INTRODUCTION

USAID seeks to unlock the potential of private capital to drive inclusive growth. Increasingly, private investors and businesses are looking to emerging markets for better returns and new market opportunities. Specifically, USAID can leverage its resources – grants, technical assistance, guarantees, and convening power – to help raise awareness of investment opportunities, lower transaction costs, and mitigate the risk of investments that generate positive social, economic, and environmental impact.

Through INVEST’s flexible buy-in mechanism, USAID Missions and Operating Units can access an unprecedented network of firms and individuals that have the range of technical expertise needed to identify opportunities and effectively mobilize private capital toward development priorities. Using a lean approach tailored to high potential opportunities, relevant parts of the network will come together to research, develop, and build specific solutions that align private capital with development needs

 

INVEST Pakistan

USAID/Pakistan engaged INVEST to support its broader efforts to support Pakistan’s voluntary carbon market (VCM), which include assisting with the creation of a Measuring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system, a digital greenhouse gas (GHG) registry, and legal framework for the VCM. Moreover, USAID/Pakistan aims to provide technical assistance and funding to help the Government of Pakistan increase the capacity of a national authority (likely the Ministry of Climate) to consolidate the voluntary carbon market and build out a national carbon registry to ease the tracking and trade of carbon credits. Additionally, funds and timeline permitting, INVEST Pakistan aims to support private-sector carbon projects, either by convening potential buyers and directing financing towards early-stage projects, or by increasing the capacity and knowledge of project developers in-country.

 

ASSIGNMENT

The Voluntary Carbon Market Consultant will be responsible for supporting USAID, the Pakistan Ministry of Climate Change, and other relevant stakeholders in identifying the appropriate MRV system and GHG Registry for the Pakistan context that best align with the public purpose of a voluntary carbon market: conservation, GHG reductions, environmental integrity, sustainability, equitable benefit sharing, and community benefits under the USAID/Vietnam buy-in.

An MRV system is vital to track emissions in sectors such as energy, industry, transport, waste and agriculture forestry and other land-use, calculate emissions and emission reductions, ensure environmental integrity, and enable ‘corresponding adjustments’ to the NDCs of the selling and buying countries in order to avoid double counting of credits sold to other countries. Pakistan has prioritized this action in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) as the country gears up for global stocktake in 2023 under the Paris agreement.

In addition, a GHG registry system also needs to be set up to support the transaction process of eligible projects in the regional and international carbon markets. Registry essentially adopts a bottom-up approach to gather the firm or corporate level data. The nature of the registry will be voluntary where data will be collected from entities interested in VCM.

Several systems and models of MRVs and registries are available, and the Voluntary Carbon Market Consultant will work with the Pakistan Ministry of Climate Change, UNDP, the World Bank, IETA, private sector actors, and other key stakeholders to identify the most suitable model and approach for the local context while reflecting emerging UNFCCC guidance on Article 6 frameworks. 

The consultant will ensure that the models and approach selected meet the needs of relevant private sector carbon project developers and financers, ensures environmental integrity and equitable benefit sharing, and, most importantly, provide recommendations for the MRV and GHG registry that align with and enhance the public purpose of a viable VCM in the country. In addition, the consultant will coordinate with the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) initiative, a UNEP and GIZ program that will support Pakistan on Article 6 readiness through the Ministry of Climate Change.

 

TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

The Voluntary Carbon Market Consultant will serve as a technical advisor to the Pakistan Ministry of Climate Change, USAID/Pakistan, and INVEST, and perform the following illustrative activities:

• Clearly identifying outcomes expected from a viable MRV and GHG registry systems in Pakistan that aligns with the public purpose of this market: conservation, GHG emission reductions, and community benefits.
• In collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and other stakeholders, confirming the Government of Pakistan’s expectations for VCM, MRV system, and GHG registry, reviewing available options (including UNDP, World Bank, and other models and products), and provide findings on the MRV and GHG registry systems that are most appropriate for the Pakistan context and laying out the set of requirements that would need to be met by the systems in order to achieve Pakistan’s objectives.
• Identifying best practices, examples, and case studies from other countries that have established effective MRV systems and GHG registries.
• Interviewing private sector stakeholders to understand their needs relating to the MRV and registry framework.
• Presenting findings and learnings, setting out identified international and case study best practices, the process for MRV and registry development in Pakistan, lessons learned during the process, and recommendations for the establishment of the Pakistan MRV and GHG registry.
• Compiling a guide for the Ministry to set up MRV and GHG registry systems and drafting a guide for the private sector to understand the systems and the registration process.
• Collaboration and written feedback as necessary to the SPARC6C initiative.
• Other related tasks, as assigned.
• Travel may be expected of the consultant to participate in in-person meetings with USAID/Pakistan, Pakistan Ministry of Climate Change, and other government and private sector stakeholders.

