Antecedentes

Gabon is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from forests. As stated in its National Investment Framework and as will be reflected in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to UNFCCC, Gabon aims to reduce gross emissions by 50% below 2005 level by 2025 (this implies a reduction of more than 50% in the forest sector). As defined in Articles II and III, emission reductions related to forests, in order to meet this goal and to further ratchet up ambitions in the future, will be achieved, inter alia, by:

  1. preserving all High Carbon Stock (HCS) and High Conservation Value (HCV) forests[1] in accordance with emerging international consensus and best practice on the definition of low emission development;

  2. introducing a permanent cap on the area of non-HCS/HCV forests available for conversion to other land uses;

  3. maintaining residual conversion of non-HCS/HCV forests at very low levels while ensuring that such conversion is carbon-neutral (compensated by active restoration or carbon enhancement of other forests);

  4. substantial reductions in the areas under logging concessions; and

  5. measures against illegal logging and policies to promote sustainable forest management.

The Government of Gabon states its commitment to achieve the outcomes laid down in the National Investment Framework. This framework includes two investment programs to improve land use planning and forest monitoring, which together with aligned forest governance activities aim to address the major current and future drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. Taken together, this will make a significant contribution to implement the country's INDC and NDC and the Paris Agreement adopted in December 2015, as well as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted in September 2015.

To obtain and receive results-based finance for results from the implementation of REDD+ activities, Developing Country Parties should fulfil requirements of the UNFCCC Warsaw Framework.? The focus of the work laid out in this Terms of Reference is the fourth Warsaw Pillar, the development of a Summary of Information (SoI) and Safeguard Information System (SIS).

[1] On an exceptional basis, carbon-neutral HCS/HCV conversion may occur in case of infrastructure development and extractive industries outside the forest and agriculture sectors that are deemed of vital interest to the national economy. This exceptional conversion of HCS/HCV forest will be covered by the cap referred to in ARTICLE I, (a) (ii). As specified in the National Investment Framework, potential HCS conversion under this footnote will be subject to annual reporting and made public at www.pnatgabon.ga.

 

UNFCCC Requirements

REDD + is a financial instrument developed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to encourage developing country Parties to contribute to mitigation actions in the forest sector by undertaking the following activities:

  1. Reducing emissions from deforestation;

  2. Reducing emissions from forest degradation;

  3. Conservation of forest carbon stocks;

  4. Sustainable management of forests;

  5. Enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

Countries wishing to obtain recognition of their REDD+ results must develop the following requirements:

  1. A national strategy or action plan;

  2. A national forest reference emission level and/or forest reference level or, if appropriate, as an interim measure, subnational forest reference emission levels and/or forest reference levels;

  3. A robust and transparent national forest monitoring system for the monitoring and reporting of the REDD+ activities;

  4. A system for providing information on how the safeguards referred to in appendix I to decision 1/ CP. 16 are being addressed and respected throughout the implementation of the REDD+ activities.

For the implementation of REDD+ safeguards, countries need to follow the UNFCCC guidance included in decisions 1/ CP. 16, decision 12/ CP. 17, decision 9/ CP. 19, decision 12/ CP. 19 and decision 17/ CP. 21. The tables below present the details from these decisions.

 

Table 1. Cancun Agreements (Decision 1/CP.16)

When undertaking the activities referred to in paragraph 70 of this decision, the following safeguards should be promoted and supported:

  1. That actions complement or are consistent with the objectives of national forest programmes and relevant international conventions and agreements;

  2. Transparent and effective national forest governance structures, taking into account national legislation and sovereignty;

  3. Respect for the knowledge and rights of indigenous peoples and members of local communities, by taking into account relevant international obligations, national circumstances and laws, and noting that the United Nations General Assembly has adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

  4. The full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders, in particular indigenous peoples and local communities, in the actions referred to in paragraphs 70 and 72 of this decision;

  5. That actions are consistent with the conservation of natural forests and biological diversity, ensuring that the actions referred to in paragraph 70 of this decision are not used for the conversion of natural forests, but are instead used to incentivize the protection and conservation of natural forests and their ecosystem services, and to enhance other social and environmental benefits;

  6. Actions to address the risks of reversals

  7. Actions to reduce displacement of emissions.

Durban Guidance adopted at COP 17, in 2011 provides guidance for how to provide information on how safeguards are addressed and respected (see Table 2 for original texts).

 

Table 2.  Durban Guidance (Decision 12/CP.17)

Decision 12/CP.17 agrees that systems for providing information on how the safeguards referred to in appendix I to decision 1/CP.16 are addressed and respected should, taking into account national circumstances and respective capabilities, and recognizing national sovereignty and legislation, and relevant international obligations and agreements, and respecting gender considerations:

  1. Be consistent with the guidance identified in decision 1/CP.16, appendix I;

  2. Provide transparent and consistent information that is accessible by all relevant stakeholders and updated on a regular basis;

  3. Be transparent and flexible to allow for improvements over time;

  4. Provide information on how all of the safeguards are being addressed and respected;

  5. Be country-driven and implemented at the national level;

  6. Build upon existing systems, as appropriate.

Finally, the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ decided on the timing and the frequency of presentations of the summary of information on how all the safeguards referred to in the Cancun Agreements are being addressed and respected (see Table 3 for original texts).

