Capacity Building in Carbon Markets and Article 6 Readiness Project Technical Lead Consultant

The Capacity Building in Carbon Markets and Article 6 Readiness Technical Lead Consultant will collaborate with the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO) to achieve these main goals: ● Collectively improve the overall knowledge of the scope and functioning of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement in Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and El Salvador through a regional approach. ● Actively participate with the relevant stakeholders from these participating countries to comply with the institutional, technical and operational requirements to establish or participate in new or existing carbon markets. This will not only support the participating countries to comply with the goals established in their NDCs but also allow the national governments to increase their ambition and cooperation among parties in their commitments under the Paris Agreement. ● Contribute to the effective implementation of the project, including the cooperation with the Administrative and Finance Officer to facilitate that financial, procurement and human resource processes are aligned with the terms of the GCF Readiness agreement, and that records of project documents and assets/equipment lists, including financial and procurement documents, are maintained in accordance with audit requirements. Additionally, provide technical and analytical inputs to inform the preparation of annual and semi-annual work plans, procurement plans and budgets for the LAC region and the NDA. ● Enhance the relevance and visibility of the Regional Carbon Market Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean by providing technical guidance, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and facilitating collaboration with programs, projects, and initiatives working on Article 6 and carbon markets. ● It is expected that the Capacity Building in Carbon Markets and Article 6 Readiness Project Technical Lead Consultant will improve the overall knowledge of the scope and functioning of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement in Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and El Salvador through a regional approach and actively participate with the relevant stakeholders from these participating countries to comply with the institutional, technical and operational requirements to establish or participate in new or existing carbon markets. This will not only support the participating countries to comply with the goals established in their NDCs but also allow the national governments to increase their ambition and cooperation among parties in their commitments under the Paris Agreement. Also, the consultant will work towards increasing the relevance and visibility of the Regional Carbon Market Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean by providing technical guidance, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and facilitating collaboration with programs, projects, and initiatives working on Article 6 and carbon markets. Specific tasks and responsibilities Under the direct supervision of UNEP’s Programme Management Officer for Energy Efficiency of the Climate Change Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean Office, the consultant shall perform the following activities: A. Project Activities/Deliverables Execution It is expected that Technical Lead Consultant, with the support of the Management Specialist and the individual technical consultants, will provide technical and analytical guidance for the development of all activities approved- under output 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.4.1 and 2.4.2- and ensure the successful development of all deliverables included under these outputs in line with the budget and implementation plan: Outcome 2.2. GCF recipient countries have developed or enhanced strategic frameworks to address policy gaps, improve sectoral expertise, and enhance enabling environments for GCF programming in low-emission investment. Output 2.2.1: Conditions needed for the implementation frameworks for the future operationalization of carbon markets mechanisms and Article 6 in the participating countries have been identified. • Activity 1. Provide technical input and timely review of the analysis prepared by the regional consulting team on the development of carbon markets (voluntary and compliance) and Article 6 mechanisms, in terms of carbon budgets and capacity building activities. Responsibilities: The consultant will contribute to and participate in the process of compiling the reviews of the local consultants and reviewing the adjusted versions presented by the consulting firms, with the objective of producing high- quality deliverable that comply with the project´s concept note. Moreover, the consultant will prepare collaborative and consultative processes with key stakeholders by contributing technical inputs and background information in order to facilitate the involvement of government and other actors (including national and local authorities, non-government organizations, academia, and private sector actors) in the development of the activity deliverables and results. Additionally, the consultant should prepare and update draft project communication material and, upon request by UNEP LACO, prepare information materials for dissemination of the deliverables. Provide technical inputs to contribute to the preparation of background documentation for meetings