Finance, Economics and Project Performance Consultant

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Project: Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) Program – GIS05E-1-03

• Duty Station: Bogotá, Colombia

• Contract Duration: 22 July 2024 – 31 May 2025

• Consultant Level: Level 4 – Daily Rate

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Carbon Pricing Unit (CPU) of GGGI is implementing several programs related to scaling up international carbon trading, now covered by Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.  By opening these markets and the resultant flow of transactions it is envisaged a robust and reliable global price for carbon can be established, something many governments and private sector actors have long called for as a way to motivate the transformational change needed to achieve the ambitious goals of Paris. GGGI’s Article 6 programs provide technical assistance and capacity building to government counterparts to improve their readiness for Article 6 engagement. These programs support the design of projects and policies for pilot transactions and strengthening of institutional frameworks required for their implementation.

The Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) Program, funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German government, is a five year, 20M EUR program currently in its final stages of approval, with implementation expected to begin in Q2 2022. Its objective is to use Article 6 (A6) cooperative approaches to engage the private sector in NDC implementation and to raise ambition. This will enable cost-efficient, flexible, high integrity carbon markets with positive sustainability impacts. Transformative design of A6 pilots for real transactions of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs) will be enabled by research-based capacity building in four partner countries: Colombia, Pakistan, Thailand and Zambia. The program consists of six work packages, of which two are centrally managed and four are country driven. In the first two, best practice tools and approaches to implement cooperative mechanisms will be developed, underpinned by an international forum – a high ambition community of practice – that brings together countries and practitioners, who share the common objective of raising ambition through markets. In-country implementation will focus on three areas of work in each of the four countries:  

1) Long-term planning, 2) institutional readiness to transact and 3) pilot design and transactions. More than eight A6 pilot programs will be implemented in Colombia, Pakistan, Thailand and Zambia based on a toolbox of innovative guidance and approaches for transformative A6 design.

The program is implemented through a consortium led by GGGI and consisting of UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre, Carbon Limits AS, GFA Consulting Group GmbH, and Kommunalkredit Public Consulting GmbH. SPAR6C is supporting Colombia in developing its institutional, regulatory, and technical framework and capacities to embark on Article 6 transactions of ITMOs during the NDC implementation period 2020-2030 of Paris Agreement.

The Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) Program is supporting Colombia in developing its institutional, regulatory, and technical framework and capacities to embark on Article 6 transactions of ITMOs during the NDC implementation period 2020-2030. The program’s first stage has been the development of a Readiness and Needs Assessment for implementing Article 6 (RNA), which examines the country’s capacities and systems to consolidate a strategy and guiding principles, institutional and procedural framework, and monitoring tools related to Article 6. The analysis was carried out based on secondary information registered in the NDC, the National GHG Emissions Inventory, the Biennial Update Report, and existing policies and regulations related to climate change, among others. Workshops were held with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to identify the country’s progress in terms of regulations regarding cooperative approaches to Article 6, and what actions and activities are necessary to begin Colombia’s enlistment. To collect primary information, semi-structured interviews were conducted with relevant market actors, including the government, the private sector, and cooperation agencies.

The RNA developed by the program identifies the need to include additional costs related with the implementation of the mitigation measures that may not been included in the marginal abatement cost curves (MACC) analysis. During the last two years, the Colombian government had work in the identification of new mitigation activities and the update of MACC of the measures already identified. It is expected to advance in the evaluation of the role that the Article 6 carbon market may have in financing the NDC targets, and the impact it may have not only on the fulfilment of national goals but also on the national economy. Furthermore, relevant robust inputs that inform the trajectory of implementation of mitigation actions to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, informing the update of the following NDCs including the carbon market as one of the financing instruments and increase ambition. 

With this context, GGGI is seeking an experienced economics and financial expert to support economic and mitigation technical activities that develop the program. The expert will advise the program in the development a cost-benefit analysis of the mitigation measures included in the NDC to describe state of art, the identification of financial gaps, improvement cost information, development a financial plan, building scenarios of financing including the evaluation of the Article 6, and other recommendations related with implications and opportunities the country will have by participating in Article 6 carbon market and implementing the NDC mitigation actions in the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) Program in Colombia.