 

Table 3. Warsaw Framework for REDD+ (Decision 12/CP.19)

  1. Developing countries should provide a summary of information on safeguards, throughout the implementation of the activities;

  2. The summary of information referred to the above should be provided periodically and be included in national communications, or communication channels agreed by the Conference of the Parties;

  3. The summary of information could also be provided, on a voluntary basis, via the web platform on the UNFCCC website;

  4. Developing countries should start providing the summary of information in their national communication or communication channel, including via the web platform of the UNFCCC after the start of the implementation of activities;

  5. The frequency of subsequent presentations of the summary of information should be consistent with the provisions for submissions of national communications from countries not included in Annex I to the Convention and, on a voluntary basis, via the web platform on the UNFCCC website.

Decision 17/ CP. 21 presents further guidance on ensuring transparency, consistency, comprehensiveness and effectiveness when informing on how all the safeguards referred to in decision 1/CP.16, appendix I, are being addressed and respected.

 

Table 4. Paris Decision (Decision 17/CP.21)

  1. Developing country Parties should provide information on which activity or activities referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70, are included in the summary of information;

  2. Strongly encourages developing country Parties, when providing the summary of information to include the following elements, where appropriate:

    (a) Information on national circumstances relevant to addressing and respecting the safeguards;

    (b) A description of each safeguard in accordance with national circumstances;

    (c) A description of existing systems and processes relevant to addressing and respecting safeguards, including the information systems referred to in decision 12/CP.17, in accordance with national circumstances;

    (d) Information on how each of the safeguards has been addressed and respected, in accordance with national circumstances.

  3. Encourages developing country Parties to provide any other relevant information on the safeguards in the summary of information.

  4. Also encourages developing country Parties to improve the information provided in the summary of information taking into account the stepwise approach.

  5. Decides that there is no need for further guidance.

 

 

 

Deberes y responsabilidades

 

 Click here for the full description of responsibilities including outputs, and table of deliverables

 

Competencias

  • Excellent team player with good interpersonal and communication skills;
  • Ability to demonstrate sufficient technical knowledge to perform effectively and independently;
  • Ability to manage workload with minimum supervision;
  • Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
  • Ability to accommodate additional demands on short notice;
  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Educational background: Master’s degree in social studies, environmental law, international law or any related studies, and/or at least five (5) years of relevant work experience with indigenous/tribal peoples or local communities; academic degree proving competence in legal and policy analysis, work experience related to governance, policies and measures.

Experience

  • At least ten (10) years of work experience in climate change policy, land-use policy and/or REDD+, at least five (5) years of experience working with actors of the public sector in developing countries, proven understanding of national context, experience and insight in land use sectors in Gabon (preferably by involving a national expert in the team), application of social and environmental standards and impact assessments. Specific experience in Safeguards Information Systems is an asset; Social and environmental data collection and analysis.

  • Excellent facilitation skills, capacity-building and multi-stakeholder engagement expertise, Information systems and database management. IT skills for building online portal

Language(s)

  • Fluency in French and English.

Duration & location

The consultancy is for up to 70 days and will start as soon as possible in January 2020 for a duration of 6 months. It will be home-based with possible missions to Gabon.

Reporting

The Consultant will report to the Head of CAFI Secretariat and Technical Advisor on Safeguards and will work closely with the Government of Gabon. Payment claims will be submitted upon completion of deliverables as indicated in the table of deliverables and subject to clearance by Supervisor.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The individual consultant will be compensated based on an all-inclusive daily fee, to be paid on a monthly basis, upon submission of a signed time sheet with corresponding deliverables, to be cleared by the Supervisor(s), and approved by the Principal Policy and Technical Advisor.

If mission travel is required, this will be administered and processed separately in accordance with standard UNDP travel policies and procedures.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

The consultant’s offer will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Combined Scoring method – where the technical qualifications will be weighted a maximum of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points (100 maximum points) would be considered for the financial criteria.

The key criteria for rating the qualifications are as follows:

Technical Criteria – 70% of total evaluation (max. 100 points)

  • Criteria A: Educational background: Master’s degree in Environmental law, international law: Academic degree proving competence in legal and policy analysis, work experience related to governance, policies and measures (max. points: 20 points)

  • Criteria B: Work experience: At least ten (10) years of work experience in climate change policy, land-use policy and/or REDD+, at least five (5) years of experience working with actors of the public sector in developing countries, proven understanding of national context, experience and insight in land use sectors in Gabon (preferably by involving a national expert in the team), application of social and environmental standards and impact assessments. Specific experience in Safeguards Information Systems is an asset; Social and environmental data collection and analysis (max. points: 30 points)

  • Criteria C: Skills: Excellent facilitation skills, capacity-building and multi-stakeholder engagement expertise, Information systems and database management; IT skills for building online portal (max. points: 30 points)

  • Criteria D: Language: English and French (max. points: 20 points)

Financial Criteria: 30%

Interviews may be conducted for shortlisted candidates.