Consultant - VCM Feasibility Study

Posted date


11th September, 2023


Last date to apply


25th September, 2023






Country


Pakistan


Locations


Remote with travel to Peshawar






Category


Others






Type


Consultant


Position


1

Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED)

Terms of Reference

TOR Name:VCM Feasibility Study

Duration:October 2023 to January 2024

Location:Remote, with travel to Peshawar as needed

Context

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with 40% of Pakistan's forests and 51% of its forest carbon stocks, stands as a significant contender for carbon credits within the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM). The province's temperate forests, the most carbon-dense in the country at 170 t C/ha, have witnessed a 6% growth in forest cover over the past decade. This growth, coupled with the expansion of protected areas from 10% to 18%, primarily due to the Billion Trees Afforestation Project, has amplified KP's carbon sequestration potential to 11 million tonnes annually.

Three primary forestry categories within the VCM framework position KP for optimal leverage:

• Afforestation, Reforestation, and Afforestation (ARR): The Ten Billion Trees Tsunami Programme (TTTP) exemplifies this category. Spanning various KP regions, it aims to cover 150,000 ha by 2023. With an estimated sequestration of 10 tonnes of CO2 per hectare annually, this translates to 1.5 million credits. The Ministry of Climate Change and Provincial Forest Departments jointly drive this initiative, backed by a PKR 27 billion budget for KP.

• Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD): KP's potential in this category is evident with 87,000 ha that can yield 2.225 million credits annually.

• Improved Forest Management (IFM): This category, which integrates Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) and extended rotation age (ERA) practices, is showcased by the Billion Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP). Spanning 286,000 ha from 2014-2020, these areas, if maintained for 30 years, are primed for carbon credits. Additionally, protected zones, including national parks, align with IFM, holding a potential of 1.7 million carbon credits.

As KP Forest Department progresses with the VCM, it has achieved milestones such as the Subnational REDD+ Strategy, Carbon Stock Assessment, and a tailored Benefit Sharing Mechanism. The department's forward-thinking approach is further highlighted by its adoption of a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Recognizing the dynamic nature of the international carbon market, the department is proactive in its pursuit of continuous capacity enhancement. Collaborations with international or semi-international organizations, rich in expertise, are viewed as essential to fortify KP's standing in the global carbon market.

Assignment Objectives:

The primary objective of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study to determine the Carbon Credit generating potential of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. This study will serve as a foundational document to guide the provincial government and its partners in establishing a robust framework for generating Carbon Credits in the region. The specific objectives of this assignment are:

• Baseline Assessment:

• Conduct a thorough assessment of the current carbon emissions and sequestration levels in KP.




• Map the current land use and land cover patterns, emphasizing areas with high carbon sequestration potential.




• Analyze historical deforestation and degradation rates to understand trends and potential areas of intervention.

• Stakeholder Engagement:

• Engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including local communities, government bodies, NGOs, and private sector entities.

• Gather insights into local challenges, opportunities, and potential areas of conflict or collaboration.

• Exploration of Carbon Credit Standards:

• Review and analyze global standards for carbon credit generation, such as Verra, Gold Standard, Open Forest Protocol, and others.




• Determine the most suitable standard(s) for KP's unique context, considering the region's environmental, social, and economic dynamics as well as the benefits of using a number of different standards to diversify risk.

• Pathway Development:

• Identify potential projects or interventions in KP that can generate carbon credits, considering both public and private landholdings.




• Develop clear pathways for the implementation of these projects, ensuring they align with global standards and local needs.

• Economic and Environmental Analysis:

• Assess the potential economic benefits of carbon credit generation in KP, considering potential revenue streams, implementation costs, and long-term sustainability.




• Evaluate the environmental impact of potential projects, emphasizing biodiversity conservation, ecosystem health, and long-term carbon sequestration.

• Recommendation Framework:

• Based on the findings of the feasibility study, provide clear recommendations to the provincial government and the SEED team.




• Develop an actionable framework that outlines steps for project implementation, stakeholder engagement, monitoring, and verification.

Key Responsibilities/Tasks:

The consultant, in collaboration with the SEED team, will undertake the following key responsibilities and tasks to achieve the objectives of the assignment:

• Baseline Data Collection:

• Collect and analyze data on current carbon emissions and sequestration levels in KP.




• Conduct land use and land cover mapping exercises to identify areas with high carbon sequestration potential.




• Gather historical data on deforestation and degradation rates in the province.

• Stakeholder Consultations:

• Organize and facilitate consultation workshops with local communities, government bodies, NGOs, and private sector entities.




• Document feedback and insights from stakeholders to inform the feasibility study.

• Review of Carbon Credit Standards:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of global carbon credit standards, including Verra, Gold Standard, Open Forest Protocol, and others.

