Carbon Markets Analyst

Apply Before: 09/12/2026, 02:36 PM
Job Schedule: Full time
Locations: Home Based
Agency: UNDP
Grade: IPSA-9
Vacancy Type: International Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area: Nature, Climate and Energy
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Africa
Contract Duration: 6 months
Education & Work Experience: Master's Degree - 2 year(s) experience OR Bachelor's Degree - 4 year(s) experience
Required Languages: English and French

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work – Carbon Market Analyst
The Analyst will provide strategic, technical, and policy support to strengthen the enabling environment for carbon markets in the Congo Basin, promote cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and support countries in mobilizing carbon finance to advance sustainable development and climate action.

The Analyst will be responsible for the following key areas of work:

1. Strengthen the Enabling Environment for Carbon Markets and Article 6 Cooperation

• Advise governments on the development of carbon market strategies, operational guidelines, and institutional coordination mechanisms consistent with international best practices.
• Promote the harmonization of regional approaches, policies, and institutional frameworks for carbon market development across the Congo Basin and Central Africa.
• Support the integration of carbon finance and carbon market concepts into the curricula of regional academic and research institutions.
   

2. Support the Development of Carbon Credit Projects and Carbon Market Transactions

• Provide technical advice on the identification, development, and implementation of high-quality carbon credit projects across the Congo Basin.
• Support Country Office in the preparation of jurisdictional and sectoral carbon market programmes, including REDD+ initiatives, in line with internationally recognized standards and methodologies.
• Assist governments in establishing jurisdictional Forest Reference Emission Levels (FRELs) and other technical requirements necessary for REDD+ implementation.
• Support the preparation of transaction-ready REDD+ investment programmes aligned with internationally recognized carbon certification standards.
• Facilitate engagement with private-sector partners, including international investors and Japanese private-sector entities, to promote investment in carbon projects and the transfer of mitigation outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to leverage innovative carbon finance mechanisms to support sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
   

3. Mobilize Climate and Carbon Finance

• Provide technical support for the design and development of carbon finance programmes and investment pipelines.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of national climate finance registries and systems for tracking, coordinating, and reporting climate finance and carbon market transactions.
• Lead or coordinate feasibility studies, technical assessments, and pre-feasibility analyses to inform the formulation of carbon finance projects.
• Support the preparation of concept notes and funding proposals for the Green Climate Fund (GCF), including REDD+ Results-Based Payment (RBP) proposals and other climate finance mechanisms.
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations and ensure the meaningful participation of governments, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, civil society organizations, development partners, and the private sector in project design and implementation.
• Support the preparation of the Regional Congo Basin Carbon Finance Programme and other regional investment initiatives.
   

4. Knowledge Management, Coordination, and Partnerships

• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with governments, regional organizations, development partners, multilateral climate funds, academic institutions, the private sector, and carbon market initiatives.
• Represent UNDP in relevant regional and international technical meetings, working groups, and carbon market forums.
• Prepare technical reports, policy briefs, knowledge products, and analytical papers on carbon markets, Article 6 implementation, REDD+, and climate finance.
• Monitor developments in international carbon market rules, standards, and negotiations under the UNFCCC and advise UNDP and partner countries on their implications.
• Contribute to programme monitoring, reporting, communications, and knowledge-sharing activities related to carbon markets and climate finance.
   

Expected Deliverables
The Carbon Market Analyst is expected to contribute to the following results:

• Harmonized regional frameworks and cooperation mechanisms for carbon market development across the Congo Basin.
• Increased pipeline of high-integrity carbon credit projects and transaction-ready REDD+ programmes.
• Strengthened engagement with private-sector investors and carbon market partners.
• Improved access to carbon finance and climate finance, including Green Climate Fund REDD+ Results-Based Payments.
• Strengthened climate finance tracking systems and national carbon registries.
• High-quality technical studies, investment proposals, and knowledge products supporting the development of carbon markets in the Congo Basin.
   

Institutional Arrangement

The Carbon Market Analyst will work under the overall supervision of the Project Manager and under the leadership  of the UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa (Climate Action, DRR, Resilience & Energy portfolio). This assignment is home-based, the Specialist is required to be online and fully available for 8 hours during working days, participate in team calls, and collaborate remotely as required.

If travel is required, such travel shall be at UNDP’s expense in accordance with UNDP’s travel guidance and policy, and the personnel shall receive a per diem not to exceed United Nations daily subsistence allowance rate.

   Competencies

Core

• Achieve Results:    LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively:    LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously:    LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility:    LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination:     LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner:    LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:    LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental Engineering, Climate Science, Climate Finance, Economics, Public Policy, Sustainable Development, or 
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience..
   

Experience:

• Minimum 2years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in supporting carbon markets, NDCs and the Paris Agreement
• Strong background and understanding of the technical components for the establishment of carbon markets, including the processes to get a project certified as well as the establishment of registries and infrastructure is required 
• Strong knowledge of Article 6 UNFCCC decisions and independent carbon crediting programs is required. 
• Experience working with multilateral organizations and/or the UN system is an asset.
• Demonstrated expertise in supporting governments in their readiness and infrastructure needs for engagement in carbon markets is an advantage.
• Demonstrated strong organisational skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills is an asset.
• Knowledge of climate action in the Africa context is an advantage.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and policy discourse is an adavantage
  
  Required Language(s) :
•    Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
•  Fluency in written and spoken French is required.