Conservation International Development of Kenya’s REDD+ Registry Jobs in Kenya

Conservation International Development of Kenya’s REDD+ Registry Jobs in Kenya

Background

Conservation International (CI) has been protecting nature for the benefit of all, for over 30 years. Through science, policy, and partnerships, CI is helping build a healthier, more prosperous, and more productive planet. Today, with offices in more than two dozen countries and a worldwide network of thousands of partners, CI has a truly global reach.

Kenya reached an important milestone in December 2021 by formulating its National REDD+ Strategy, and Safeguards Information System. The Forest Reference Level had been established earlier and is undergoing some improvements while the National Forest Monitoring System is being finalized. The country is now looking towards moving into broader REDD+ implementation. REDD+ Nesting has been identified as a fundamental component that will actualize REDD+ implementation in Kenya.

Conservation International is supporting the Government of Kenya, through the State Department for Forestry in the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, to design arrangements for a system that will allow for site- or subnational-scale REDD+ activities to be incorporated into, and formally recognized under, the national REDD+ program.

This process is referred to as REDD+ nesting. Part of this work involves establishing a system for tracking emission reductions (ERs) generated and sold at the national level and from projects through development of a National REDD+ Registry.

Project Overview

A REDD+ registry is a data management platform that integrates technology, policies, and operational procedures to document, approve and track the development, compliance, performance, purchase, and retirement of emissions reductions (or removals) through either national, compliance, or voluntary markets or systems. It constitutes a crucial part of the infrastructure needed for realizing and consolidating REDD+ in a country.

It ensures that all the relevant data and information linked to REDD+ implementation is captured, processed, and stored in a centralized repository which is accessible to various categories of stakeholders and end-users for decision-making purposes.

Information contained in a REDD+ registry can be used to demonstrate compliance with policies at various scales including conformance with UNFCCC guidelines, internal country policies, and bilateral agreements, track progress in emission reductions relative to a negotiated reference level and reduce the potential for counting the same credit twice (double counting). Registries should also record the physical location of REDD+ activities to ensure there is no overlap.

REDD+ registries aim to serve as a repository of reliable, easy-access information, to ensure accurate accounting of emissions reductions from projects or programs, and to foster compliance with established regulations and standards.

As such, a REDD+ registry enables a country (or jurisdiction) to be fully informed of all REDD+ activities taking place within its boundaries, to vouch for the quality, value, and impact of projected or reported emissions reductions or removals, to follow the issuance and trading of REDD+ credits/units and the issuance and transfer of results-based payments, irrespective of where the units are transacting within a market framework.

To date, there are very few operational, if any, REDD+ registries in Africa. At the global scale, however, many countries are in the process of establishing national and jurisdictional (sub-national) registries, depending on their respective REDD+ architectures. Registries are also being used in the voluntary market, under the Clean Development Mechanism and, in other sub-national markets focused on jurisdictional REDD+.

Registry design can share information of site- or subnational-scale REDD+ activities and support nested accounting that keeps track of emission reductions and carbon stock increases that accrue from site-scale projects, separate from those resulting from national policies and programs. Registered nested accounting may also permit adjustments to resolve data discrepancies and failure of parties to perform, based on policy rules made at the time of system design.

Registries are used to track buffer reserve accounts comprised of non-tradable credits that are held as insurance against project failure, to keep the atmosphere “whole” if failed credits have been applied against an emission. Registries therefore provide environmental integrity to carbon programs and reduce risks to governments, stakeholders, investors and the atmosphere.

In this regard, Conservation International is seeking to engage a consultant to develop a National REDD+ registry for Kenya. This registry aims to track, verify, and report greenhouse gas emissions reductions and removals resulting from REDD+ activities. Specific objectives and outcomes of this consultancy are outlined below.

Terms of Reference, Deliverables and Deliverables Schedule

The consultant will, with the guidance of Conservation International and the State Department for Forestry:

Facilitate stakeholder consultations and engagement to identify the most appropriate design options for Kenya’s REDD+ registry including:

Functionality of the registry including user/account registration, project management, regulatory approval, credit management, transfer, cancelation and retirement, report generation, public views and necessary information, etc.

Technology requirements and registry infrastructure including hosting and maintenance requirements.

Required software and hardware and hosting platform.

Operational and administrative support requirements

Alignment with the policy, legal and regulatory framework relevant to REDD+ in Kenya including linkages with the national carbon registry and other registries as may be appropriate.

Defining roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders to be involved and their management, coordination and implementation responsibilities.

Required data and institutional inputs (incl. relevant information of programmes, projects and subnational initiatives, emission reductions and removals generated, transferred and/or paid for at national and subnational levels, projects, transactions, finance, social and environmental safeguards, among others.)

Conduct a thorough assessment of existing forest carbon accounting and MRV systems at the national or subnational level. This includes evaluating data collection methods, reporting mechanisms, and institutional arrangements related to REDD+ activities that will be relevant for the registry.

Registry Design and Development: Based on the assessment and feedback/input from stakeholders, the consultant shall propose a design for the REDD+ registry that aligns with Kenya’s policy legal and regulatory framework and international standards and best practices. This involves outlining the technical specifications, data management protocols, and user interface requirements for the registry.

Stakeholder Engagement: The consultant shall facilitate stakeholder consultations to gather input on the design and functionality of the registry throughout the development process. This may involve engaging with government agencies, civil society organizations, indigenous communities, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure their perspectives are incorporated throughout the registry development process.

Capacity Building: As part of the consultancy, the consultant shall provide training and capacity building support to relevant personnel who will be involved in operating and maintaining the REDD+ registry. This includes guidance on data entry, quality control procedures, and regular updates to the registry.

Documentation and Reporting: The consultant should prepare comprehensive documentation outlining the technical specifications, operational procedures, and guidelines for using the REDD+ registry. Additionally, they should establish reporting mechanisms to track the performance and impact of the registry in supporting REDD+ objectives.

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; Conservation International Development of Kenya’s REDD+ Registry Jobs in Kenya

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