CCAC National Agriculture Expert

The CCAC National Agriculture Expert will work in close collaboration with the CCAC Secretariat team and the Ministry of National Development Planning/BAPPENAS to develop methane mitigation scenarios for the irrigated rice sector. These scenarios will inform Indonesia’s 5-year medium-term plan, currently under development. The consultant will also prepare policy recommendations outlining achievable methane reduction targets and actionable strategies; and will deliver a plan for disseminating these mitigation techniques to Indonesian rice farmers.

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 Indonesia, in its enhanced 2022 NDC increased the country’s emissions reduction targets, from 29% in the first and updated NDCs to 31.89% unconditionally, using the country’s own resources and capabilities. The conditional emissions reduction target increased from 41% to 43.20%. Reducing methane emissions from irrigated rice fields will play a critical role in meeting Indonesia’s mitigation targets. To date however Indonesia does not have a roadmap for reducing methane emissions from irrigated rice fields. According to BAPPENAS methane emissions from the paddy rice sector are estimated at 34,860 GgCO2e.

Standard production practices using continuous flooding (CF) are resource intensive and contribute significant global methane emissions but are usually practiced by farmers to suppress weed emergence. Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) is one of the techniques that has proven to reduce water consumption in rice production by 30%, thus, enabling farmers to cut down on production cost without yield penalty. The AWD technology has also been proven to effectively mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, specifically methane (CH4), from rice production by 30-70%, without causing a yield reduction. Other drainage practices, such as mid-season drainage, have also proven to effectively mitigation methane (CH4) emissions. Studies have demonstrated that methane emission reductions associated with mid-season drainage in rice field range from about 7 to 95% with little effect on rice grain yield.

Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) is currently developing its Medium-Term Development Planning process for the next five-year period (2025-2029).BAPPENAS has requested CCAC support to develop methane mitigation scenarios for the irrigated rice sector using system dynamics modelling to identify causal-loops and anticipated projections. These scenarios will inform Indonesia’s 5-year medium-term plan, currently under development. The CCAC is therefore seeking a National Agriculture Expert to develop a comprehensive methane mitigation assessment for the rice 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 Indonesian rice farmers.

• Output expectations: Output 1.1: Methane mitigation assessment for the irrigated rice sector, encompassing:
• Defined data inputs, model assumptions, variable definitions, uncertainties, and limitations associated with the assessment.
• A comprehensive analysis of methane mitigation practices in the irrigated rice sector, identifying: o The most effective methods for reducing methane emissions across different rice cultivation practices (harvesting, processing) like AWD and mid-season drainage, soil types, planting seasons, and agricultural ecological regions. o An assessment of potential co-benefits, including increased climate resilience of rice production systems, and changes in rice yield associated with different mitigation practices.
• Output 2.1: Compilation of policy recommendations based on assessment findings, including:
• A proposed methane emission reduction target for the irrigated rice sector. o Specific actions and strategies for achieving the proposed target, such as: incentives for farmers to adopt effective methane mitigation practices, and regulatory frameworks to encourage sustainable rice production methods. o Recommendations for integrating methane mitigation measures into Indonesia’s 5-year medium-term plan, outlining budgetary allocations for mitigation initiatives, timelines for implementation, and institutional responsibilities.
• Guidance for Bappenas on developing a dissemination process for introducing AWD, mid-season drainage, and other effective mitigation technologies to Indonesian rice farmers. Output 3.1: Formulation of action plans for methane emission reduction,
• comprising: A short-term action plan with immediate measures to initiate methane emission reduction efforts.
• A medium-term strategy for sustained methane reduction within a defined timeframe.
• A long-term vision with initiatives for continuous improvement and adaptation of mitigation strategies.
• Output 4.1: A comprehensive framework for the Indonesian government,
• including: Detailed guidelines for executing the proposed policies and action plans.
• Mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of implemented methane reduction initiatives. This could involve: o Establishing baseline methane emission levels. o Regularly monitoring changes in methane emissions after implementing mitigation practices. o Metrics to track progress towards achieving the proposed methane reduction target.
• Capacity-building initiatives to support stakeholders (farmers, policymakers, extension services) in effectively implementing methane mitigation measures.
• Output 5.1: Participate in SLCP-relevant events.
• Make presentations at CCAC online and in-person events and meetings (especially the CCAC Agriculture Hub) to showcase the country’s successes as well as to detail any challenges or requests for assistance.
• Raise awareness on SLCP at the national/sub-national level.
• Participate in sectoral hubs and engagement with implementation facilitators.
• Other ad hoc outputs as agreed.

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 15-20 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 in modelling of GHG/SLCP mitigation measures with different software.
• Demonstrated use of dynamics modelling 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 Indonesia is desirable.
• Ability to work with advanced formulas in Excel spreadsheets is desirable.

Languages

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required.
• Fluency in Bahasa Indonesia (written and spoken) is desirable.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/233646?language=en