Result of Service

The CCAC National SLCP Consultant for Colombia will be responsible for providing support to the CCAC Focal Point at support the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to support Colombia’s SLCP agenda and to follow up the implementation of the CCAC supported projects, in line with Colombia’s needs and priorities. All deliverables are to be validated by the CCAC Secretariat.

Work Location

Colombia

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, and representatives of the private sector, the environmental community, and other members of civil society. The CCAC is the only international initiative working on integrated climate and clean air solutions to reduce the rate of near-term warming. It focuses on fast action to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) including methane, black carbon, HFCs and tropospheric ozone. More information on the CCAC is available at: www.ccacoalition.org Colombia is a CCAC State Partner since 2012 and is actually member of the CCAC Board since 2020. The CCAC’s work is aligned with what the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development are doing to mitigate climate change and develop strategies to prevent and control air pollution. As part of the Global Methane Pledge, Colombia has also made a voluntary commitment towards the objective to reduce global methane emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. With the CCAC’s support, Colombia developed a National Strategy for the Mitigation of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) in 2018 to implement reduction strategies while developing a mechanism to evaluate their impact on air quality in tandem with climate change. The strategy identifies measures to reduce SLCPs in three key sources: oil and gas production, open agricultural burning and coke production. This strategy helped inform Colombia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), submitted in 2020. At the time, Colombia was only the third country to prominently feature black carbon in its NDC with a commitment to reduce emissions by 40% compared to 2014 levels. The 40% emission reduction target was defined following a thorough modelling process. Colombia’s NDC embraces carbon neutrality by 2050 and includes the mentioned black carbon target, a target to reduce deforestation to 50,000 ha/year by 2030, and a commitment to generate carbon budgets in 2023. The country’s NDC has also identified mitigation measures in the agriculture sector, but methane measures need to be strengthened. The CCAC is therefore seeking a CCAC National SLCP Consultant for Colombia to support the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to coordinate with the Ministry of Mining and Energy, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Housing, City and Territory on the development and implementation of short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) mitigation actions and CCAC-funded projects. The consultant will support monitoring of the SLCP strategy including support for the development of tools and guidelines for estimating co-benefits for mitigation measures included in Colombia’s NDC with a focus on black carbon and correlation to GEI. The consultant will also review and enhance NDC implementation plans related to black carbon, recommending additional measures to reach the NDC target. The consultant will strengthen MRV systems required for black carbon monitoring in coordination with relevant ministries and support the inclusion of SLCPs in the NDC update an E2050 mitigation model, and coordinate between ministries to raise political will for action. Output expectations: 1. Mechanism in place to ensure inter-ministerial and inter-institutional coordination and collaboration on SLCP reduction (e.g., inter-institutional task force). – Engagement of national entities of the Government and eventually other possible key partners (private sector, sub-national governments, academics, and civil society) for SLCP mitigation action. 2. Capacity building activities performed at national level for SLCP mitigation addressed to representatives of government departments/ministries on integrated SLCP emission and mitigation assessments leading to: – Integrated (updated/improved) SLCP, GHG and air pollutant emission inventories, mitigation assessments and implementation strategies, and MRV and/or SLCP emission/mitigation tracking system – Draft and final papers recommending concrete plans and actions to implement SLCP mitigation actions 3. Draft and final recommendations and guidelines for estimating co-benefits for mitigation measures included in Colombia’s NDC with a focus on black carbon and correlation to GEI 4. Draft and final document containing the review and enhance proposal of the NDC implementation plans related to black carbon, recommending additional measures to reach the NDC target 5. Draft and final recommendations to strengthen MRV systems required for black carbon monitoring in coordination with relevant ministries and recommendations for the inclusion of SLCPs in the NDC update and E2050 mitigation model 6. Successful support provided to the delivery of the projects: – [CO-22-001] “Deliver a national roadmap to reduce SLCPs from open burning” project in close coordination with FAO, the Ministry of Agriculture and the CCAC Focal Point – [CO-23-003] “Develop an agriculture sector strategy to inform NDC update” in close coordination with the implementers and the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment. – [CO-23-004] “Strengthen the MRV system for the mining sector” in close coordination with the implementers and the Ministries of Mines and Energy and Environment. 7. Awareness-raising materials developed, and events organized on integrated climate change and air pollution reduction strategies, and the implementation of the (SLCPs) mitigation action in the country. – Participation at high political level in SLCP relevant events – Presentations at CCAC online and in-person events and meetings (especially the relevant CCAC Hubs), especially to showcase country’s successes as well as to detail any challenges or requests for assistance. – Add updated partner profile for CCAC website 8. Active participation with CCAC sectoral hubs and engagement with implementation facilitators 9. Other ad hoc outputs as agreed.

Qualifications/special skills

– Advanced university degree, master or equivalent, in environmental science, environmental engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering or a similar discipline. – A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. – At least 5 years of professional experience working in a field relevant to climate change, air pollution, sustainable development or environment and health is required. – Demonstrated ability to provide technical assistance to governments and other stakeholders is required. Special knowledge and skills: – Knowledge of the national policies in climate change mitigation and air pollution of Colombia is required. – Ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholder groups including national governments is required. – Knowledge with sectoral authorities is required. – Excellent communication skills (written and oral presentations), and the capacity to work with colleagues and partners are required. – Experience in environmental public policy is desirable. – Knowledge in modelling/estimate of black carbon, and air pollution mitigation measures with different software including LEAP IBC, is desirable. – A good understanding of short-lived climate pollutants, climate change and air pollution issues in Colombia is highly desirable.

Languages

Fluency in Spanish and English (written and spoken) is essential.

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.