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Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is hiring: Carbon Markets Specialist (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification)

admin April 12, 2023

7 minutes read

DEADLINE: 13 April 2023

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is hiring: Carbon Markets Specialist (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification)

Background About SEforALL

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an international organization working with leaders in government, the private sector and civil society to drive further, faster action toward achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), which calls for universal access to sustainable energy by 2030, and the Paris Agreement, which calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate warming to well below 2° Celsius (and striving for 1.5° Celsius).

Achieving these goals will require a radical rethink of the way we produce, distribute and consume energy. SEforALL is at the heart of this foundational shift to ensure no one is left behind. Drawing on data and evidence, we identify a critical path to success in achieving SDG7.

The 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 20121. Now an independent organization, we maintain close links with the UN, including through a relationship agreement, partnerships with UN agencies and with SEforALL’s CEO acting as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative (SRSG) for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy. These roles include advising the UN Secretary General and his staff on issues relating to sustainable energy and the implementation of SDG7 and supporting the coordination of sustainable energy issues in the United Nations system.

The ambitions of SDG7 are extraordinary. Aiming to achieve them in the context of the Paris Agreement on climate change involves transformation at a scale never undertaken before. Swift action must be taken by leaders in governments, private sector companies, institutions, financiers, development banks, unions, communities, entrepreneurs and civil society. As we enter the final decade to achieve SDG7, SEforALL has strategically chosen to strengthen global agenda-setting while expanding its activities to an engagement model that prioritizes data-driven decision-making, partnerships with high-impact countries and implementation on the ground. SEforALL’s current three-year business plan outlines “results offers” that scope out our planned interventions and demonstrate to our funding partners the impact of their support.

Context of the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI)

The Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) is a continent-wide effort launched at COP27 that aims to build the foundations for a thriving voluntary carbon market (VCM) ecosystem in Africa by 2030. To do so, a number of challenges must be overcome, including: fragmented projects and carbon generating assets, limited and fragmented developers on the ground, and a complex and uncertain regulatory landscape. Meanwhile, intermediation and demand are being held back by concerns about the integrity of some carbon credits and fair distribution of value. To build vibrant and robust voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) in Africa, ACMI includes 4 core objectives:

Grow African carbon credits retirements ~19-fold from ~16 MtCO2e retired in 2020 to ~300 MtCO2e per annum by 2030 and up to 1.5-2.5 GtCO2e by 2050.
Create or support 30 million jobs by 2030 and more than 100 million jobs by 2050 through carbon projects development, execution, certification, and monitoring.
Raise the quality and integrity of African credits to mobilize up to US$6 billion by 2030 and more than US$100 billion per annum by 2050.
Ensure equitable and transparent distribution of carbon credit revenue, with a significant portion of revenue going to local communities.

To achieve these objectives, ACMI has laid out a roadmap of 13 Action Programmes across the VCM value chain – spanning supply, intermediation and financing, and demand. Action Programmes 4 looks specifically at monitoring, reporting, and verification and validation (MRV) activities; Action Programme 9 deals with advocating on building demand for African carbon credits; Action Programme 10 focuses on piloting new project types and methodologies relevant to decarbonization opportunities; and Action Programme 13 centers on ensuring the integrity of carbon markets in Africa. All fall within the responsibilities of the Project Coordinator – MRV, integrity, equity and advocacy.

To overcome the shortcomings linked to limited availability of validation and certification outlets on the continent (mainly linked to insufficient local verification/validation capacity, high cost and long lead times, as well as presence of methodologies not always relevant for Africa), SEforALL, in collaboration with its ACMI partners, is working to build additional capacity and facilitation of monitoring, reporting, validation and verification activities across jurisdictions.

To further strengthen demand for high-quality and integrity African carbon credit, SEforALL is leading advocacy campaigns as well as looking at options to open up access to compliance markets (e.g., such as those in the EU, China, California).

To better capture specific decarbonization opportunities on the continent, SEforALL is seeking to develop new types of projects across multiple sectors (e.g., renewable energy, waste management, engineered carbon dioxide removals, transport, agriculture and soil sequestration, livestock, blue carbon), along with methodologies that are better adapted to the local context.

Lastly, to strengthen the reputation and integrity of certain African credit types, SEforALL, in collaboration with its ACMI parterns, is championship for the complete integrity of African carbon markets, including alignment to global climate action, supply and demand integrity and equity for local players and communities.

Purpose/Objective of the role

Responsible for overseeing and coordinating pilots around new carbon methodologies, support in MRV capacity building across sovereign and private players and support the build-up of demand for African carbon credits via continent-wide, awareness-raising initiatives. This while thoroughly ensuring the utmost integrity of carbon markets.
Leading the engagement with VVB/auditors with a view to make the MRV process more efficient and cost effective.

