Result of Service
The deliverables to be developed by the consultant are:
- Deliverable 1 - Inception note outlining methodology, workplan and proposed AFOLU mitigation options
- Deliverable 2 - Technical review report of existing AFOLU technology tables including recommendations for updates
- Deliverable 3 - Updated AFOLU technology tables with revised parameters, methodologies and calculations
- Deliverable 4 - New AFOLU mitigation option technology tables developed for integration into GACMO
- Deliverable 5 - Technical note on AFOLU activity data, emission factor integration and methodological enhancements
- Deliverable 6 - Final report summarizing all work undertaken, data sources, assumptions and recommendations
Work Location
Home-based
Expected duration
Part-time / 28 working days
Duties and Responsibilities
The 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. The Greenhouse Gas Abatement Cost Model (GACMO), developed by UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC), is a bottom-up greenhouse gas emissions projection and mitigation assessment tool widely used by developing countries. Version 2.2 of GACMO includes enhanced reporting features aligned with Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) and the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF).
The tool currently contains 119 mitigation options (each having corresponding “technology tables”), including 12 mitigation options within the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector. Technology tables provide technical and economic descriptions of both the reference (baseline) option and the mitigation option, along with estimates of emission reductions and abatement costs. Abatement costs are expressed as annualized costs in USD per tonne of emissions avoided. These parameters are further used in GACMO to estimate marginal abatement revenue (MAR) curves. UNEP-CCC seeks to strengthen the AFOLU component of the tool by updating existing technology tables, reviewing methodologies and assumptions, and developing additional AFOLU mitigation options based on internationally recognized methodologies for estimating emission reduction and the latest scientific evidence.
The objective of this consultancy is to improve the AFOLU component of the GACMO tool through:
- Review and update of all existing AFOLU mitigation options and associated technology tables.
- Revision of technical, economic and emissions-related parameters using the latest data and methodologies.
- Development of new AFOLU mitigation options for inclusion in GACMO.
- Support the enhancement of AFOLU-related activity data and emission factor approaches within the tool.
- Ensure consistency with IPCC Guidelines for national GHG inventories and international mitigation accounting methodologies.
The consultant shall undertake the following tasks:
Task 1. Review Existing AFOLU Mitigation Options
Review the current AFOLU mitigation options incorporated in GACMO and assess:
- Technical assumptions and default parameters.
- Activity data requirements.
- Emission factors and carbon stock assumptions.
- Cost assumptions, including investment, operation and maintenance costs, benefits or revenue streams.
- Mitigation potential calculations.
The review shall identify gaps, outdated assumptions, and opportunities for improvement.
Task 2. Update Existing AFOLU Technology Tables
Revise and update the existing AFOLU technology tables by:
- Incorporating updated technical and economic parameters.
- Applying the latest available scientific literature and international databases.
- Updating emission reduction calculation methodologies where required.
- Improving consistency with:
- 2006 IPCC Guidelines and relevant refinements;
- CDM methodologies;
- Article 6 methodologies and guidance;
- Other internationally recognized methodologies approved under the UNFCCC.
Task 3. Develop New AFOLU Mitigation Options
Review the existing AFOLU sector mitigation options currently included in GACMO and identify any gaps. Based on this assessment, propose a list of additional mitigation measures for inclusion in GACMO, focusing on widely adopted or planned to be adopted in the long term, commercially available, and proven technologies and best practices within the AFOLU sector. The final list of new measures will be discussed and approved with UNEP CCC team.
Identify and recommend additional AFOLU mitigation options for inclusion in GACMO.
Potential areas may include:
- Afforestation and reforestation.
- Forest restoration.
- Agroforestry.
- Improved forest management.
- Climate-smart agriculture.
- Conservation agriculture.
- Soil carbon sequestration.
- Sustainable livestock management.
- Methane reduction practices.
- Peatland restoration.
- Mangrove restoration.
- Reduced deforestation and degradation activities.
For each selected option, prepare a complete technology table containing:
- Technical description (necessary for calculating emission reduction).
- Define two sets of parameters for each mitigation measure:
- the reference option, representing conditions before the technology or practice is adopted
- the mitigation option, representing conditions after the technology or practice has been implemented.
- Activity data for reference option and mitigation option.
- Emission reduction methodology (e.g. estimated as a difference between emissions in the reference option and mitigation option).
- Emission factors and carbon stock parameters.
- Investment cost, Operating and Maintenance Costs, Benefits or Revenues (if applicable).
- Develop and document approximately 5-10 new AFOLU mitigation options (final number subject to agreement with UNEP-CCC).
Task 4. Support AFOLU Methodological Improvements in GACMO
Contribute to the design of enhanced AFOLU functionality under Output 3, including:
- Introduction of activity data and emission factor approaches for AFOLU categories.
- Recommendations on sector-specific growth factors and projection methods.
- Guidance on avoiding double counting between activity data and direct emissions inputs.
- Validation of proposed AFOLU calculation approaches.
Task 5. Quality Assurance and Documentation
Prepare technical documentation describing:
- Data sources used.
- Assumptions applied.
- Methodological approaches (with references to specific tables or formulas in the IPCC Guidelines, CDM and/or Article 6 methodologies), including formulae and calculation logic.
