Terms of Reference

The United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD) is the UN knowledge and advisory platform on the forest solutions to the climate crisis. The goal of UN-REDD is to help realise forest solutions to the climate emergency by avoiding carbon emissions and fostering carbon sequestration, through the promotio [...] The overall goal of the project is to strengthen African countries’ capacities and knowledge through UNREDD’s REDD+ specific expertise and the convening power of AFF, its network, regional expertise, and local knowledge, thereby increasing political dialogue and policy change, as well as integration of REDD+ across policy sectors and sustainable development strategies. The project is guide [...] The current activity will contribute to the first project’s objective by strengthening capacities and facilitating knowledge exchange among African forestry stakeholders on REDD+ result-based payment and carbon markets. 1.1 BACKGROUND Recent evidence emphasizes the potential of forest landscapes as the most important nature-based solutions to address the climate crisis, as well as provi [...] Globally, although credits from forestry and land use projects are consistently in high demand, financing for activities generating forest-based solutions remains insufficient, especially in terms of increasing actions, staying on track of the Paris agreement and containing biodiversity loss. Among the three main categories of forest related climate solutions, REDD+ has been attracting most [...] The global distribution of issuance and retirement of carbon credits from 2021 to 2023 indicates a paltry share of 12% for Africa through 91 projects including 38 in the various forestry categories. Although REDD+ remains the most heavily invested carbon project category worldwide, only 21% of REDD+ credits have been issued for Africa. [...] More specifically, it has been observed that the economic and environmental potentials associated with the successful implementation of REDD+ are yet to be realized for many African countries. In this regard, strengthening the understanding of the REDD+ international finance (up- front) and markets mechanisms (results-based) is of paramount important in facilitating well-informed decision [...] At the end of each session, the moderator will synthesize views, lessons and recommendations to be posted on the CoP’s Howspace, easily accessible to all community members. The CoP is expected to catalyze a good understanding of REDD+ finance types and sources, as well as a better knowledge of the result-based financing architecture including carbon markets and associated standards. The [...] − At least five years’ working experience in sustainable forest management in the context of climate change as well as in climate and forest finance; − Have proven writing skills with experience in writing technical reports and the like, on topics related to sustainable forest management, climate change adaptation and mitigation. [...] The online regional facilitator will work from own location but be in close consultation with relevant staff at the AFF Secretariat while keeping to an agreed delivery schedule. [...] Indicate the subject line: “Consultancy: Online regional facilitator for a Community of Practice on Unlocking sustainable solutions for effective REDD+ Result Based Payments in Africa”” to d.gitonga@cifor-icraf.org with a copy to m.avana@cifor-icraf.org, exec.sec@afforum.org.