On the other hand, update of the Nationally Determined Contribution of Colombia is presented as the opportunity for the country to show that it is the leader in climate action that it intends to be and the commitment the country has in the long-term sustainable development. The updating process will require of hard work to collect lessons learned and determine compliance with the commitments contained in the document. It is in this, in which the SPAR6C program will contribute supporting the national government in the follow-up of the NDC implementation of the targets sets at the management and reduction level, but even more importantly, contributing to the increase of national ambition by improving knowledge of the implementation of the NDC. The consultant will participate in technical discussions and support the competent entities in the topic. 

In addition, this professional will provide permanent support to the Program Coordinator for project management and quality control, administrative and management processes implemented by the organization.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

GGGI is seeking an economic and financial expert that support the preparation and implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement in Colombia and support the implementation and monitoring of activities of the IKI SPAR6C Program at GGGI Colombia and GGGI´s Carbon Pricing Unit.

SCOPE OF WORK

Under supervision of the GGGI Colombia Senior Officer – Policy Coordinator & SPAR6C Colombia Coordinator, the consultant will support the following activities of Article 6 preparedness and implementation in Colombia:

1. Preparation of work plan of activities in a coordinated manner with GGGI.

2. Support the generation of robust information that will allow the country the NDC update and the new NDC for 2031-2035 that will be delivered to the UNFCCC by October/November 2025. It is relevant the advice to the counterparts to identify the business plan to be developed that will allow the country to identify the role that Article 6 may have as a financing strategy for the actions included in the NDC and the inclusion of additional actions.  In addition, it requires specific support in topics related to voluntary market financing, MRV, finance, and mitigation to DNP, according to the indications and needs outlined by the entity.

3. Advice and guide the analysis of the economic and financial aspects and identifying lessons learned and opportunities for improvement for the financing of environmental investments applicable to the implementation of Article 6, in close collaboration with GGGI’s team, consulting firms and partners.

4. Support the technical assistance concept note for economic and mitigation modelling for Article 6 in Colombia.

5. Support the strengthening of capacities of the team and stakeholders related to SPAR6C program. That includes the support and elaboration of thematic content developed in the capacity-building component.

6. Assist the Colombia project manager in project management activities, particularly in relation to the development and monitoring of the annual operational plan and the timely completion of tasks by SPAR6C Colombia staff and consultants.

7. Support the quality control of technical deliverables by consultants and consulting firms ensuring the fulfillment of contractual obligations and GGGI-specific requirements to guarantee a standardized revision as a complement to the technical revision by contract supervisors.

8. Implement economic and financial activities of GGGI’s projects/programs in close collaboration with GGGI’s team and partners.

9. Generate content suitable for concept notes, reports, presentations, and other support materials required by GGGI related to SPAR6C.

10. Work in tandem with the GGGI team to support preparedness for Article 6 in Colombia.

11. Carry out monthly reports of activities held through the consultancy.

REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS

The consultancy will be supervised by Senior Officer, Policy Coordinator and GGGI SPAR6C Colombia Project Manager, to ensure the timely and quality delivery of the products described in the contractual objectives.  Follow up of activities will be done taking as reference the agreed working plan and further amendments as agreed.

• The consultant’s work progress will be monitored primarily through periodic review meetings for planning, and biweekly meetings for prioritizing activities, changing in priorities and scope of deliverables. These review meetings will tackle subjects such as overview of contractual objectives, development of activities, detailed information milestones, actual achievements made against the timeline initially settled, and any other relevant progress details. The assessments will be carried out under the guidance of GGGI staff.

• The consultant will carry out the foreseen activities virtually, and in person as agreed in the workplan and during its progress. A presence in the GGGI office of at least 40% is required and attend virtual meetings with other programs regionally and globally.

• All products (documents with their annexes and infographics, diagrams, tables, and any graphic developed to facilitate understanding of technical contents) will be delivered in digital media, in open files that allow their edition.

• In terms of language, all reports and requested deliverables be in Spanish. The work plan and an executive summary (2-3 pages a word document and 5-slides PowerPoint document) at the end of the consultancy must be presented in both languages Spanish and English.