 

Deliverables:

The consultant will be expected to complete and submit the following deliverables:

#	Deliverable	Metrics
1	Kick-off and scoping meetings with Ministry of Climate Change and other government stakeholders	Kick-off meeting with Ministry of Climate Change. The meeting should confirm: -        Communication process -        Private sector stakeholders to be consulted during the assignment -        Government stakeholders to be consulted for understanding existing institutional processes for greenhouse gas management and MRV in Pakistan. Memorandum confirming stakeholders to be consulted, outlining the government of Pakistan’s work to date towards establishing MRV and GHG registry systems, and summarizing government expectations for a VCM, MRV system and a GHG registry.
2	International Case Studies	Written report that provides 3-5 case studies from other countries that have established effective MRV and GHG registry systems, including best practices, examples, and relevance to Pakistan.
3	Private Sector Consultations Result	Written report summarizing findings from interviews conducted with private sector stakeholders to understand the private sectors’ willingness, preparedness, and specific needs for MRV and GHG registry systems.
4	Recommendations for MRV and GHG Registry Systems in Pakistan	Written report that analyzes and recommends the appropriate options for MRV and GHG registry systems in Pakistan, including the following sections: -        Executive summary -        Benefit of implementing viable MRV and GHG Registry systems in Pakistan, relating to conservation, GHG emissions reductions, and community benefits; -        Summary of existing institutional arrangements in Pakistan to support greenhouse gas management and MRV as well as gaps in establishing an MRV and GHG registry -        Using industry feedback and best practice case studies above, propose institutional arrangements for MRV and GHG registry systems that are appropriate for the Pakistan context Consultation workshop to present findings to the Pakistan Ministry of Climate Change and private sector stakeholders, such as industry associations. Revised report on appropriate options for MRV and GHG registry system that incorporates feedback from the workshop.
5	Implementation Guide for MRV and GHG Registry Systems	The guide will include the following sections: -        Steps for the Ministry to establish MRV and GHG Registry systems, including the proposed institutional setup, the process for registering GHG offset projects, the data system for tracking submitted data, and the review /certification process; -        Steps to engage the private sector
6	MRV and GHG Registry Guide for the Private Sector	At a minimum, the guide will include the following sections: -        Objectives of the GHG Registry -        Benefits of industry participation -        Description of the GHG Registry -        Information required to register a carbon offset / GHG reduction project -        Process for registering carbon offsets / GHG reduction projects -        GHG registry process for reviewing submitted project information Additional sections to be added based on consultations with the Pakistan Ministry of Climate Change and private sector stakeholders
7	Checklists and Tools for MRV and GHG Registry establishment and operation	Written report outlining the requirements for the GHG Registry data repository, project submission check lists, project review check lists, and other tools and checklists identified in consultation with the Ministry of Climate change that are necessary for establishing and operating the MRV and GHG Registry system

 

Other deliverables may be required, based on implementation needs.

Period of Performance:	March 1, 2023 — July 31, 2023
Total Level of Effort (LOE):	45 days

 

REPORTING

The Voluntary Carbon Market Consultant will report to INVEST Senior Investment Advisor and work closely with the rest of the INVEST technical team and USAID/Pakistan.

The Voluntary Carbon Market Consultant will also participate in periodic meetings with INVEST, USAID/Pakistan, the Pakistan Ministry of Climate Change, and other relevant stakeholders. The consultant will prepare and submit via email bullets summarizing key activities, meetings, and achievements, and flag any issues encountered and/or proposed solutions. Cadence to be established with INVEST.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Expertise in and experience with voluntary carbon markets, recognized GHG offsets standards (i.e., Verra, Gold Standard, CDM), and internationally recognized GHG emissions accounting practices
• Understanding of VCM governance approaches and best practices, including methods for ensuring environmental integrity, additionality, and sustainability of tradeable emission reduction credits
• Expertise in Paris Accord Article 6 governance and implementation at the national level
• Familiarity with GHG registry systems
• Understanding of and experience with GHG validation and MRV approaches and systems
• Demonstrated familiarity with UNFCCC negotiations and emerging guidance for Article 6 implementation.
• Preference for candidates with familiarity and experience working in the Pakistan context

 

ORGANIZATION AND VALUES  

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.  

 

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.