Short Term Consultant(STC) On Blue Carbon

Application Deadline - 11/18/24

To Submit Your Application:

Interested applicants can send a cover letter highlighting relevant professional experiences and most recent resume to Dias Natasasmita at email [Confidential Information] and put STC Blue Carbon in Indonesia as email subject by COB November 22, 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage.

BACKGROUND

Indonesia's blue economy is underpinned by some the world's most extensive and biodiverse coastal ecosystems. Indonesia holds the largest extent of mangrove ecosystem in the world with 3.31 million hectares, accounting for around 20 percent of the total global mangrove area; an estimated 51 percent of the Southeast Asia's coral reefs; and expansive, biodiverse seagrass meadows reaching an estimated 30,000 km2. These coastal ecosystems will play an important role in addressing climate change and protecting the country's vulnerable local communities from natural hazards. Mangroves and seagrass in Indonesia store around 3.14 billion metric tons of carbon, which is equivalent to 17 percent of the carbon stored in Earth's coastal ecosystems. The benefits of Indonesia's mangrove ecosystems also include an estimated USD1.5 billion annually through supporting commercial fisheries and a coastal protection value of at USD387 million annually. Despite these benefits, more than 50 percent of Indonesia's mangroves have been degraded or lost, and current estimates show that Indonesia stands to lose ecosystem services valued at USD1.7 billion per year in projected monetary value due to continued mangrove loss.

Recognizing the scale of multiple challenges relating to oceans, Indonesia developed a National Oceans Agenda, anchored in a National Oceans Strategy to protect and harness the value of coastal and marine resources and promote the sustainable growth of Indonesia's marine economy. The Government of Indonesia (GoI) has also set out ambitious plans to restore 600,000 ha of mangroves over the next five years to provision environmental and socio-economic benefits to communities.

The World Bank will support GoI in its efforts through the Mangroves for Coastal Resilience Project, which is currently under implementation. The Project will support GoI to strengthen coastal management through mangrove restoration and conservation. To complement these activities, GoI has expressed interest in accessing blue carbon finance, to provide a monetary incentive for the protection and restoration of coastal environments, to contribute significantly to its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and other emission reduction goals. Specifically, the Project is indicatively expected to provide support on:

meeting national readiness requirements to access blue carbon finance, e.g., examination of market options, ensuring policy, regulatory and legal frameworks are in place, developing MRV mechanisms, ensuring mangroves are incorporated into national registry system, etc.

developing a pilot project to demonstrate blue carbon finance potential in a selected area. E.g., identify potential interventions and a pilot area, develop a robust baseline for mangrove carbon in the pilot area, link sub-national MRV to national MRV, support development of a benefit-sharing plan, design interventions that provide longer-term incentives to maintain ERs (e.g., support for livelihoods), support sub-national policy/regulatory/legal framework, identify potential buyers, etc.

The World Bank also provides support under the Oceans for Prosperity Project (LAUTRA) which is to enhance effective management of Indonesia's coastal ecosystems and developing sustainable livelihoods. Under the LAUTRA project, an accurate inventories of seagrass blue carbon stocks and fluxes will be performed to access how seagrass blue carbon can be monetized to finance on-going marine protected areas management.

ASSIGNMENT OBJECTIVES

The World Bank Task Team seeks a short-term consultant (STC) to support the preparation of the blue carbon activities of the Project.

TASKS

In close collaboration with the World Bank Task Team, GoI, and other partners, the STC will carry out the following main tasks:

Analytical work:

Assess and provide technical input on a comprehensive methodology for mangroves monitoring. This will include identifying options of globally recognized methodology against the existing method adopts by the GoI

Identify and provide technical input to the field-based mangroves monitoring network. This will include providing technical input to the installment of sampling plots, and spatial analysis (e.g., remote sensing) for the measurement of carbon stocks.

Provide technical input to the development and implementation of comprehensive assessment of avoided degradation and afforestation baselines aligned to international best practice.

Assess the potential for carbon emission reductions/carbon removal potentials from the project's proposed investments in mangrove restoration and conservation (e.g., from mangroves, seagrass beds, seabed sediments, etc.), including quantitative estimates of low, medium, and high emission reductions that could be achieved through relevant policy approaches (e.g., REDD+, mangrove restoration, jurisdictional mangrove deforestation moratorium).

Identify potential buyers/financing schemes for Indonesia, the specific requirements to access blue carbon finance, and assess current gaps in the enabling conditions in terms of technical capacity and regulatory framework (including issues relating to Indonesia's NDC, establishment of emission baseline, ownership of emission reductions, national registry system, MRV, etc.).

Conduct cost-benefit analysis of different carbon finance options. This will include identifying examples of carbon prices and the determinants for prices that have been accepted elsewhere, estimating the costs of interventions needed to access blue carbon finance, and estimating the potential net revenue from carbon emission reductions for proposed activities under different blue carbon options (e.g., results-based payments vs. offsets vs. voluntary market vs. domestic trading/compliance, etc.).

Assess global landscape and methodologies to monetize seagrass blue carbon and support the GoI with detailed assessment of carbon stocks and fluxes within seagrass habitats within the LAUTRA Project protected areas.

Lead Technical Component and Engagement with counterparts:

Lead technical activities under subcomponent 1.3 on Registration and Monitoring of Mangroves Rehabilitation and Sustainable Mangroves Management; and support 1.4 on Blue Carbon Offset Readiness

Engage in technical discussions with GoI on Indonesia's interest in and eligibility to access carbon markets, including the implication of Indonesia's updated NDC and Forest Reference Level (FREL).

Based on assessments and discussions with GoI and WB team, provide guidance on prioritization of approaches for accessing blue carbon finance, prioritization of potential project interventions and sites under both the M4CR and LAUTRA projects, and a concrete plan to access blue carbon finance (e.g., apply to specific funds, approach specific interested buyers).

Support application to specific funds/buyer initiatives, as relevant.

Lead technical discussion and preparation of technical documents, including briefs, technical notes, terms of references, reports and presentations for the World Bank Management, Government counterparts and other partners as needed.

Actively organize and participate in teleconferences, videoconferences, field visits and other meetings with clients, World Bank and partners, and recommend additional tasks, where needed, to achieve project expectations based on new evidence and changing priorities.

DURATION OF THE CONSULTANCY

The consultancy is initially for 40 days, extendable based upon performance and project need. The consultancy is expected to start in December 2024.

DELIVERABLES

Specific tasks will be assigned by the Project Task Team Leader / blue carbon team leads with the allocated number of days for the task.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Minimum education: Master in a relevant field.

Minimum experience: at least 8 years of experience in the ocean/coastal sector with expertise in blue carbon ecosystems, methodologies and markets; especially in Indonesia

Location: Regular availability in Jakarta for government counterpart dialogues

Language: Excellent communication skills in English and Bahasa.