Article 6 Readiness Specialist Consultant for Argentina - Capacity Building in Carbon Markets and Article 6 Readiness Proposal

Result of ServiceThe Article 6 Readiness Specialist Consultant for Argentina will collaborate with the Climate Ambition and Transparency Team to achieve these main goals: ● Capacities are strengthened in Argentina to design and implement policy instruments to operationalize the Article 6 of the Paris Agreement in the country. ● Institutional arrangements are established in Argentina to comply with the technical and operational requirements to establish or participate in new or existing carbon markets, allowing the country to increase its climate ambition as reflected in the NDCs. Specific tasks and responsibilities Under the direct supervision of The UNEP’s Programme Management Officer for Energy Efficiency of the Climate Change Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean Office, the consultant shall perform the following activities: Outcome 2.2. GCF recipient countries have developed or enhanced strategic frameworks to address policy gaps, improve sectoral expertise, and enhance enabling environments for GCF programming in low-emission investment. Output 2.2.1. Conditions needed for the implementation frameworks for the future operationalization of carbon markets mechanisms and Article 6 in the participating countries have been identified. ● Activity 1. Gather the technical information required by the consulting firm to develop a roadmap for the implementation of carbon markets and Article 6, aligned to Argentina’s National Strategy for the Use of Carbon Markets. This roadmap will be developed by a consulting firm. Responsibilities: The consultant will engage with the Sub-Secretariat of Environment of Argentina to obtain the necessary information related to the definition of barriers, risks, resources, and policy actions associated with carbon markets and Article 6. The consultant must provide a description of the information gathered in the monthly reports submitted to the supervisor. Timeframe: The roadmap will be developed by the consulting firm during the last three quarters of 2026. • Activity 2. Provide timely technical inputs to the recommendations and results produced by the consulting firm in the development of regional guides on GHG baselines, emissions projections, and carbon budgets for Argentina. These recommendations and results will be developed by a consulting firm. Responsibilities: The consultant will provide technical inputs to the Sub-Secretariat of Environment of Argentina during the review of the regional documents prepared by the consulting firm. The consultant must include a description of the technical inputs and the Sub-Secretariat’s observations in the monthly reports submitted to the supervisor. Timeframe: The regional documents will be developed by the consulting firm during the first quarter of 2026. Output 2.2.2. Technical capacities of NDAs (National Designated Authorities) and key stakeholders to comply with the requirements for the implementation of carbon markets are strengthened and eligibility criteria for projects are defined to participate in Article 6 in each country. ● Activity 3. Contribute with the consulting firm in organizing workshops for Argentina by providing technical inputs on the scope and methodology, and by engaging with representatives of local institutions in the country. Responsibilities: The consultant will actively participate in capacity-building workshops and in a pilot program of corresponding adjustments to NDCs when transferring the Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs). A description of each workshop must be included in the monthly reports submitted by the consultant to the supervisor. Timeframe: The workshops will be developed by the consulting firm in the first three quarters of 2026. Output 2.2.3. Technical criteria on the functionalities that a registry must have to implement Article 6 are established and a guide document for participating countries for registration and monitoring about the application of cooperative approaches and their corresponding adjustments are elaborated. ● Activity 4. Develop a comprehensive assessment of the eligibility criteria and the guidance document for Argentina related to the registration and monitoring of mitigation initiatives and the application of corresponding adjustments when transferring ITMOs. Responsibilities: The consultant will provide a technical analysis of the reports prepared by the consulting firm regarding the aspects of the national registry, considering the local needs of Argentina. The analysis will include an assessment for the NDA on how the guidance documents support the implementation in the country. The consultant must include a description of the technical analysis in the monthly reports submitted to the supervisor. Timeframe: The guidance documents related to the registry will be delivered by the consulting firm during the first quarter of 2026. Outcome 2.4. Strategies for transforming and attracting private sector investment for low emissions and resilience developed and being used. Output 2.4.1. Private sector knowledge on Article 6 implementation is bolstered through capacity building workshops, and reports, guidelines and tools are developed to increase the participation of the private sector in the development of projects to reduce GHG emissions by sources and increase removals by sinks. ● Activity 5. Provide technical input and timely revisions to the regional guidelines to be developed by the consulting firm on the opportunities for the private sector in Argentina to participate in Article 6. Responsibilities: The consultant will provide feedback and facilitate an active review of the guidelines concerning private-sector participation in carbon markets and Article 6 mechanisms. He or she will also be responsible for gathering the information required by the consulting firm to develop these documents. The consultant must provide a description of the information gathered in the monthly reports submitted to the supervisor. Timeframe: The guidelines will be developed by the consulting firm during the first semester of 2026. ● Activity 6. Organize meetings with local stakeholders from the private sector in Argentina to share the relevant results and conclusions of the survey, dataset, and regional guidelines prepared by the consulting firm. Responsibilities: The consultant, with the support of the consulting firm and the Sub-Secretariat of Environment of Argentina, will engage with the private sector to organize meetings with key focal points to present the results, recommendations, and conclusions obtained during the consultancy. The consultant must provide a description of the meetings in the monthly reports submitted to the supervisor. Timeframe: The meetings with the private sector will be held during the first semester of 2026. Output 