Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) Expert

Result of Service

The MRV LULUCF Expert will be responsible for supporting the Sectoral Ministries in specific sectoral challenges regarding of MRV, in key themes for Brazil, such as land use change, land use (including pasture restoration). This work will be conducted under the daily coordination of the Plano Clima Senior Technical Coordinator, following general guidance from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, as well as UNEP. As a result of the elaboration of the MRV framework for the Brazilian National Climate Plan, it is expected that it allows the government to monitor GHG emissions reduction from the implementation plans transparently and demonstrate trajectory towards the targets defined. The improved MRV can also help the identification of data gaps and adjustments needed on a more granular level, in a format consistent to the recent Modalities, Procedures and Guidelines (MPG) of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), under the Paris Agreement.

Work Location

Brasilia, home-based

Expected duration

6.4 months

Duties and Responsibilities

In recognition of the seriousness of the climate emergency, the government of Brazil is now committed to structuring a renewed and ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). In comparison to the proposition presented at COP 21, Brazil aims to achieve a 48% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2025 and 53% GHG emissions reduction by 2030. In September 2023, the Brazilian government restructured the Interministerial Committee on Climate Change – CIM, which will be an important locus for management, coordination, and articulation regarding the national climate policy. In addition to determining the correction of the Brazilian NDC to the levels of ambition that Brazil had initially proposed in 2015, the Committee established interministerial working groups to the Brazilian carbon market (SBCE) and to update the law that established the National Policy on Climate Change – PNMC. The CIM also established a Resolution that mandates updating the National Plan on Climate Change – Plano Clima, establishing two interministerial working groups to coordinate the work, one on mitigation and the other on adaptation. Plano Clima will be the main instrument for implementing climate policy, thus consolidating the strategies and goals of the Federal Government to achieve the objectives of the PNMC and the goals of the Brazilian NDC. The new Climate Plan will cover the period between 2024 and 2035 and will have national and sectoral mitigation and adaptation targets for the years 2030 and 2035, simultaneously compatible with the objective of climate neutrality. The Climate Plan (2024 – 2035) will include national mitigation and adaptation strategies as well as a cross-cutting strategy for climate action. On the mitigation side, a major component of the national mitigation strategy under development consists of seven sectoral mitigation plans. These plans cover agriculture and livestock, land use and forests, energy (including electricity and fuels), industry, waste, cities (including urban mobility), and transport, and will be complemented by relevant aspects in the cross-cutting strategy. The mitigation component is expected to be developed with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC), with funding from the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT). Objectives: The consultant will propose strategies for the establishment of the MRV system focusing on the LULUCF sector to effectively measure the achievement of the objectives of Brazil’s National Mitigation Strategy and its sectoral mitigation plans. Activities – Map the current situation of the concerned LULUCF sector, looking at the institutional arrangements for data collection and data management, current procedures, methodologies, and identification of barriers and challenges regarding MRV structure under the enhanced transparency framework and data collection. Identify gaps and needs for the adjustments to the national MRV system. – Support the relevant sectoral Ministry(ies) in developing adequate monitoring and evaluation framework for critical activities to achieve their mitigation targets, such as measuring carbon removals in pasture recovery, and forest restoration. – Support the sectoral expert to identify indicators to track progress towards the implementation and achievement of the sectoral targets for LULUCF. Involving relevant ministries and agencies, assess the availability of relevant data, data gaps, and existing institutional arrangements for collecting them. Existing frameworks to be leveraged, especially in agriculture. – Contribute to the development of the ” “Monitoring, Management, Evaluation and Transparency Mechanisms Strategy” of Brazil’s Plano Clima to consolidate the key indicators to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of the Plan. – Support to adjust the indicators defined to monitor the contributions of each state (and if possible, cities) to national targets for the LULUCF sector once the MRV strategy for Brazil’s Plano Clima is completed. Performance indicators: ● Timely submission of all deliverables according to the workplan in a clear and sufficient writing manner for UNEP review and approval before payment ● Attendance of regular coordination calls with UNEP experts as well as daily communication with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and UNEP Brazil office. ● Presence in Brasilia and working from the UNEP Brazil office are required at least twice per month or for a minimum of 5 days per month. The specific schedule will be jointly decided by the consultant with UNEP CCC and the UNEP Brazil office and will take into account the project’s demands 3.2. Specific tasks and responsibilities Deliverable 1: – Initial workplan of overall tasks and activities to taken within the contractor, including meeting, drafting/revision of documents agreed with UNEP – Submission of a progress report outlining activities taken to advance the development of the agreed MRV framework to support MRV tracking for LULUCF, proposing adjustments as necessary for approval. Deliverable 2: – Scoping report on current institutional arrangements for data collection and management, procedures, methodologies, and the barriers and challenges related to MRV in the LULUCF sector. – Submission of a progress report outlining activities taken to advance the development of the agreed MRV framework to support MRV tracking for LULUCF, proposing adjustments as necessary for approval. Deliverable 3: – Draft MRV framework to support MRV tracking for LULUCF (in collaboration with the LULUCF expert and financial analysis expert) – Submission of a progress report outlining activities taken to advance the development of the agreed MRV framework to support MRV tracking for LULUCF, proposing adjustments as necessary for approval. Deliverable 4: – MRV framework to support MRV tracking for LULUCF – Submission of a progress report outlining activities taken to advance the development of the agreed MRV framework to support MRV tracking for LULUCF, proposing adjustments as necessary for approval. Deliverable 5: – Submission of inputs in the form of a short report on the MRV Framework to support tracking for LULUCF to be integrated into Brazil’s “Monitoring, Management, Evaluation, and Transparency Mechanisms Strategy” under the Plano Clima, and consolidate key indicators to measure the Plan’s effectiveness and efficiency. – Submission of a progress report outlining activities taken to advance the development of the agreed MRV framework to support MRV tracking for LULUCF, proposing adjustments as necessary for approval. Deliverable 6: – Report on the Indicators for monitoring state and city contributions to national LULUCF targets in Brazil’s Plano Clima MRV Strategy – Submission of a progress report outlining activities taken to advance the development of the agreed MRV framework to support MRV tracking for LULUCF, proposing adjustments as necessary for approval. Deliverable 7: – Submission of a progress report outlining activities taken to advance the development of the agreed MRV framework to support MRV tracking for LULUCF, proposing adjustments as necessary for approval.

