Programme Manager, Carbon Markets at Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an international organisation working with leaders in government, the private sector and civil society to drive further, faster action toward achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), which calls for universal access to sustainable energy by 2030, and the Paris Agreement, which calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate warming to well below 2° Celsius.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Manager, Carbon Markets

Location: Abuja
Department: Internal Programmes
Team: Finance and Operations
Line Manager: Senior Director, Finance and Operations
Grade Level: Management 1, overall level 7
Contract Type: Limited-Term Full-Time
Date Required: As soon as possible
Duration: One year with possibility to extend

Context of the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI)

• The ACMI is a continent-wide effort launched at COP27 that aims to build the foundations for a thriving voluntary carbon market (VCM) ecosystem in Africa by 2030. To do so, a number of challenges must be overcome, including: fragmented projects and carbon generating assets, limited and fragmented developers on the ground, and a complex and uncertain regulatory landscape. Meanwhile, intermediation and demand are being held back by concerns about the integrity of some carbon credits and fair distribution of value. To build vibrant and robust voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) in Africa, ACMI includes 4 core objectives:
  • Grow African carbon credits retirements ~19-fold from ~16 MtCO2e retired in 2020 to ~300 MtCO2e per annum by 2030 and up to 1.5-2.5 GtCO2e by 2050
  • Create or support 30 million jobs by 2030 and more than 100 million jobs by 2050 through carbon projects development, execution, certification, and monitoring
  • Raise the quality and integrity of African credits to mobilize up to US$6 billion by 2030 and more than US$100 billion per annum by 2050
  • Ensure equitable and transparent distribution of carbon credit revenue, with a significant portion of revenue going to local communities
• To achieve these objectives, ACMI has laid out a roadmap of 13 Action Programmes across the VCM value chain – spanning supply, intermediation and financing, and demand. Action Programme 1 looks specifically at Country carbon market activation plan.
• A tactical starting point for any country seeking to build a carbon ecosystem is to draw up a plan for developing the market. In this context, the challenges are mainly related to complex or unfavourable regulatory landscape (e.g., related to land rights/ concessions, ownership of credits, Article 6, and split between nationally determined contributions vs. voluntary contributions). SEforALL is looking to overcome the existing barriers by supporting governments in developing country voluntary carbon market activation plans that stimulate the carbon credit ecosystem, build local capacity and clarify regulation (e.g., land tenure).
• Plans would set a country-level ambition, integrate VCMs into broader climate plans, align relevant governance structures, clarify regulation, develop demand incentives, and support the local market ecosystem.
• These will be linked to the work that SEforALL does in the area of energy transition, particularly the formulation and implementation of the Energy Transition and Investment Plans (ETIPs).

Purpose/Objective of the Role
The main objectives of the role include:

• Leading the collaboration with ACMI partners, member of governments, and other stakeholders, in drafting strategies and plans for the launch and activation of voluntary carbon markets, drafting frameworks and supporting in the identification of policies activating the plans.
• Ensure the integration of the carbon markets activation plans with the Energy Transition and Investment Plans (ETIPs), where appropriate. 
• Overseeing and coordinating pilots around new carbon methodologies, support in MRV capacity building across sovereign and private players and support the build-up of demand for African carbon credits via continent-wide, awareness-raising initiatives. This while thoroughly ensuring the utmost integrity of carbon markets.
• Leading the engagement with VVB/auditors with a view to make the MRV process more efficient and cost effective. Overseeing the delivery of the ACMI Accelerator Program, in collaboration with ACMI partners, as well as coordinating multiple stakeholder engagement initiatives, including dedicated webinars, events and roadshows.
• Leading the SEforALL efforts in the scale up of programmes for carbon credits generation, including identifying and working with partners across standards bodies, financial institutions, and general organizations in developing frameworks and solutions to directly support project developers across the continent.

Duties and Accountabilities
The main duties and tasks of the role include:

• Work on a varied portfolio of activities, including: project management support, collaboration with partners, quantitative and qualitative analysis, presentation of analytical results, collaboration with SEforALL and ACMI colleagues.
• Support the engagement with Senior Government decision makers on issues of strategy and policy around energy transition, carbon markets and climate finance, providing expert inputs to country teams (e.g., leading workshops, facilitating meetings with local and international experts)
• Develop frameworks, guides, and other communication documents which effectively detail the components and steps involved in establishing carbon market activation plans, and the links of those plans to energy transition in the country.
• Monitor progresses on engaged countries, ensuring internal and external targets are met; if issues arise, identify solutions and mitigation actions.
• Identify new priority countries to be engaged, and prepare relevant engagement collateral
• Continue engaging with countries that have expressed interest, through e.g., regional webinars, as a mode of interim support before full support is secured to launch a country activation plan
• Size funding need for each country and work in collaboration with fundraising manager to identify funding opportunities; support proposal development and reach out to donors on selective opportunities
• Engage with relevant external stakeholders such as other not-for-profit organizations, donors, media, suppliers, buyers, and agencies, in advocating for carbon markets in Africa
• Plan and deliver project developer engagement initiatives, including: running the dedicated project developers’ chat/ platform; organizing workshops centred around a key theme, with expert participation; organizing and delivering dedicated networking events and roadshows
• Coordinate Accelerator partners, including Accelerator, external consultancies, and experts, in delivering programs to different project developer categories
• Define and oversee Accelerator activities, including but not limited to: reviewing selection criteria and selection process, inviting experts, ensuring correct classes cadence and events timeline, allocating participants to the right kinds of expert support, planning for pitch day
• Develop and maintain a network of project developers, verification bodies (VVBs) and standard bodies (e.g., Gold Standard and Verra’s VCS) to invite as delivery partner in the accelerator program as well as thought partners to identify adapted methodologies to certify carbon credit projects
• Engage with sovereign and private players in drafting strategic plans for the set up and scale MRV capacity building across jurisdictions
• Maintain a network and level of engagement to keep current with development in the MRV space in Africa.
• Develop and provide dedicated validation and verification curriculum and trainings to build local capabilities, in partnership with universities, technical schools, standard setters and existing VVBs
• Support stakeholders incubating emerging technologies that can facilitate faster and easier verification, monitoring, and reporting
• Plan awareness raising campaigns on of the integrity and quality of differentiated Africa carbon credits, identifying events and partners best placed to support the work that SEforALL is undertaking vis-à-vis the MRV
• Oversee pilots of new carbon credits methodologies by interacting with international stakeholders
• Support the development of carbon projects through collaboration with international organisations for the need to invest, establishing guidelines on best practices, providing technical support to local project developers, and incubating early-stage projects
• Promote carbon markets integrity via coordinating international standards bodies (VCS – Verra, Gold Standard for the Global Goals, Article 6 mechanism) and participating in advocacy campaigns
• Create a continent-wide coalition to support carbon credit project developers through advocacy to financers and regulators, awareness raising, knowledge sharing and technical support for project development, and facilitation of partnerships
• Identify and work with financial institutions to develop and scale financial solutions
• Represent SEforALL in external conversations, forums, and partnerships
• Provide ongoing support to resolve strategic questions as they emerge during Action Programme implementation
• Supporting Thematic Group meetings, including managing meeting cadence, confirming attendees, prepare briefings and content, managing inputs/advisory received from attendees and coordinating with the Thematic Group Chair.