2.4.2. Bankable private sector projects and programmes to advance and scale up carbon markets in all participating countries are identified and assessed through the development of comprehensive country-level project pipelines to catalyze climate financing in the medium to long term. ● Activity 7. Gather information from the Sub-Secretariat of Environment of Argentina and from the private sector on emission-reduction projects in the concept stage that have the potential to take part in carbon markets, by participating in meetings and facilitating communication with local actors to obtain such information. Responsibilities: The consultant, with the support of the consulting firm and the Sub-Secretariat of Environment of Argentina, will gather and analyze the information required to conduct a local assessment that considers technical aspects such as sector, emission-reduction potential, and alignment with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The consultant must provide a description of the information collected in the monthly reports submitted to the supervisor. Timeframe: The identification of projects will take place in the second and third quarters of 2026. ● Activity 8. Provide technical input to the Sub-Secretariat of Environment of Argentina for defining eligibility criteria to select the project idea most suitable for a prefeasibility study to be developed by the consulting firm. Responsibilities: The consultant, with the support of the consulting firm and the Sub-Secretariat of Environment of Argentina, will propose criteria to facilitate the decision-making process by the NDA for selecting a project idea. The consultant must provide a description of the technical input in the monthly reports submitted to the supervisor. Timeframe: The selection and the prefeasibility study of the project will be delivered by the consulting firm during the third and last quarters of 2026. Work LocationBuenos Aires, Argentina Expected duration8 MONTHS Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). One of the most relevant challenges posed to countries by the implementation of the Paris Agreement is the importance of ensuring strong Transparency Frameworks. Article 13 of the Paris Agreement establishes the need for Parties to implement national robust and transparent monitoring, reporting, verification and accounting systems to give clarity on action and support while providing clear information to stakeholders to be available to assess if the necessary is being done in relation to compliance with the commitments assumed to face climate change. As part of building and enhancing their Transparency Frameworks, Parties of the United Nations Frame Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will progressively implement better tools and institutional arrangements, many of them not sufficiently developed in the countries. This is especially true for developing countries. The UNFCCC enhanced transparency framework demands substantial and immediate progress in the countries´ domestic Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems and strategic de-carbonization and adaptation planning. This entails moving from disintegrated and often different methodological approaches in data management to an integrated and robust system. The success of the Paris Agreement hinges on enhanced transparency of action and support, as a critical foundation to making its bottom-up country-led approach work, as well as mutual trust and confidence amongst Parties. In this line, the UNEP Transparency and Climate Ambition Team has developed, together with eight (8) countries of the region, a Regional Readiness Proposal “Capacity Building in Carbon Markets and Article 6”. This proposal seeks to collectively improve: i) the overall knowledge of the scope and functioning of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement in Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and El Salvador through a regional approach and, ii) support the relevant stakeholders from these participating countries to comply with the institutional, technical and operational requirements to establish or participate in new or existing carbon markets. This will not only support the participating countries to comply with the goals established in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), but also allow the national governments to increase their ambition, transparency and cooperation among parties in their commitments under the Paris Agreement. Therefore, the Climate Ambition and Transparency Team is looking for an Article 6 Readiness Specialist Consultant for Argentina to work with the Carbon Markets and Article 6 Consultant for Argentina to implement the activities of project in Argentina. The incumbent will be supervised by The UNEP’s Programme Management Officer for Energy Efficiency of the Climate Change Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean Office. The consultant will be based at the Sub-Secretariat of Environment of Argentina (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and will comply with 20 working hours per week, from Monday to Friday. Qualifications/special skillsACADEMIC: ● Bachelor's degree in law, environmental sciences, economics, finance, administration, political science, international relations or a related field of studies is required. ● Master´s degree in environmental sciences, climate change policy, carbon markets, economics, finance, administration, political science, international relations or related fields is desirable. PROFESSIONAL: ● Five (5) years of experience in environmental policy, climate change, environmental affairs, environmental economics, climate policy, research in environmental sciences, or related fields is required. ● Experience in the design and implementation of carbon pricing projects, such as carbon taxes, emissions trading systems (ETS), or results-based mechanisms is desirable. ● Experience with national climate policy instruments (e.g., NDCs, National Communications, greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories) is desirable. ● Two (2) years of stakeholder engagement in public institutions is desirable. ● Knowledge of Article 6 is desirable. LANGUAGE: ● Fluency in Spanish is required. ● Confident level of English is desirable. SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: ● Excellent understanding of global and national climate change issues, in particular related to transparency and carbon markets is desirable. ● Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to climate change mitigation and adaptation planning, and intergovernmental climate change negotiations is desirable. COMPETENCIES: PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations. TEAMWORK: ● Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: ● Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. LanguagesNot available. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.