ThaiNGO

Terms of Reference for Framework of Support (Mitigation Instruments Research Officer)

Collaborative Instruments for Ambitious Climate Action (CI-ACA)

The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) is a nonprofit policy research institute promoting sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 1998, IGES is headquartered in Hayama, Japan and has branch offices and desks in Bangkok, Beijing, Kansai, Kitakyushu, New Delhi, and Tokyo.

Since the year 2015, IGES has partnered with UN Climate Change to establish the UN Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centre for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand.

IGES, on behalf of UN Climate Change and the regional Collaboration Centre, Bangkok (RCC Bangkok), seeks to hire a junior national consultant to carry out activities related to the Collaborative Instruments for Ambitious Climate Action (CI-ACA) initiative, in Pakistan as described in the ‘Objectives and Details of Project’ section below.

Background

Carbon pricing is a straightforward approach for addressing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as it puts a price signal on carbon, creating an incentive for cutting emissions and investing into more climate friendly solutions.

The Paris Agreement, which has already been ratified by 176 Parties (as of 29 January 2018), among which Pakistan, explicitly recognizes the important role of carbon pricing (decision CP21/1 para. 136).

Recognising the growing number of Parties to the Paris Agreement that are considering carbon pricing instruments as an approach for implementing their climate action and the related need for support, the CIACA initiative was announced during the COP22 in Marrakech. The initiative’s objective is to support Parties in the development of carbon pricing approaches for implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and foster cooperative climate action with other jurisdictions

The initiative is operationalized regionally through the UN Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centres (RCCs).

Details of position

The Research Officer (RO) will work under the Director General for Environment & Climate Change, Ministry of Climate Change, Government of Pakistan. He will assist in the implementation of the initiative “Collaborative Instruments for Ambitious Climate Action” (CI-ACA). The initiative supports Pakistan in relation to the consideration and development of economic instruments for climate change mitigation and sustainable development at the national level, while exploring options for cooperative climate action under the international climate regime.

The RO is expected to provide practical and conceptual support to the consideration and development of domestic mitigation instruments and support the Ministry on all matters related to international cooperative climate action under the evolving international climate regime and in particular Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. In his capacity, the RO is expected to conduct research activities, liaise with a broad range of entities involved, develop reports and recommendation to the project steering group and report to the ministry and the project board.

In the frame of his activity, the RO is expected to develop key expert on the topic of carbon pricing, mitigation instrument and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement for cooperative climate action.

 The RO will be responsible for leading or contributing to the following tasks:

• Support with the identification and review of main types of approaches implemented to set a price on signal on greenhouse gases emissions at the conceptual and practical level, in particular by analyzing current status and development at the international level;
• Map the landscape of existing or planned policies and initiatives at the national level with relevance to carbon pricing, especially regarding (i) social, economic and fiscal policies as well as (ii) climate and energy related policies and initiatives;
• Support and organise the identification and gathering of information of energy use and greenhouse gases emissions for the main emitting sectors and facilities at the domestic level;
• Analyse qualitatively and if required quantitatively the potential impact of various carbon pricing which could be considered in Pakistan considering their strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, including specifically in the national context, and prepare recommendations on how to address possible threats and weaknesses;
• Preparing reports assessing the merits of different instruments;
• Developing roadmaps for the further consideration and elaboration of instrument at the national level;
• Assist the Ministry and serve as focal point on all matters related to the implementation and as needed the further elaboration of the Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement with regard to mitigation action;
• Assist, as needed, in the preparation of conceptual notes for the Ministry on topics related to climate action in the frame of the Paris Agreement, especially regarding the development, implementation and use of instruments of cooperative climate action and on topics related to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement;
• Liaise as needed with representatives of sectors, civil society, Government Officials from other agencies, other Government branches as well as donors and coordinators involved in the CI-ACA initiative and act as focal person for the consideration and development of carbon pricing instruments at the domestic level and in the international context;
• Seek feedback and manage interactions with key national actors to be consulted
• Support as required the development of a continuous Monitoring, Reporting and Verification System for entities and sectors to which a system of carbon pricing may apply;
• Assist with all administrative and logistical arrangements for meetings, workshops and conferences;
• Coordinate with UNFCCC/ RCC and study team to ensure improved coordination for timely completion of assigned tasks;
• Prepare reports to update on progress of work
• To perform any other duties as required by the NPD for achieving the above objectives.

Qualification/Experience

• Master degree preferably in a related field (Environment, Economics, Public Policy International Relations or Public Administration))
• Excellent research, conceptual and analytic skills
• Good data compiling and analysis skills
• Excellent writing skills;
• Fast learner with good problem-solving skills and result oriented approach;
• Computing skills, particularly in handling accounting software
• Good understanding of climate change mitigation
• Familiarity with climate change and energy related programmes and policies in Pakistan

• Language skills: Proficiency in written and spoken English and Urdu (or another local language) is essential.

• Familiarity with the following topics would be desired: economic instruments for climate change mitigation (in particular carbon taxes, emission trading systems, climate funds, climate finance, CDM), accounting of greenhouse gases emissions, Paris Agreement and the international climate regime, developments in the field of international climate action.

Expected date for start of work

The work will start in March 2018.

Duration

The post is purely on contract basis for a period of eight months.

Duty Station

The duty station of the consultant shall be the Ministry of Climate Change, Pakistan.

Remuneration

A competitive monthly remuneration will be provided.

How to apply

Candidates, whose qualifications and experience match what we are looking for, please send an up to date CV and cover letter to Ms. Ariel Yu (yu@iges.or.jp) and copy saudamini.bagai@mx.iges.or.jp.

Please indicate “Mitigation Instruments Research Officer” in your email subject.

Only candidates under serious consideration will be invited for an interview via teleconference.