Duties and Accountabilities

The main duties and tasks of the role include:

Work on a varied portfolio of activities, including: project management support, collaboration with partners, quantitative and qualitative analysis, presentation of analytical results, collaboration with SEforALL and ACMI colleagues.
Engage with sovereign and private players in drafting strategic plans for the set up and scale MRV capacity building across jurisdictions.
Maintain a network and level of engagement to keep current with development in the MRV space in Africa.
Develop and provide dedicated validation and verification curriculum and trainings to build local capabilities, in partnership with universities, technical schools, standard setters and existing VVBs.
Support stakeholders incubating emerging technologies that can facilitate faster and easier verification, monitoring, and reporting.
Plan awareness raising campaigns on of the integrity and quality of differentiated Africa carbon credits, identifying events and partners best placed to support the work that SEforALL is undertaking vis-à-vis the MRV.
Oversee pilots of new carbon credits methodologies by interacting with international stakeholders.
Support the development of carbon projects through collaboration with international organisations for the need to invest, establishing guidelines on best practices, providing technical support to local project developers, and incubating early-stage projects.
Promote carbon markets integrity via coordinating international standards bodies (VCS – Verra, Gold Standard for the Global Goals, Article 6 mechanism) and participating in advocacy campaigns.
Represent SEforALL in external conversations, forums, and partnerships · Provide ongoing support to resolve strategic questions as they emerge during Action Programme implementation.
Support Thematic Group meetings, including managing meeting cadence, confirming attendees, prepare briefings and content, managing inputs/advisory received from attendees and coordinating with the Thematic Group Chair.

Specific Competencies for the Role

Master’s Degree in environmental science, economics, international development or any other related field
Have a minimum of six (6) years’ hands-on experience in carbon markets, sustainable energy, or other related fields
At least five years of experience in the design and implementation of MRV systems and protocols, preferably in the field of climate change or environmental management.
Strong knowledge of international MRV frameworks, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and market-based mechanisms for climate change mitigation.
Experience in / knowledge of voluntary carbon markets, especially if in Africa.
Experience in emerging markets and developing countries, with demonstrated expertise working with development, political and social issues across Africa.
Understanding of various assessment methodologies is a plus, along with a thorough technical understanding of mitigation strategies.
High level understanding of current status of MRV capacity on the continent and of barriers to scale.
Experience in organizing awareness raising campaigns and mobilizing relevant actors.
Strong quantitative and analytical writing skills; advanced proficiency in MS Excel and significant experience in producing concise, executive level reports and presentations, training modules and materials.
Excellent interpersonal, social and networking skills, ability to engage with governments and the private sector. Prior experience working with governments and other broad partnerships highly desirable.
Experience with knowledge management, learning and innovations in access to energy. Ability to raise awareness, coach and provide training to technical and non-technical project and partner staff.
Entrepreneurial, result-oriented and driver for change. Ability to be flexible and adaptable.
Strong communications and negotiation skills in speaking, writing, as well as presenting materials in variety of media.
Expert command of the English language. Fluency in French and Portugese will be an added advantage.

General Competencies for the Role

Innovation and Adaptability: Has proficient skills and commitment to search for and produce innovative and creative approaches to activities. Is flexible to evolving circumstances, as well as helps others in doing so.
Resilience and Emotional Intelligence: Has proficient knowledge in the concepts of resilience and emotional intelligence. Is able to remain calm in challenging situations, to cope with setbacks, is responsive to the emotions of others and maintains a high level of performance.
Analytical and Strategic Thinking: Has a proficient level of analytical and strategic thinking skills. Gathers and processes demanding information, develops innovative solutions and contributes by representing topics/approaches in internal working groups/teams.
Collaboration and Partnership: Demonstrates proficient initiative and abilities to collaborate and partner with others in own are, and across teams. Identifies, develops, builds and actively promotes partnerships and collaboration, maintaining long-lasting partnerships. Displays team-oriented attitude contributing to creating a positive team spirit.
Lead and Empower: Demonstrates initiative and role model behaviour in leading and empowering others. Takes responsibility for own work activities and personal actions and carries out the commitments agreed upon.
Political and diplomatic understanding: Has a proficient level of political and diplomatic understanding.
Communicating information: Has expert skills in communicating information and uses the skills effectively in own scope of work and in others’ work.
Research and Analytics: Has proficient skills in research and analytics and uses the skills effectively in own scope of work.
Project Management: Has proficient skills in project management. Plans and organises their own work using project management tools in support of achieving the team’s objectives.
Client Orientation / Striving for Excellence: Has proficient skills in client orientation and achieving excellency in work delivery.