Lead Coordinator – NDC 3.0 Development

Result of ServiceThe final deliverable of the lead coordinator will be to articulate and contribute to the completion of the project’s outputs, activities, and deliverables — ultimately resulting in a nationally validated NDC 3.0 document for The Gambia, ready for submission to the UNFCCC Secretariat. Work LocationBanjul, The Gambia Expected durationPart-time Duties and ResponsibilitiesTo remain aligned with a pathway in which the rise in global average temperatures stays below 1.5°C, countries are expected to submit the third generation of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat before COP30 . The first Global Stocktake (GST) of the Paris Agreement has highlighted the urgent need for greater ambition, with the objective of reducing global GHG emissions by 43% by 2030 and further by 60% by 2035 compared with 2019 levels and reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 globally. Objective: The objective of this assignment is to provide overall technical support for the development of The Gambia’s NDC 3.0 in line with the LTS, including GHG reduction scenarios for both mitigation and adaptation, and to prepare the document for government review and approval. Outputs, activities and deliverables: The lead coordinator will guide and contribute to the delivery of the following outputs: Output 1. Inception Report and Workshop • Activity 1.1 Develop a detailed work plan, stakeholder engagement plan, and a proposed governance structure for NDC 3.0. • Activity 1.2 Participate in the NDC 2.0 stocktake inception workshop (organized by CAA) to present and validate the NDC 3.0 work plan and proposed structure. • Deliverable 1: Institutional Governance Structure Document – detailing roles and responsibilities. • Deliverable 2: Inception Workshop Report – summarizing methodology, engagement plan, work plan, and validated NDC 3.0 structure. Output 2. Development and Validation of NDC 3.0 • Activity 2.1 Develop coherent NDC 3.0 (2035) – LTS (2050) scenarios and mitigation and adaptation measures including: o Sub activity 2.1.1 Participate in the 2050 Pathways Project kickoff meeting; incorporate its recommendations into the NDC 3.0. o Sub activity 2.1.2 Review latest IPCC guidance, COP decisions (ICTU, Glasgow), GST1 findings, and ecosystem-related considerations. o Deliverable 3. Synthesis Matrix – mapping recommendations to national actions or gaps related to IPCC guidance, COP decisions, GST1 findings and other relevant considerations. o Sub activity 2.1.3 Organize four stakeholder consultations (central, regional, local), coordinating with CAA to maximize synergies with NDC 2.0 stocktake. Note that costs related to booking venue and catering services for the 4 consultations will be covered directly by UNEP. o Deliverable 4. Consultation Package – agendas, materials, minutes, stakeholder lists, and feedback summaries. o Sub activity 2.1.4  In coordination with the Modelling Expert consultant, contribute to the update of existing mitigation and adaptation measures for the 2035 horizon and identify new mitigation and adaptation measures for 2025-2035 period (to the extent possible, to be carried out during the NDC 2.0 stocktake validation meetings for synergies with stocktake of progress against existing measures). Adaptation measures will take into account planned adaptation actions and strategies, including those being developed as part of the ongoing National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process.  In coordination with the Modelling Expert consultant, contribute to the development of baseline scenarios and sub-scenarios for the various sectors, using the 2010 GHG inventory as the foundation for establishing sector-specific emission trajectories.  In coordination with the Modelling Expert consultant, contribute to the development of a mitigation scenario that outlines The Gambia’s pathway to 2035, aligning with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C. This scenario will incorporate mitigation measures across all NDC 2.0 sectors (AFOLU, Energy, Waste, Transport, IPPU) while exploring with the government the potential inclusion of additional sectors. The mitigation measures, while set for 2035, must align with the LTS to ensure they contribute meaningfully to the net-zero emissions target.  In coordination with the Modelling Expert consultant, contribute to the definition of NDC targets, including key aspects such as the type of target, target year, reference point, scope, timeframe, and whether the targets are conditional or unconditional. o Sub activity 2.1.5 In coordination with the Modelling Expert consultant, estimate costs for implementing updated mitigation and adaptation measures. o Deliverable 5: A consolidated draft NDC 3.0 report containing updated and newly identified mitigation and adaptation measures through 2035, with estimated emissions reduction potentials and classification of actions as conditional or unconditional; BAU emissions projection, including a modeling dataset reflecting expected emissions under current policies; Baseline scenario dataset with detailed, sector-specific emissions data and assumptions; Summary of consultations with the 2050 Pathways and LTS teams, including agreed methodologies and validated assumptions used for the LTS and NDC 3.0 development; Integration of NDC 3.0–LTS alignment recommendations from the 2050 Pathways Project. • Activity 2.2 Define monitoring indicators for NDC 3.0 implementation: In collaboration with key stakeholders involved in achieving the NDC targets, the Consultancy will identify both quantitative and qualitative indicators according to the type of target included in the NDC to assess progress toward meeting the NDC 3.0 targets. This includes determining the necessary data and methodologies for compiling each indicator. A comprehensive data collection plan will be developed for each indicator, outlining information on the reference point(s), the level(s), baseline(s), base year(s), targets, data sources, and methodologies. Additionally, the plan will specify responsibilities for data collection, reporting frequency, and the recipients of the reported data. To the extent possible, the Consultancy should provide the necessary information for the Common Tabular Formats (CTF) tables related to NDC Tracking Indicators. • Deliverable 6: Report on indicators for monitoring the NDC, including protocols • Activity 2.3 Lead a multistakeholder validation workshop and finalize the NDC 3.0: The lead coordinator will organize and facilitate a final validation workshop with key stakeholders to review, provide feedback, and confirm the final version of the NDC 3.0. The workshop will include representatives from government, civil society, private sector, and other relevant parties to ensure broad input and ownership of the updated NDC. The objective is to ensure that all aspects of the NDC are well-understood, aligned with