REDD+ Technical Expert to assist the independent TAP in the review of Funding Proposals

The Technical Expert will provide specialized technical expertise on REDD+ to support the Independent Technical Advisory Panel (iTAP) in assessing REDD+ funding proposals and scorecards. The role involves providing timely advice, conducting detailed reviews, and supporting the development of assessment frameworks to enhance the Panel's technical coverage and assessments.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely written assessments and subject matter reviews on specific technical matters in the Funding Proposal related to REDD+, within the scope and timeline requested by the Panel member.
• Provide written suggestions or recommendations to enhance the Panel's technical assessments based on best practices, relevant local and regional context, and scientific publications.
• Support the development and refinement of REDD+ assessment scorecards and evaluation frameworks used by the Panel, ensuring alignment with GCF investment criteria, UNFCCC REDD+ requirements, and international best practices.
• Conduct detailed reviews of REDD+ funding proposals against the approved scorecard, assessing technical quality, climate impact potential, feasibility, cost-effectiveness, safeguards compliance, institutional capacity, and sustainability of outcomes.
• Provide independent scoring and written justification for assigned scorecard criteria, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, risks, gaps, and areas requiring clarification.
• Review and validate proposal assumptions, methodologies, and evidence used to support scorecard ratings, including carbon accounting approaches, FREL/FRLs, MRV systems, safeguards, benefit-sharing arrangements, and implementation readiness.
• Provide recommendations to improve the consistency, transparency, and robustness of the scorecard methodology and assessment process, incorporating lessons learned from previous REDD+ investments and emerging international guidance.
• Participate virtually in Panel meetings to discuss scorecard findings and technical assessments of REDD+ proposals when requested.
• Participate in technical discussions with Accredited Entities and other relevant stakeholders, when requested by the Panel, to clarify issues arising from the scorecard review and proposal assessment process.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree or equivalent in forestry, forest ecology, natural resource management, environmental science, climate change, environmental economics, land-use planning, forest governance, carbon accounting, geography, remote sensing, sustainable development, or closely related disciplines.
• At least 15 years of professional experience in REDD+, forestry, land-use change, climate finance, or related fields, including experience in the design, implementation, assessment, monitoring, or independent review of REDD+ programmes and projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in REDD+ under the UNFCCC, including familiarity with relevant COP decisions, the Warsaw Framework for REDD+, and subsequent guidance.
• Experience developing, implementing, assessing, or financing REDD+ programmes, jurisdictional approaches, or results-based payment initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience preparing forest reference emission levels/reference levels (FREL/FRLs), and national forest monitoring systems (NFMS) in at least two countries.
• Demonstrated experience in monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV), remote sensing, GIS applications, and emissions quantification methodologies relevant to REDD+ in at least two countries.
• Demonstrated experience on implementing REDD+ safeguards activities, safeguards information systems (SIS), Indigenous Peoples’ rights, stakeholder engagement processes, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and gender-responsive approaches.
• Familiarity with IPCC guidelines and methodologies relevant to the preparation of FREL/FRL and MRV for REDD+.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare concise, evidence-based technical reviews, due diligence reports, and recommendations.
• Previous consulting experience and the ability to work remotely for international organizations.
• Demonstrated teamwork, leadership, and analytical skills, with the ability to provide independent expert judgment on complex REDD+ investments.

Skills

• REDD+ Programme Design
• REDD+ Programme Implementation
• REDD+ Programme Assessment
• REDD+ Independent Review
• Forest Reference Emission Levels Preparation
• National Forest Monitoring Systems
• Measurement Reporting Verification
• Remote Sensing
• GIS Software
• Emissions Quantification
• REDD+ Safeguards
• Safeguards Information Systems
• Indigenous Peoples Rights
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Benefit-Sharing Models
• Gender-Responsive Approaches
• IPCC Guidelines Application
• Technical Review Writing
• Due Diligence Reporting
• Climate Finance

Languages

English