• Evaluate the applicability and benefits of each standard for KP's context.

• Development of Carbon Credit Pathways:

• Identify and assess potential projects or interventions suitable for KP.




• Design clear implementation pathways for these projects, considering both public and private landholdings.

• Economic and Environmental Impact Analysis:

• Conduct a cost-benefit analysis for potential carbon credit projects in KP.




• Evaluate the environmental benefits of these projects, including biodiversity conservation and long-term carbon sequestration potential.

• Recommendation and Framework Development:

• Synthesize findings from the feasibility study to develop clear recommendations for the provincial government and SEED team.




• Draft an actionable framework outlining steps for project initiation, stakeholder engagement, monitoring, and verification.

• Regular Reporting:

• Provide regular updates to the SEED team on the progress of the feasibility study.




• Document challenges, successes, and key learnings throughout the consultancy period.

• Final Report Submission:

• Compile and submit a comprehensive feasibility report detailing the carbon credit potential of KP, recommendations, and an actionable framework.

• Incorporate feedback from the SEED team and other stakeholders to finalize the report.

• Post-Submission Support:

• Provide support in disseminating the findings of the report to relevant stakeholders.




• Offer expertise and guidance in the initial stages of implementing the recommendations.

Deliverables:

The consultant, in collaboration with the SEED team, is expected to produce the following deliverables over the course of the assignment:

• Baseline Data Report:

• A comprehensive report detailing current carbon emissions, sequestration levels, land use patterns, and historical deforestation and degradation rates in KP.




• Due by: End of Week 2

• Stakeholder Consultation Summary:

• A summarized report of all stakeholder consultations, capturing key insights, feedback, and potential areas of collaboration or conflict.




• Due by: End of Week 4

• Review of Carbon Credit Standards:

• A detailed document comparing global carbon credit standards, highlighting their applicability, benefits, and challenges for KP.

• Due by: End of Week 6

• Carbon Credit Pathways Blueprint:

• A structured blueprint outlining potential projects or interventions in KP, complete with implementation pathways for both public and private landholdings.




• Due by: End of Week 8

• Economic and Environmental Impact Analysis:

• A report detailing the economic feasibility and environmental impact of potential carbon credit projects, including cost-benefit analyses and environmental benefits assessments.




• Due by: End of Week 10

• Draft Feasibility Report:

• A comprehensive draft report detailing the carbon credit potential of KP, including recommendations and an actionable framework.




• Due by: End of Week 12

• Final Feasibility Report:

• The finalized feasibility report after incorporating feedback from the SEED team and other stakeholders.




• Due by: End of Week 14

• Presentation Slides:

• A set of presentation slides summarizing the findings of the feasibility study, suitable for presenting to the provincial government, SEED team, and other stakeholders.

• Due by: End of Week 15

Qualifications:

The consultant or consulting firm should possess the following qualifications to be considered for this assignment:

• Educational Background:

• A master’s degree or higher in Environmental Science, Forestry, Climate Change, Sustainable Development, or a related field for national and international experts.




• A bachelor’s degree or higher in Environmental Science, Forestry, Climate Change, Sustainable Development, or a related field for research associates.

• Relevant Experience:

• A minimum of 15 years of international professional experience in conducting feasibility studies, especially in the domain of carbon credit generation, climate change mitigation, and adaptation.




• Demonstrated experience in conducting similar assessments in diverse geographical and socio-economic contexts.

• A proven record of accomplishment of working on carbon credit projects, with a deep understanding of global standards such as Verra, Gold Standard, Open Forest Protocol, etc.




• For research associates, a minimum of two years of relevant experience in climate finance, voluntary carbon markets, or similar contexts will be highly preferred.

• Network and Connections:

• An established network of connections within the Voluntary Carbon Markets globally.




• Demonstrated ability to leverage these connections for the benefit of the project, ensuring the best practices and standards are applied.

• Technical Expertise:

• Proficiency in carbon stock assessments, land use and land cover mapping, and economic analysis related to carbon credit projects.




• Familiarity with the environmental, social, and economic dynamics of regions similar to KP.

• Stakeholder Engagement:

• Demonstrated experience in facilitating stakeholder consultations, workshops, and engagement activities at an international level.

• Communication Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Proficiency in additional languages would be an added advantage.




• Ability to produce high-quality reports, presentations, and other documents suitable for an international audience.

• Team Collaboration:

• Proven ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, including project managers, researchers, and local stakeholders.

• Experience in working with or as part of international development projects or teams.

• Ethical Standards:

• A commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards in all activities and engagements, respecting local customs, traditions, and values.

Resources

A team comprising of the following experts shall be mobilized to achieve the scope of this TOR.

• Senior International Expert – 12 days (4 per month)

• National Expert – 40 days (10 per month)

• Two research associates - 60days (15 per month)