• The consultant must submit monthly progress reports in GGGI’s standard template. 

• All relevant technical documents, reports and other documents prepared from the beginning to the end of the consultancy will be attached to the Final Report.

SUGGESTED METHODOLOGY

The consultant is expected to have biweekly interactions with the Senior Officer, Policy Coordinator and GGGI SPAR6C Colombia Project. The consultant will be asked to report progress in relation to contractual objectives, activities, and milestones during the meeting. The consultant shall support the GGGI team in internal and donor reports on the topics of the consultancy. The consultant shall communicate any proposed deviation from the Workplan to the GGGI supervisor, including as a result of changes requested by the Ministry of Environment. Changes in the workplan could be agreed as a result between GGGI and the consultant.

The consultant will be expected to follow a highly consultative process, including organizing and leading validation calls with Minambiente and other project stakeholders. Additionally, the consultant will participate in bi-weekly meetings of the Project Team.

Before submitting each deliverable, the consultant will be expected to share and circulate a draft version of the document with the GGGI Project Manager, allowing at least two weeks to receive comments and feedback. Submission of final deliverables must include a clean version as well as a tracked changes version (for MS Word documents) which includes responses to comments received.

Within the framework of the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation Program, the consultant must promote and participate of discussions, technical inputs and proposals to support the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, acknowledging and taking into account the following objectives/activities of SPAR6C Program for Colombia:

• Develop a Strategy for Participation in Article for the Government of Colombia.

• Support Colombia in a strategic engagement in current and forthcoming bilateral agreements related to A6.

• CDM transition process.

• Provide input and strategic advice for the COP-ASIC global and national program.

• Support the consolidation of arrangement with national universities to implement the COP-ASIC program in Colombia.

• Develop a technical evaluation of real projects with potential to participate in A6.2 and A6.4 carbon market.

• Support the identification and evaluation of the sectorial MRV systems to determine the potential for A6 participation.

• Support structuring of mitigation actions prioritized for Article 6.

• To generate skills, competences and knowledge appropriation on article 6 in different stakeholders that promote research, projects developers, decisions based on evidence, among other.

• Maintain the positioning of SPAR6C and GGGI with regards for A6 activities in Colombia; keep stakeholders up to date with the latest developments on A6.

• To promote studies and research of high impact on article 6 and its application in the Colombian framework that can be inputs and evidence for policy makers and decision makers.

The description of required expert may be split into following parts:

• (REQUIRED) Must be a Colombian citizen, or a foreigner holding a valid Work Visa.

• (REQUIRED) Undergraduate studies in administrative or economic sciences (Business Administration; Finance, Financial Administration, Public Accounting, Public Administration, International Business, Economics, or related); environmental sciences (Biology, Ecology or similar), Geography or Earth Sciences Forestry Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or Political Science.

• (REQUIRED) Postgraduate degree in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Policy, Environmental Economics or similar.

• (REQUIRED) Professional experience of at least seven (7) years in business model formulation, public financing, investor relations and business development, climate change and/or mitigation and carbon markets. Advantageous to have demonstrated experience in business development, planning and implementation.

• (REQUIRED) Knowledge of the environmental sector, public financing, multilateral funds, including the role of the private sector in public financing.

• (DESIRABLE) Experience in cost-benefit analysis, financial modelling and econometric modelling.

• (DESIRABLE) Field experience and context understanding of environment and development institutions, bottlenecks, issues, and policies at the national and local levels.

• (DESIRABLE) Previous experience in project monitoring and strategic planning.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

• Exceptional analytical and quantitative skills; capacity for synthesis, presentation, and communication; and strategic thinking skills.

• Organized with excellent time management and attention to detail.

• Strong and matured interpersonal skills and proven ability to work with teams.

• Ability to work well under pressure and have a flexible approach to tasks given.

• Strong command of spoken and written English and Spanish.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

• Selection method / process: Competitive Selection

• Required documentation:  Application form, CV, cover letter

• Timeline of the selection: 14 days

• Date to close is Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered

• Application. Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.