Specific Competencies for the Role

• Master's Degree in Environmental Science, Economics, International Development or any other related field
• At least five years of experience in project management, preferably in the field of climate change or environmental management
• Strong knowledge of the carbon market industry, including international carbon market frameworks, and market-based mechanisms for climate change mitigation
• Experience in emerging markets and developing countries, with demonstrated expertise working with energy development, political and social issues across Africa
• Experience in government advisory; experience with engagement at senior levels of government in Africa is a plus
• Experience in / knowledge of voluntary carbon markets, especially in Africa
• Experience in working with ambiguity and navigating complex environments
• Extensive (international) network and up-to-date knowledge about carbon markets, inclusive of strategies for further scaling, funding and social development
• Strong quantitative and analytical writing skills; advanced proficiency in MS Excel and significant experience in producing concise, executive level reports and presentations, training modules and materials
• Excellent interpersonal, social and networking skills, ability to engage with governments and the private sector. Prior experience working with governments and other broad partnerships highly desirable.
• Experience with knowledge management, learning and innovations in access to energy. Ability to raise awareness, coach and provide training to technical and non-technical project and partner staff.
• Entrepreneurial, result-oriented and driver for change. Ability to be flexible and adaptable.
• Strong communications and negotiation skills in speaking, writing, as well as presenting materials in variety of media.
• Expert command of the English language. Fluency in French and Portugese will be an added advantage.

General Competencies for the Role:

• Innovation and Adaptability: Has expert skills and commitment to search for and produce innovative and creative approaches to activities. Is flexible to evolving circumstances, as well as proactively helps others in doing so.
• Resilience and Emotional Intelligence: Has expert knowledge in the concepts of resilience and emotional intelligence. Is able to remain calm in challenging situations, to cope with setbacks, is responsive to the emotions of others and maintains a very high level of performance. Actively promotes resilience and emotional intelligence in their team.
• Analytical and Strategic Thinking: Has an expert level of analytical and strategic thinking skills. Gathers and processes demanding information, develops innovative solutions and contributes by representing topics/approaches in internal and cross functional working groups as well as special committees/decision-making teams. Uses business analytics to develop and propose programme priorities/objectives.
• Collaboration and Partnership: Promotes effective collaboration with colleagues within and across teams, partners and stakeholders and advises leadership team/CEO on valuable operational, strategic, technical and financial partnerships with relevant stakeholders. Actively builds and maintains effective relationships at various levels inside and outside the organisation. 
• Lead and Empower: Understands clearly their people management role. Serves as a role model when managing and supervising others. Provides their team with clear direction. Effective, with support, at prioritising the empowerment, coaching, mentorship and performance management of others.
• Political and diplomatic understanding: Has an expert level of political and diplomatic understanding and serves as a role model. Actively supports staff/team when dealing with stakeholder/partners in political/diplomatic negotiations/discussions.
• Communicating information: Has expert skills in communicating information. Serves as a role model in communicating information and fosters communicating information in own organisational unit/team. Keeps staff informed of decisions and directives as appropriate. Provides constructive feedback to the team.
• Research and Analytics: Has expert skills in research and analytics. Leads analysis and identifies key issues, opportunities, risks and challenges. Applies results of research activities and business analytics to establish objectives for own unit. Makes rational judgments and proposes actions and decisions from the available information and analysis. 
• Project Management: Has expert skills in project management. Manages own projects and programmes. Is able to create plans for managing a range of SEforALL and/or integrated business projects and programmes at unit/team level. Has the ability to identify and organize objectives, tasks and resources. Monitors progress, risks and contingency plans along with budgets and timelines. Actively promotes use of project management as a tool to enhance efficiency.
• Client Orientation / Striving for Excellence: Has expert skills in client orientation and in achieving excellency in work delivery. Serves as a role model and develops within their team, a client orientated attitude. Ensures internal and external long-term relationships through developing suitable services. Advises leadership team in identifying long-term and mutually beneficial solutions for both clients and the organisation.

Application Closing Date
13th April, 2023 at 23:59 CET.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online