Antecedentes
BACKGROUND / PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Since the 1980s, Zimbabwe has played a significant role in establishing solutions on global environmental and climate issues and has committed to reducing net carbon emissions by 40% per capita by 2030. However, despite this domestic and international commitment funding has been limited to small projects under multilateral funding streams such as the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Adaptation Fund. The international funding envelops on climate in particular, have been mainstreamed in loans, developmental aid and grants. Zimbabwe’s withdrawal from the US$79.6 billion from 2010 to 2020, has been limited with approximately US$40 million being withdrawn in a variety of small projects solicited from a variety of development partners that support Zimbabwe in a variety of areas.
Carbon Trading in Zimbabwe is one of the country's policy cornerstones to combat climate change and is a key tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. The ambition to reduce Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) largely carbon dioxide from polluting the atmosphere has been a complex exercise, hence many countries have stated ambitions to reduce without a clear domestic plan, despite this having been defined under the Kyoto Protocol from 2009 to 2020. Throughout much of Africa, the trade in carbon has been slow, and the Paris Agreement(2015) and the Glasgow Pact (2021) seek to re-affirmed this market, through mechanisms which many developed countries have agreed to.
In the last few months of 2022, there has been wide interest in carbon trade, as seen through a surge of offering on the international stock exchange, and a rush of investors eyeing the African markets as providing huge potential for carbon trade. However, much of Africa has not been prepared and the trade frameworks defined under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been complex, with a few countries trading on the markets, mostly under the voluntary mechanism.
The Paris Agreement recognizes that Parties may choose to pursue voluntary cooperation in the implementation of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to allow for higher ambition in their mitigation and adaptation actions and to promote sustainable development and environmental integrity. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement establishes three approaches for the post-2020 carbon market participating countries, these are as follows:
- cooperative approaches referred to in Article 6, paragraph 2;
- sustainable development mechanism established by Article 6, paragraph 4;
- non-market approaches referred to in Article 6, paragraph 8.
With a well-coordinated approach, Carbon Markets can be a catalyst for Zimbabwe achieving the NDC goals and provide investment opportunities for businesses. It is for this reason that Zimbabwe as a Party to the Paris Agreement and in fulfilment of the Glasgow Climate Pact considers the development of a carbon trade framework, institutional arrangements, procedures and digital manual under the Paris Agreement as paramount.
Objectives
The overall objective of the project is to develop a framework, institutional arrangements, procedures and digital manual for Zimbabwe’s International Carbon Market under the Paris Agreement to support NDC implementation. Other objectives of the Assignment include:
- Assessing Zimbabwe’s readiness to engage in carbon markets, including the technical capacity and needs of national institutions based on international and regional best practice;
- Recommend a detailed carbon market framework to set out the policy foundation essentials to give carbon market transaction actors clarity and certainty on their rights and obligations;
- Develop a digital manual to operationalize the carbon market framework and regulate the development and implementation of mitigation activities;
- Develop training manuals and conduct three training trainers’ workshops in design and implementation of carbon market instruments;
- Assess the capacity and potential/feasibility/viability for an inclusive Emission Trading Scheme in Zimbabwe;
- Develop two policy briefs (targeting both policymakers and the private sector) articulating policy gaps, opportunities and recommendations to enhance national policies and implementation of Carbon Markets in Zimbabwe.
Deberes y responsabilidades
The overall objective of the assignment is to support the development of a carbon market framework in Zimbabwe. The specific objective will be to assess Zimbabwe’s readiness for carbon market, identify the technical and institutional capacity needs and gaps and recommend a detailed carbon market framework, develop a digital manual and policy and legal measures required to set up such a system for the implementation of carbon market instruments. The carbon market framework will set out the policy foundation essentials to give carbon market transaction actors clarity and certainty on their rights and obligations. The carbon market framework is expected to focus on Policy and Regulatory Framework, Institutional/Governance structure, Tools/Pricing and Knowledge Management/Capacity Building. The framework is expected to specifically address the following as well:
- Ensuring the alignment between NDC and mitigation activities to generate Mitigation Outcomes (MOs) for carbon trade;
- Overall governance and institutional structure;
- Ensuring social and environmental integrity in transacting MOs;
- Maximizing sustainable development benefits;
- Eligibility criteria for potential mitigation activities;
- Clarity on the utility of MOs;
- Pricing and share of proceeds utilization;
- Linkages with voluntary markets, crediting schemes, Article 6.2, 6.4 and CORSIA;
- Standards and methodologies;
- Carbon Market infrastructure – both hard and software;
- Authorization, corresponding adjustment and reporting;
- Capacity development and awareness support.
EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
- Inception report detailing the tasks understanding showing how each task will be met, proposed methods, sources of data and data collection procedures, a detailed work plan, and an implementation schedule;
- Report detailing the capacity gaps, support needs and defined technical assistance activities needed to address the capacity gaps;
- Feasibility assessment for an Emission Trading Scheme in Zimbabwe and recommendations based on international and regional best practices;
- Carbon market framework to set out the policy foundation essentials to give carbon market transaction actors the clarity and certainty on their rights and obligations. The carbon market framework is expected to settle key policy questions, comments and inputs from stakeholders as provided for under section 1 of this TOR;
- Digital manual to operationalize the carbon market framework and guidelines for the development and implementation of mitigation activities incorporating all comments and inputs from stakeholders;
- Two Policy briefs one targeting policy makers and the other the private sector actors articulating policy gaps, opportunities and recommendations to enhance national policies and implementation of Carbon Markets in Namibia.
The assignment is expected to commence immediately after the signing of the contract to the successful bidder.
Deliverable’s schedule
- Inception Report- 5 days;
- Capacity gaps, support needs and defined technical assistance Report - 15 days;
- Feasibility assessment for an Emission Trading Scheme in Zimbabwe with recommendations-25 days;
- Zimbabwe Carbon Market Framework -30 days;
- Digital manual to operationalize the carbon market with frameworks and guidelines-20 days;
- Two Policy briefs one targeting policy makers and the other the private sector actors- 5 days.
INSTITUTIONAL ARRAGEMENTS FOR MANAGEMENT OF THIS CONSULTANCY
The principal responsibility for managing this assignment lies with the UNDP Country Office, Zimbabwe. UNDP will contract the consultant and ensure the timely provision of reimbursable costs and remuneration. UNDP will mobilise internal technical expertise to support the consultant’s work. UNDP will support the consultant’s engagement with stakeholders, arrange for meetings, field visits and coordinate with stakeholders and Government officials. Under the overall supervision of the UNDP Head of PRECC, the consultant will be in charge of the quality of the consultations with stakeholders, collection and analysis of data and generation of all the reports as per the TORs.
TIMEFRAME
The consultancy is expected to provide 100 days of services. The indicative time guideline for the Consultancy is provided in the deliverables schedule above.
IMPACT OF THE RESULTS
The purpose of the consultant is to provide a specialised technical support to the Government of Zimbabwe, UNDP Country Office Zimbabwe and its partners to develop a framework, institutional arrangements, procedures and digital manual for Zimbabwe’s International Carbon Market under the Paris Agreement to support NDC implementation.
PAYMENT MILESTONES AND AUTHORITY
The consultant must send a financial offer based on Daily Fee. The consultant shall quote an all-inclusive Daily Fee for the contract period. The term “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, consumables, etc.) that could be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment are already factored into the daily fee submitted in the proposal. Travel costs and daily allowance cost should be identified separately.
Payments will be made based on the agreed financial proposal (contract is based on daily fee) and released upon submission of a certificate of payment request, indicating deliverables achieved and days worked to be verified and cleared for payment by the supervisor.
The qualified consultant shall receive his/her lump sum service fees upon certification of the completed tasks satisfactorily, as per the following payment schedule:
- 30% first installment after approval by UNDP Head of PRECC
- Inception Report.