national priorities, and meet the required ambition levels. Following the workshop, the consultancy will incorporate the feedback and finalize the updated NDC 3.0 document, ensuring that it is ready for submission to the UNFCCC and that it reflects a consensus of the stakeholders involved in the consultation process. • Deliverable 7: Final NDC 3.0 document • Deliverable 8: Final validation Workshop report • Activity 2.4 Provide all required information for ICTU compliance: The lead coordinator will provide a robust reference to assess whether the mitigation efforts communicated in the NDC 3.0 are clear, transparent and understandable, in terms of the requirements set out in the Paris Agreement, its accompanying decision (1/CP.21) and Annex I to decision 4/CMA.1, which sets out the “information to facilitate clarity, transparency and understanding of nationally determined contributions” to accompany NDCs. The information will be provided in the form of a table outlining all key information for the NDC 3.0 necessary for clarity, transparency, and understanding, which may include, as appropriate, inter alia, quantifiable information on the reference point (including, as appropriate, a base year), time frames and/or periods for implementation, scope and coverage, planning processes, assumptions and methodological approaches, including those for estimating and accounting for anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and, as appropriate, removals, and how the Party considers that its nationally determined contribution is fair and ambitious, in the light of its national circumstances, and how. The ICTU information from the NDC 2.0 can be found on page 4 of The Gambia’s NDC 2.0 document for inspiration. • Deliverable 9: Annex outlining all key information as per the ICTU guidelines. The Lead Coordinator will: i. Work closely with UNEP-CCC and support consultants (e.g., modeling and gender experts), serving as the main communication point for UNEP-CCC. ii. Coordinate with MECCNAR (via the NCCS), MoFEA, the 2050 Pathways Platform, line ministries, and the NDC Partnership National Focal Point, regularly updating them on progress, challenges, and lessons learned. iii. Organize regular calls with UNEP-CCC and project counterparts, and submit a summary of key outcomes and action points within three working days of each call. The consultant/individual contractor will report to Clarine Ovando, Climate Advisor, UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre and the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources and Copy the Director of the Climate Change Secretariat, MECCNAR in all correspondence The Gambia submitted its second NDC to the UNFCCC in September 2021, covering the period 2021 – 2030, targeting a 49.7% emissions reduction by 2030 below business-as-usual The NDC 2.0 is supported by an NDC Update Report, an NDC Implementation Plan, and a costing. The country also submitted its Long-Term Strategy (LTS) for climate neutrality by 2050 and its first Biennial Update Report (BUR1) in 2024, with its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1) in preparation. With support from the NDC Partnership, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through its Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC), is assisting The Gambia in developing its updated NDC 3.0 for a 2035 horizon. This draws on a stocktake of the current NDC, supported by Climate Action Africa (CAA), and additional technical support from the 2050 Pathways Platform to align with the LTS. The updated NDC is expected to be submitted ahead of COP30. The aim of this project is to enable The Gambia to implement increasingly ambitious mitigation and adaptation commitments aligned with the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement objectives, while also promoting socio-economic development, inclusive growth, and a just energy transition. To support this effort, a lead consultant is being recruited to coordinate the development of the NDC 3.0, working closely with a Modelling expert, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECCNAR), national stakeholders and UNEP. The consultant will be responsible for leading the technical work, organizing and facilitating in-country stakeholder consultations, and ensuring that the updated NDC 3.0 builds on the NDC 2.0 stocktake. This includes integrating technical modelling and quantitative analysis provided by subject matter experts (including the Modelling Expert), and ensuring overall consistency with the Long-Term Strategy (LTS), international climate goals, and national priorities. The Consultant shall actively engage with relevant government staff throughout the assignment to ensure knowledge transfer. Qualifications/special skillso Bachelor’s degree in environmental management, Agronomy, Public Administration, Civil Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Economics, Political Science, or a related field (Required). o Postgraduate degree (Master´s) in Climate Change, Environmental Planning, Public Administration, Political Science, or a related field (Desirable). o Minimum seven (7) years of relevant work experience in working in the field of climate mitigation, climate adaptation, climate finance, institutional, regulatory and legal framework (Required) with bachelor’s degree, or five (5) years with a master's degree. o Minimum four (4) years of relevant experience in the following processes: Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and climate transparency frameworks; NDC and/or LTS and/or national climate strategy design and development, including identifying and defining climate targets, defining mitigation and adaptation measures, and aligning with national policies and priorities, and evaluation of climate strategies. (Required). o Minimum three (3) years of relevant experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams (Required). o Demonstrated analytical capacity to contribute to developing technical products related to climate change planning and financing (Required). o In-depth knowledge of The Gambia’s climate change regulatory and planning framework, including processes and initiatives at the national and local levels (Required). o Experience working with public institutions in The Gambia related to climate change planning (Desirable). o Demonstrated experience in preparing policy and strategy reports for national governments and in the technical review of national reports and relevant international documents (Required). o Demonstrated experience or familiarity with climate mitigation scenario development, emission projections, and modelling frameworks aligned with IPCC guidance and UNFCCC reporting requirements. Experience with scenario modelling tools and data analysis is desirable to effectively coordinate and integrate technical inputs from modelling experts Languageso English (Required) 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.