Forest Carbon Consultant – Mozambique (m/f)

Description

• The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US-based non-governmental organization founded in 1895 that protects wildlife and wilderness by understanding critical issues, creating science-based solutions and promoting conservation actions that benefit nature and the humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 countries and experience in helping to establish more than 150 protected areas worldwide, WCS has accumulated biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant places, with flora and fauna, thrive together with local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, this knowledge is applied to address issues of management of species, habitats and critical ecosystems to improve the quality of life of rural poor people, whose livelihoods depend on the direct use of natural resources
• WCS created a national program in Mozambique in 2012, with two main objectives:
• Increase the protection of the Niassa Special Reserve (NSR), a vast landscape in the north of the country and improve the conservation status of its elephants through co-management of the Reserve; and Strengthen the management of protected areas at the national level, contributing to improving policies and strengthening the government's capacity to implement legislation on crimes against wildlife through the strategic involvement of government agencies in Maputo
• WCS Mozambique continues to work towards these objectives but has also commenced projects related to sustainable financing of conservation through the development of mechanisms for reconciling economic development with biodiversity conservation, including biodiversity offsets, the identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and marine/coastal conservation
• A resolution of the Council of Ministers of 9 June approved a 20-year co-management agreement between the National Conservation Area Administration (ANAC) and WCS for NSR. Under this arrangement, one of WCS’s responsibilities is to ensure long-term financial support for reserve management
• WCS seeks to evaluate the feasibility of cost effective carbon credit generation in the Niassa Special Reserve, while exploring other carbon crediting opportunities elsewhere in Mozambique that could support WCS’s conservation objectives
• The landscape of Niassa has the potential for carbon sequestration through a blend of forest protection (avoided deforestation) forest restoration activities, and the management of fire. WCS wishes to evaluate the potential for cost-effective generation of verified emissions reductions (VERs), and prepare the studies and documentation required to have the projects validated against the appropriate methodologies of the Verified Carbon Standard
• WCS is seeking a qualified forest carbon consultant to oversee and coordinate the technical, governance, and political components of the feasibility assessment and carbon project development processes. The consultant will be based in the Mozambique country programme office and will undertake the evaluation of crediting potential in the target landscape
• The objective of the work is to create a fact base that will facilitate investor decisions on the potential for cost effective credit generation over the long term i.e. to establish whether a project in the Niassa Special Reserve can produce and sell carbon credits at scale, and at a cost below that of the revenue generated by sales of the carbon credits, including start-up and verification costs. The Consultant will work with the Mozambique Country Director, and the East Africa Regional Carbon Advisor to coordinate input from technical experts and manage consultations with different government agencies and other stakeholders
• Position, Location: Maputo, Mozambique, with frequent travel to field
• Department, Division: East Africa Regional Program
• Reports to: East Afrcia Regional Carbon Advisor
• Coordinates with: Country Director, Regional Director, Conservation Solutions staff
• Term: 6 month consultancy with possibility for renewal
• Expected Start Date: January 2021

Duties

• Specific responsibilities of the Consultant will include, but not limited to:
• Develop pathway for securing government support
• Identify policy and regulation requirements
• Develop and implement a stakeholder engagement and collaboration approach
• Develop potential project governance structure, including across project partners
• Lead the assessment of the feasibility of the proposed project(s) in Niassa:
• Identify priority project interventions
• Identify appropriate standard and methodology
• Work with partners to dreate carbon credit generation potential models
• Examine appropriate business model and project intervention costs

Requisites

• Minimum 5 years of experience in natural resources management, conservation development management, or related field. Experience in climate finance arena required, carbon accounting knowledge strongly preferred
• Good knowledge of stakeholder management, in particular engaging CSOs and private sector entities
• Facilitation skills and ability to conduct and build collaborative programs among different stakeholders
• Strong understanding of REDD+ history in Mozambique and Government of Mozambique REDD+ framework development and legislation
• Good understanding of carbon crediting processes, voluntary market mechanisms, and national (Mz) and international governance processes covering forest carbon emissions, sequestration and storage
• Willingness to travel extensively to field sites, enage in field data collection, stakeholder meetings, etc.
• Languages:
• Portuguese - Excellent spoken and written
• English - Good spoken and written
• Proficiency in Swahili, Yao or Macua would be an advantage

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• The expert will be employed on a fixed term consultancy contract with WCS Mozambique
• Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, should apply by emailing an application letter and CV (English) to: Dr. Sarah M Walker E Africa Regional Carbon Advisor, WCS
• WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value
• WCS provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. WCS does not discriminate for employment based on age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations

How to Apply

1. Documentation

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae

2. Application

• Send your Documentation to smwalker@wcs.org with the Subject line “Forest Carbon Consultant - Mozambique”