Carbon Credit Certification Expert

Department: Carbon

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: Africa

Reporting To: Chief Information Officer

Description

Role and Responsibilities

• Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of current forest cover, historical deforestation/degradation trends, and carbon sequestration potential.
• Quantify above-ground and below-ground carbon stocks and estimate annual credit volume (tCO₂e/year) under baseline and project scenarios.

• Identify primary drivers of deforestation/degradation (e.g., logging, agriculture, charcoal production) through stakeholder interviews and spatial analysis. 
• Recommend interventions (e.g., REDD+ conservation, ARR reforestation) tailored to the project’s ecological and socioeconomic context. 

• Validate and expand on existing community engagement data (collaborating with local partners). 
• Assess co-benefits (biodiversity, livelihoods) and risks (land tenure, leakage), ensuring alignment with FPIC (Free, Prior, Informed Consent) principles. 

• Determine optimal carbon standard (e.g., Verra REDD+ vs. ARR, Gold Standard) based on project goals, land-use dynamics, and financial viability. 
• Outline certification steps, including: 
  - Methodology selection (e.g., VM0007 for REDD+, VM0042 for ARR). 
  - Data gaps and MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) requirements. 
  - Cost-benefit analysis of certification options. 

• Deliver a decision-ready report including: 
  - Recommended project type (REDD+/ARR) and justification. 
  - Cost projections, risk assessment, and stakeholder mapping. 
  - Roadmap for full project development (if viable), including timelines and budget estimates. 

Requirements

• Experience in forest carbon projects, with proven expertise in feasibility studies, certification (Verra and/or Gold Standard), and carbon accounting in emerging markets. 
• Hands-on experience conducting deforestation baseline studies, carbon stock assessments, and community engagement (DRC or Central Africa experience highly preferred). 
• Demonstrated application of both REDD+ and ARR methodologies (e.g., Verra VM0007/VM0042, Gold Standard GS4GG/LUF). 
• Familiarity with requirements of major carbon buyers (e.g., LEAF Coalition, World Bank Carbon Funds) and bilateral donors (e.g., NORAD, USAID) for both standards.Technical Requirements:

• Carbon quantification: Proficiency in remote sensing (GIS, Earth Engine), forest inventory plots, and IPCC Tier 2/3 modelling.
• ESG integration: Ability to align projects with IFC Performance Standards and Equator Principles, including FPIC (Free, Prior, Informed Consent) processes for both Verra and Gold Standard. 
• Certification process: End-to-end knowledge of PDD (Project Design Document) development, validation audits, and MRV systems for both Verra and Gold Standard. 

• Exceptional stakeholder management capabilities, with proven ability to navigate complex land-use dynamics with governments, communities, and private landowners. 
• Comfort working in remote, resource-constrained environments with intermittent data availability. 
• Superior written communication skills for developing high-quality briefs, reports, and presentations for executive audiences.