and communication among consultants and designated focal points established under the project; including the preparation of draft agendas and compilation of technical background materials related to the Project Steering Committee (PSC), under UNEP guidance and in consultation with relevant partners, including the GCF Secretariat. Timeframe: The products developed by the regional consulting team will be delivered during the second semester of 2026. Output 2.2.2: Technical capacities of NDAs and key stakeholders to comply with the requirements for the implementation of carbon markets are strengthened and eligibility criteria for projects are defined to participate in article 6 in each country. • Activity 2. Provide technical guidance to the peer learning platform (Regional Observatory of Carbon Markets) Responsibilities: The consultant will participate in all the committee meetings of the Observatory, providing technical assessment and support for the articulation of stakeholders, as well as promoting the dissemination of knowledge produced by the project through the platform. The consultant shall identify and document potential cross-project linkages with other relevant projects and programmes to inform mutually reinforcing approaches. The consultant will also contribute to fundraising initiatives for the sustainability of the platform and prepare analytical and technical inputs to the review of budget- related information by analyzing budget execution data against planned expenditures and documenting observations for UNEP´s consideration. Timeframe: Q3, Q4 2026 and Q1, Q2 2027. • Activity 3. Review of the project deliverables for a protocol for the exchange of mitigation outcomes, protocol implementation, workshops and pilot of corresponding adjustments. Responsibilities: The Technical Lead Consultant will provide technical advice for the development of the corresponding deliverables, gather feedback from local consultants and review the final deliverables produced by the consulting firm. In addition, the consultant will identify and provide recommendations to address logistical and organizational issues related to the activity under supervision of UNEP’s Programme Management Officer for Energy Efficiency of the Climate Change Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean Office, the GCF Focal Point and the UNEP Task Manager. Timeframe: The products developed by the regional consulting team will be delivered during the second semester of 2026. Outcome 2.4. Strategies for transforming and attracting private sector investment for low emissions and resilience developed and being used. Output 2.4.1: Private sector knowledge on Article 6 implementation is bolstered through capacity building workshops, and reports, guidelines and tools are developed to increase the participation of the private sector in the development of projects to reduce GHG emissions by sources and increase removals by sinks. • Activity 4. Support the articulation of the private and public sector in carbon markets, through the identification of actors and knowledge products. Responsibilities: The consultant will participate in the meetings with relevant public institutions, project developers and other private actors to identify key needs, barriers and opportunities, which will be reflected in the reports and guidelines. Once the technical analysis and guidelines are finalized, the consultant supported by local consultants will organize meetings with the stakeholders to present the documents prepared by the consulting firm. These meetings will enable the technical team to receive feedback and incorporate it into the final documents. Subsequently, the consultant will compile and follow up the feedback related to activity deliverables from the NDA, national beneficiaries and other project stakeholders. Timeframe: The regional and local reports and guidelines are expected to be delivered by the consulting firm during Q2 and Q3 2026. Output 2.4.2: Bankable private sector projects and programmes to advance and scale up carbon markets in all participating countries are identified and assessed through the development of comprehensive country-level project pipelines to catalyze climate financing in the medium to long term. • Activity 5. Provide technical support to the consulting firm in the identification of potential projects, identification of the most feasible project and prefeasibility study of the selected project to advance and scale up carbon markets and Article 6 mechanisms. Responsibilities: The consultant will collaborate with the consulting firms and local consultants to analyze information provided by the NDA and the private sector on potential emission reduction projects. The consultant will participate in meetings and provide technical guidance for the development of the project’s portfolio and selection of the most feasible project for each country, taking into account their current needs and priorities. Additionally, the Technical Lead Consult will review the prefeasibility studies presented by the consulting firm to provide technical feedback. The consultant will also provide background information and technical inputs for all completed deliverables from this activity, which will be submitted to and approved by the National Designated Authorities (NDAs), contributing with high quality and satisfactory management and use of GCF/UNEP resources. Timeframe: The identification of the project portfolio will be delivered by the consulting firm during the second semester of 2026.

