CCAC National Agriculture Expert for Saint Lucia

Result of Service

The CCAC National Agriculture Expert will work in close collaboration with the CCAC Secretariat team and Focal Points at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Rural Development in Castries, Saint Lucia to coordinate the implementation of activities aimed at reducing short-lived climate pollutants in the livestock sector. Their role will involve providing essential assistance to facilitate the Saint Lucia government’s adoption of recommendations for integrating methane mitigation strategies into the Saint Lucia 2026 NDC update and the Long-Term Strategy until 2050. This will lead to a measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock sector.

Work Location

Castries, Saint Lucia

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, and representatives of the private sector, the environmental community, and other members of civil society. The CCAC is the only international initiative working on integrated climate and clean air solutions to reduce the rate of near-term warming. It focuses on fast action to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) including methane, black carbon, HFCs and tropospheric ozone. More information on the CCAC is available at: www.ccacoalition.org Saint Lucia aims to facilitate the transition to Tier 2 emissions calculations for inclusion in the 2026 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) update and the Long-Term Strategy until 2050. Additionally, it seeks to bolster waste recovery and reuse by evaluating intensive small ruminant and non-ruminant production systems, with an initial focus on pig production. This initiative is part of the government’s push for economic and rural development and aims to create a facilitative environment from which to develop regulations for biogas utilization from waste recovery. The livestock industry in Saint Lucia, particularly pig farming, has experienced notable growth due to factors such as shifts from banana to pig production and increased local market demand for pork. In contrast, the small ruminant sector has seen stagnation or decline. Effective management of manure and on-farm organic waste is vital for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and conserving valuable nutrients. As a member of the Global Methane Pledge, Saint Lucia is committed to reducing methane emissions through initiatives like waste-to-biogas projects. The Government of Saint Lucia aims to bolster the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Rural Development. This support is geared towards creating an enabling environment to facilitate the transition to Tier 2 emissions calculations and integrate SLCPs into the 2026 NDC update and the Long-Term Strategy until 2050. This involves assessing current and potential manure management systems including composting, drying, and daily spread, exploring new technologies like methane capture, and providing training and support for integrated greenhouse gas management systems, particularly for methane. The CCAC is therefore seeking a National Agriculture Expert to develop a comprehensive methane mitigation assessment for the livestock sector with policy recommendations outlining achievable methane reduction targets and actionable strategies. The Expert will also deliver a plan for disseminating these mitigation techniques to Saint Lucian farmers, focusing on both pig production and the broader small ruminant sector. This consultancy will play a critical role in supporting Saint Lucia’s efforts to meet its emissions reduction targets and promote sustainable agricultural practices. The consultant will engage with the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries through the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) to conduct additional activities necessary to the successful completion of the CCAC consultancy. All activities and outputs will be included in the same workplan and deliverables reports.

Qualifications/special skills

-An advanced university degree in agriculture or science or climate change or a related field/equivalent, from a recognized institution is required. Another degree combined with extensive professional experience in the agriculture sector may be accepted. – At least 2 years of professional experience working in a field relevant to environmental management/science, climate change, or agriculture is required. – Ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholder groups including national governments is required. – Excellent understanding of GHG emissions reduction from the agriculture sector is desirable. – Excellent communication skills (written and oral presentations) is desirable. – Knowledge of the national policies in agriculture, climate change mitigation and air pollution is desirable. – A good understanding of short-lived climate pollutants, climate change and air pollution issues in Saint Lucia is desirable. – Ability to work with advanced formulas in Excel spreadsheets is desirable.

Languages

– Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

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.