- Capacity gaps, support needs and defined technical assistance Report.
- 40% second installment after approval by UNDP Head of PRECC
- Feasibility assessment for an Emission Trading Scheme in Zimbabwe with recommendations;
- Zimbabwe Carbon Market Framework.
- 30% third installment after approval by UNDP Head of PRECC
- Digital manual to operationalize the carbon market with frameworks and guidelines;
- Two Policy briefs one targeting policy makers and the other the private sector actors.
Competencias
Competencies
Functional Competencies:
- Excellent drafting, documentation and communication skills in English;
- Knowledge of Climate Change and project management skills;
- Proven record on similar documentation work at the National level.
Corporate Competencies:
- Promote the highest standards of ethics and integrity;
- Support creativity and innovation;
- Help create an enabling environment for open communication;
- Share knowledge and support a culture of learning;
- Demonstrate fairness and transparency.
Habilidades y experiencia requeridas
Education
The firm/consortium must have experts with the lead consultant having the following minimal educational qualifications:
- Master’s degree in economics, environmental finance, business administration, environmental engineering, sciences or a related field.
Experience
- At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in carbon finance and knowledge of the nexus carbon finance, Nationally Determined Contributions and the Paris Agreement;
- Demonstrated experience with the development of carbon finance projects in developing countries;
- Proven knowledge of Article 6 mechanisms and previous academic work on Article 6 (please share at least 2 reports on Article 6 that you have either authored or co-authored);
- Proven ability to build Article 6 capacity in developing countries through training or workshops (including virtual workshops);
- Demonstrated experience in working in developing countries on carbon finance projects under the Kyoto Protocol, in particular experience with the Clean Development Mechanism;
- Familiarity with international development issues, including understanding of technical and regulatory matters in the areas of climate change, Article 6 and sustainable development (demonstrate participation as speaker in international conferences or lead author in at least one of these thematic areas).
Other Experience
- Experience in developing joint UN or collaborative projects is an added advantage;
- Substantial relevant experience in the design and implementation of integrated development projects;
- Good understanding of the development sector particularly energy sector in Zimbabwe. Experience in the formulation and management of similar projects with global funds including;
- Knowledge of socio-cultural, socio economic context of Zimbabwe is strongly desired;
- Demonstrated experience in facilitating inclusive dialogues and engagements;
- Working with multi-disciplinary teams, including local and expatriate technical experts.
Language
An excellent command of English is required.
The Team of International consultants shall also be supported by two national consultants for purpose of knowledge transfer and for physical engagement with national stakeholders and for collection of data and review of national documents to serve as an input to the work of the Team of international consultants.
The whole article works as one. 6.2; 6.4 all generate ITMOs. 6.8 contributes to Host Party NDC. They are all interlinked so the consultant has to work on all.
HOW TO APPLY
Submission must be online following the instruction given on the website.
Please submit the following to demonstrate your interest and qualifications. Please note that all the documents below must be submitted as one PDF file.
- P11 (required), indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
- Personal CV (optional);
- Duly completed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided [see link further down];
- Technical Proposal demonstrating full understanding of the TORs, approach and methodology to the task and workplan;
- Financial proposal (All-inclusive daily fee): Interested individuals are kindly requested to submit an all-inclusive daily consultancy fee;
- Travel: All envisaged international travel costs must be included in the financial proposal in a separate line, though not the cost of in-land travel, which will be handled directly by the UNDP Country Office.
Application Evaluation Process:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the Cumulative Analysis methodology [weighted scoring method], where the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
- Responsive/compliant/acceptable;
- Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Technical Criteria weight; [70%].
Financial Criteria weight; [30%].
Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 70% of the obtainable 100 points in technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Technical Evaluation Criteria:
- Adequacy of Profile and Technical Proposal (Max 100 points)
General Conditions of Contract for the ICs:
https://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf
UNDP Personal History form (P11) required of all applicants:
https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=308402;
Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability
“UNDP is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff, and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Well qualified candidates, particularly women and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply”.