Home-Based

10 MONTHS

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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). One of the most relevant challenges posed to countries by the implementation of the Paris Agreement is the importance of ensuring strong Transparency Frameworks. Article 13 of the Paris Agreement establishes the need for Parties to implement national robust and transparent monitoring, reporting, verification and accounting systems to give clarity on action and support while providing clear information to stakeholders to be available to assess if the necessary is being done in relation to compliance with the commitments assumed to face climate change. As part of building and enhancing their Transparency Frameworks, Parties of the United Nations Frame Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will progressively implement better tools and institutional arrangements, many of them not sufficiently developed in the countries. This is especially true for developing countries. The UNFCCC enhanced transparency framework demands substantial and immediate progress in the countries´ domestic Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems and strategic de-carbonization and adaptation planning. This entails moving from disintegrated and often different methodological approaches in data management to an integrated and robust system. The success of the Paris Agreement hinges on enhanced transparency of action and support, as a critical foundation to making its bottom-up country-led approach work, as well as mutual trust and confidence amongst Parties. In this line, UNEP is implementing the GCF Readiness Project “Capacity Building to prepare for the implementation of Carbon Markets and Article 6 in Latin America”. This project seeks to collectively improve: i) the overall knowledge of the scope and functioning of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement in Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and El Salvador through a regional approach and, ii) support the relevant stakeholders from these participating countries to comply with the institutional, technical and operational requirements to establish or participate in new or existing carbon markets. This will not only support the participating countries to comply with the goals established in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) but also allow the national governments to increase their ambition, transparency and cooperation among parties in their commitments under the Paris Agreement. On the other hand, UNEP is also implementing the project “Support for the Development of Integral Carbon Markets” with funding from the European Union through the Euroclima LAC Programme. This project aims to support the creation and implementation of the Regional Carbon Market Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean, focused on the development of capacities and alliances on carbon markets for the region. Additionally, it seeks to support the countries of the region in the development of public policies and MRV to support the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and carbon markets. Therefore, UNEP is looking for a Capacity Building in Carbon Markets and Article 6 Readiness Project Technical Lead Consultant to: i) participate in the implementation and coordination of activities under all outputs of the GCF Readiness Project, ii) provide technical knowledge to ensure the successful development of all Readiness deliverables, and iii) provide technical input and guidance to the Regional Carbon Market Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean on capacity-building activities and actively support donor identification and resource mobilization efforts for the operation of the Observatory. The Capacity Building in Carbon Markets and Article 6 Readiness Project Technical Lead Consultant is expected to work in close collaboration with a GCF Readiness support management specialist, a senior technical consultant for carbon markets and nature-based solutions, a team of country leaders, one for each participating country, and the coordinator of the Regional Carbon Market Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean. The consultant is also expected to contribute with two consulting firms that will be involved in the development of the project deliverables. The incumbent is expected to work from home and will be expected to comply with dedication of 40 hours per week, from Monday to Friday. He or she will be supervised by UNEP’s Programme Management Officer for Energy Efficiency of the Climate Change Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean Office.

ACADEMIC ● Bachelor's degree in environmental sciences, climate change, environmental economics, engineering, political science, or related studies is required. ● Master´s degree in environmental sciences, climate change, economics, engineering, political science, or related studies is desirable. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE ● Two (2) years of experience in projects of public policy, climate change, environmental economics, fiscal policy, climate policy and /or economic research is required. ● Two (2) years of experience in project implementation activities in an international development setting is desirable. ● Experience in positions related to articulation and fostering active participation of governmental stakeholders along the implementing of climate change projects in LAC region is desirable. ● Experience with international donors and other public, non-state or private actors in developing countries, preferably in the LAC region, in the management of international technical cooperation projects is desirable. ● Knowledge of carbon markets and Article 6 is desirable. ● Knowledge of GCF projects is desirable. SPECIAL SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE SKILLS ● Excellent understanding of global and national climate change issues, in particular related to transparency and carbon markets is desirable. ● Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to climate change mitigation and adaptation planning, and intergovernmental climate change negotiations is desirable. PROFESSIONALISM Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations. TEAMWORK Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; supports and acts in accordance with final group decisions, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

● Fluency in Spanish is required ● 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.