- Recommendations for future improvements.
Review AFOLU-related sections of the GACMO guidance material and provide technical inputs where necessary.
International travel will/will not be required for this consultancy.
The objective of this consultancy is to improve the AFOLU component of the GACMO tool through: Review and update of all existing AFOLU mitigation options and associated technology tables; Revision of technical, economic and emissions-related parameters using the latest data and methodologies; Development of new AFOLU mitigation options for inclusion in GACMO; Support the enhancement of AFOLU-related activity data and emission factor approaches within the tool; Ensure consistency with IPCC Guidelines for national GHG inventories and international mitigation accounting methodologies.
The specific outputs are : Deliverable 1 (Inception note outlining methodology, workplan and proposed AFOLU mitigation options); Deliverable 2 (Technical review report of existing AFOLU technology tables including recommendations for updates); Deliverable 3 (Updated AFOLU technology tables with revised parameters, methodologies and calculations); Deliverable 4 (New AFOLU mitigation option technology tables developed for integration into GACMO); Deliverable 5 (Technical note on AFOLU activity data, emission factor integration and methodological enhancements); Deliverable 6 (Final report summarizing all work undertaken, data sources, assumptions and recommendations)
The consultant shall undertake the following tasks:
Task 1. Review Existing AFOLU Mitigation Options
Review the current AFOLU mitigation options incorporated in GACMO and assess (the review shall identify gaps, outdated assumptions, and opportunities for improvement):
- Technical assumptions and default parameters;
- Activity data requirements;
- Emission factors and carbon stock assumptions;
- Cost assumptions, including investment, operation and maintenance costs, benefits or revenue streams;
- Mitigation potential calculations.
Task 2. Update Existing AFOLU Technology Tables
Revise and update the existing AFOLU technology tables by:
- Incorporating updated technical and economic parameters;
- Applying the latest available scientific literature and international databases;
- Updating emission reduction calculation methodologies where required;
- Improving consistency with 2006 IPCC Guidelines and relevant refinements, CDM methodologies, Article 6 methodologies and guidance, Other internationally recognized methodologies approved under the UNFCCC.
Task 3. Develop New AFOLU Mitigation Options
Review the existing AFOLU sector mitigation options currently included in GACMO and identify any gaps. Based on this assessment, propose a list of additional mitigation measures for inclusion in GACMO, focusing on widely adopted or planned to be adopted in the long term, commercially available, and proven technologies and best practices within the AFOLU sector. The final list of new measures will be discussed and approved with UNEP CCC team. Identify and recommend additional AFOLU mitigation options for inclusion in GACMO (Potential areas may include Afforestation and reforestation, Forest restoration, Agroforestry, Improved forest management, Climate-smart agriculture, Conservation agriculture, Soil carbon sequestration, Sustainable livestock management, Methane reduction practices, Peatland restoration, Mangrove restoration, Reduced deforestation and degradation activities).
For each selected option, prepare a complete technology table containing:
- Technical description (necessary for calculating emission reduction);
- Define two sets of parameters for each mitigation measure (the reference option, representing conditions before the technology or practice is adopted, and the mitigation option, representing conditions after the technology or practice has been implemented);
- Activity data for reference option and mitigation option;
- Emission reduction methodology (e.g. estimated as a difference between emissions in the reference option and mitigation option);
- Emission factors and carbon stock parameters;
- Investment cost, Operating and Maintenance Costs, Benefits or Revenues (if applicable);
- Develop and document approximately 5-10 new AFOLU mitigation options (final number subject to agreement with UNEP-CCC).
Task 4. Support AFOLU Methodological Improvements in GACMO
Contribute to the design of enhanced AFOLU functionality under Output 3, including:
- Introduction of activity data and emission factor approaches for AFOLU categories;
- Recommendations on sector-specific growth factors and projection methods;
- Guidance on avoiding double counting between activity data and direct emissions inputs;
- Validation of proposed AFOLU calculation approaches.
Task 5. Quality Assurance and Documentation
Prepare technical documentation describing:
- Data sources used;
- Assumptions applied;
- Methodological approaches (with references to specific tables or formulas in the IPCC Guidelines, CDM and/or Article 6 methodologies), including formulae and calculation logic;
- Recommendations for future improvements.
Review AFOLU-related sections of the GACMO guidance material and provide technical inputs where necessary.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in forestry, agriculture, environmental science, climate change, natural resource management, land-use planning, or related field. Minimum 7 years of professional experience in AFOLU-related climate change mitigation and greenhouse gas accounting.
- Demonstrated experience with:
- IPCC AFOLU methodologies for GHG emissions accounting;
- National GHG inventories;
- Emission reduction quantification;
- Climate mitigation planning.
- Experience supporting NDCs, LT-LEDS, BURs, NCs, BTRs, or similar climate policy and transparency processes.
- Familiarity with GHG projection/modelling tools, carbon markets methodologies (including CDM and/or Article 6 methodologies), and emissions accounting frameworks is highly desirable.
- Experience working in developing countries is an asset.
Languages
Excellent communication (fluent) skills in English.
Additional Information
Not available.
No Fee
THE 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.