Qualifications/special skills

● Advanced university degree, master or equivalent in Environmental Sciences, Engineering or Management, Natural Resource Management, Energy, Climate change, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or other relevant fields of study. ● A first-level university degree in combination with 4 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. ● A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in climate change MRV, conducting mitigation analysis (specifically on the concerned sectors of land use and forestry) ● Knowledge and understanding of the Paris Agreement and in particular article 13 and related decisions. ● Knowledge of the IPCC GHG inventory guidelines and software. ● Good knowledge and understanding of the UNFCC reporting requirements. ● Demonstrated experience in preparing GHG inventories, specifically in Brazil. ● Technical expertise working with proposal and analysis of Monitoring, Reporting and Verification System is required. ● In-depth knowledge of the national plans, strategies, and policies related to climate change in Brazil is required. ● Technical expertise working with the LULUCF sector planning is required ● Proven ability to work under pressure, with tight deadlines is required. ● Proven ability in articulation with different organizations and sectors (public and private) is required. ● Technical experience working with Integrated Assessment Models is an asset

Languages

● Excellent verbal and written communication in English and Portuguese is required.

Additional Information

The MRV – LULUCF Expert will report to the UNEP-CCC Climate Advisor while working on a day-to-day basis with the Climate Plan Senior Technical Coordinator, the Brazilian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and the UNEP Brazil Climate Policy Lead. Preparation of monthly updates as well as submission of the deliverables established in this TORs or agreed afterwards with the Brazilian government or UNEP.

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.