriers, financing needs, and implementation constraints, ensuring that these are translated into modelling assumptions and scenario parameters in collaboration with the Technical Lead. ● A11. All stakeholder feedback, agreements, and revisions will be systematically recorded to support transparent target formulation and reporting. Deliverable – D3: Mitigation Scenario and Stakeholder Validation Package A comprehensive package including: ● Stakeholder Consultation Report (mitigation options): Stakeholder feedback on feasibility, costs, and implementation constraints. Records of consultations and validation decisions (A8, A9) ● Structured inputs for MACC and scenario modelling including documentation of conditional and unconditional actions (A9, A10) ● Validated mitigation scenario input package: Validated sectoral mitigation measures and associated data (A11) Phase 4 Consultations - Alignment with LTS 2050 and Development Planning Phase 4 ensures that the 2035 mitigation pathway is aligned with The Gambia’s long-term climate-neutral development strategy and national development priorities. The consultant supports the Technical Lead by facilitating high-level validation and ensuring coherence across sectoral pathways, policies, and long-term targets. Specific tasks managed by the consultant: ● A12. The consultant will support the organization of high-level inter-ministerial consultations involving key institutions such as Finance, Planning, Energy, Agriculture, Transport, and Environment. These consultations will focus on validating the alignment between the NDC 2035 pathway and the LTS 2050 trajectory. ● A13. The consultant will facilitate discussions to assess the structural feasibility of the proposed mitigation pathway, including infrastructure needs, investment requirements, and policy coherence across sectors. ● A14. The consultant will document institutional feedback on trade-offs, policy alignment, and development priorities, ensuring that all inputs are captured and communicated to the Technical Lead for incorporation into the analysis. ● A15. The consultant will also support the validation of macroeconomic and demographic assumptions underpinning the long-term pathway. Deliverable – D4: LTS Alignment and Stakeholder Validation Package A comprehensive package including: ● LTS Alignment Consultation Report: Documentation of high-level stakeholder consultations. Confirmation of alignment between the 2035 pathway and LTS 2050 (A12) ● Policy coherence and stakeholder validation inputs: Institutional feedback on policy coherence and trade-offs (A13) ● Consolidated alignment input package including verified sectoral and macroeconomic inputs supporting alignment (A14, A15) Phase 5 Consultations - National Validation and UNFCCC Submission Phase 5 ensures that the NDC 3.0 is nationally validated, technically robust, and compliant with UNFCCC requirements. The consultant supports the Technical Lead by facilitating final stakeholder validation and ensuring that all data and assumptions are verified and documented. Specific tasks managed by the consultant: ● A16. The consultant will compile all finalized sectoral datasets, modelling inputs, and assumptions across sectors, ensuring consistency with the NDC narrative, ICTU tables, and technical annexes. ● A17. The consultant will organize and facilitate a national validation workshop involving all key stakeholders, including government ministries, finance and planning authorities, private sector, civil society, development partners, and other relevant actors. ● A18. The consultant will document all stakeholder feedback, comments, and agreed revisions, ensuring that final decisions and endorsements are clearly recorded. ● A19. The consultant will ensure that all datasets, assumptions, and sectoral contributions are fully traceable and aligned with UNFCCC transparency requirements. Deliverable – D5: Final Stakeholder Validation and NDC Data Package A comprehensive package including: ● National validation workshop report with documented feedback and endorsements (A17, A18) ● Final stakeholder-validated data and documentation package (UNFCCC-ready inputs) including Final verified sectoral and macroeconomic datasets, consolidated stakeholder inputs and revisions and relevant documentation supporting the NDC 3.0 submission package (A16, A19)

● Bachelor’s degree in environmental management, climate change, international development, environmental sciences, social sciences, political sciences, engineering, or a closely related field is required. ● Specialized training in GHG inventories, climate policy, data management, or stakeholder engagement is desirable. ● Minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience with bachelor’s degree, or a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience required with master’s degree ● A minimum of (5) five years of relevant work experience in climate change mitigation or adaptation, natural resource management, and/or development in the Gambia is required. ● Proven experience in stakeholder engagement, consultation facilitation, and institutional coordination with government ministries, agencies, or development partners. ● Hands-on experience in collecting, verifying, and harmonizing sectoral datasets (Energy, AFOLU, Waste, IPPU), including understanding of GHG inventories and emissions accounting. ● Experience in supporting climate mitigation planning, NDC preparation, or long-term low-emission strategies. ● Experience with modelling tools (LEAP, GACMO, AFOLU projections) is an asset

● Fluency in english is required

Not available.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.