Carbon Markets Specialist (Project Developer Enablement) at Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)

Context of the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI)

The ACMI is a continent-wide effort launched at COP27 that aims to build the foundations for a thriving voluntary carbon market (VCM) ecosystem in Africa by 2030. To do so, a number of challenges must be overcome, including: fragmented projects and carbon generating assets, limited and fragmented developers on the ground, and a complex and uncertain regulatory landscape. Meanwhile, intermediation and demand are being held back by concerns about the integrity of some carbon credits and fair distribution of value. To build vibrant and robust voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) in Africa, ACMI includes 4 core objectives:

• Grow African carbon credits retirements ~19-fold from ~16 MtCO2e retired in 2020 to ~300 MtCO2e per annum by 2030 and up to 1.5-2.5 GtCO2e by 2050
• Create or support 30 million jobs by 2030 and more than 100 million jobs by 2050 through carbon projects development, execution, certification, and monitoring
• Raise the quality and integrity of African credits to mobilize up to US$6 billion by 2030 and more than US$100 billion per annum by 2050
• Ensure equitable and transparent distribution of carbon credit revenue, with a significant portion of revenue going to local communities

To achieve these objectives, ACMI has laid out a roadmap of 13 Action Programmes across the VCM value chain – spanning supply, intermediation and financing, and demand. Action Programmes 2 and 3 looks specifically at supporting project developers and smallholder farmers generating micro carbon credits to scale.

A key constraint to carbon markets in Africa is related to the limited number of project developers operating on the continent and on the low existing capacity (gaps in carbon market expertise, implementation capabilities, local expertise and core business capabilities). Economic viability for many projects is low due to insufficient carbon credit revenues or high opportunity costs, and fragmented ownership of / access to credit generating assets is a major obstacle. Moreover, project developers have difficulties in accessing and benefitting from carbon markets, as high upfront certification costs to create carbon credits and project monitoring costs require scale and access to financing/ buyers

SEforALL, in collaboration with ACMI partners, is looking to overcome the existing barriers by concretely supporting project developers to scale via a number of initiatives, including the set-up of a dedicated Accelerator program, devising mobilizing initiatives (e.g., via webinars and networking events), reinforcing targeted on-the-ground technical assistance and establishing a technical facilitation programme focused on reducing barriers to entry for carbon credit certification. This is above and beyond efforts to scale up financing and catalyze project scale-up by way of effective de-risking instruments.

Purpose/Objective of the role

• Responsible for leading the delivery of the ACMI Accelerator Program, in collaboration with ACMI partners, as well as coordinating multiple stakeholder engagement initiatives, including dedicated webinars, events and roadshows.
• Responsible for leading the SEforALL efforts in the scale up of programmes for carbon credits generation, including identifying and working with partners across standards bodies, financial institutions, and general organizations in developing frameworks and solutions to directly support project developers across the continent.

Duties and Accountabilities 

The main duties and tasks of the role include:

• Work on a varied portfolio of activities, including: project management support, collaboration with partners, quantitative and qualitative analysis, presentation of analytical results, collaboration with SEforALL and ACMI colleagues.
• Plan and deliver project developer engagement initiatives, including: running the dedicated project developers’ chat/ platform; organizing workshops centred around a key theme, with expert participation; organizing and delivering dedicated networking events and roadshows 
• Coordinate Accelerator partners, including Accelerator, external consultancies, and experts, in delivering programs to different project developer categories
• Define and oversee Accelerator activities, including but not limited to: reviewing selection criteria and selection process, inviting experts, ensuring correct classes cadence and events timeline, allocating participants to the right kinds of expert support, planning for pitch day
• Develop and maintain a network of project developers, verification bodies (VVBs) and standard bodies (e.g., Gold Standard and Verra’s VCS) to invite as delivery partner in the accelerator program as well as thought partners to identify adapted methodologies to certify carbon credit projects
• Create a continent-wide coalition to support carbon credit project developers through advocacy to financers and regulators, awareness raising, knowledge sharing and technical support for project development, and facilitation of partnerships
• Identify and work with financial institutions to develop and scale financial solutions
• Represent SEforALL in external conversations, forums, and partnerships
• Support Thematic Group meetings, including managing meeting cadence, confirming attendees, prepare briefings and content, managing inputs/advisory received from attendees and coordinating with the Thematic Group Chair

Specific Competencies for the Role

• Master's Degree in environmental science, economics, international development or any other related field
• At least five years of experience in project management, preferably in the field of climate change or environmental management.
• Strong knowledge of the carbon market industry, including international carbon market frameworks, and market-based mechanisms for climate change mitigation.
• Experience in / knowledge of voluntary carbon markets, especially if in Africa.
• Experience in project development topics (e.g., diesel displacement, solar energy, agriculture, REDD+, forest restoration, clean cooking) and knowledge of project development (including all steps of the carbon credit value chain) · Knowledge of international carbon standards – e.g., Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Gold Standard, Climate Action Reserve (CAR), American Carbon Registry (ACR), Plan Vivo – and the most common carbon methodologies.
• Ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders in the context of project developers and accelerators.
• Experience in organizing awareness raising campaigns and mobilizing relevant actors.
• Strong quantitative and analytical writing skills; advanced proficiency in MS Excel and significant experience in producing concise, executive level reports and presentations, training modules and materials.
• Excellent interpersonal, social and networking skills, ability to engage with governments and the private sector. Prior experience working with governments and other broad partnerships highly desirable.
• Experience with knowledge management, learning and innovations in access to energy. Ability to raise awareness, coach and provide training to technical and non-technical project and partner staff. · Entrepreneurial, result-oriented and driver for change. Ability to be flexible and adaptable.
• Strong communications and negotiation skills in speaking, writing, as well as presenting materials in variety of media.
• Expert command of the English language. Fluency in French and Portugese will be an added advantage.

General Competencies for the Role

• Innovation and Adaptability: Has proficient skills and commitment to search for and produce innovative and creative approaches to activities. Is flexible to evolving circumstances, as well as helps others in doing so.
• Resilience and Emotional Intelligence: Has proficient knowledge in the concepts of resilience and emotional intelligence. Is able to remain calm in challenging situations, to cope with setbacks, is responsive to the emotions of others and maintains a high level of performance.
• Analytical and Strategic Thinking: Has a proficient level of analytical and strategic thinking skills. Gathers and processes demanding information, develops innovative solutions and contributes by representing topics/approaches in internal working groups/teams.
• Collaboration and Partnership: Demonstrates proficient initiative and abilities to collaborate and partner with others in own are, and across teams. Identifies, develops, builds and actively promotes partnerships and collaboration, maintaining long-lasting partnerships. Displays team-oriented attitude contributing to creating a positive team spirit.
• Lead and Empower: Demonstrates initiative and role model behaviour in leading and empowering others. Takes responsibility for own work activities and personal actions and carries out the commitments agreed upon.
• Political and diplomatic understanding: Has a proficient level of political and diplomatic understanding.
• Communicating information: Has expert skills in communicating information and uses the skills effectively in own scope of work and in others’ work.
• Research and Analytics: Has proficient skills in research and analytics and uses the skills effectively in own scope of work.
• Project Management: Has proficient skills in project management. Plans and organises their own work using project management tools in support of achieving the team’s objectives.
• Client Orientation / Striving for Excellence: Has proficient skills in client orientation and achieving excellency in work delivery.