RECRUITMENT OF INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP THE GHG IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF POLICIES AND MEASURES (ICAT RE GUID) AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CO-BENEFIT ASSESSMENT (ICAT SD METHODOLOGY) IN SIERRA LEONE

Procurement Number: EPASL/NRG/UNEP/RFP/2026/0015

Date of First Issue:  14^th JULY, 2026

Background

The Environment Protection Agency of Sierra Leone (EPA-SL),  is implementing the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) project “Strengthen Sierra Leone Climate Transparency” under a Project Cooperation Agreement with UNOPS (Project No. 11875-003/ICAT PCA/2025/10). The overall objective is to enable Sierra Leone to update its NDC and track the implementation of its NDC mitigation actions by enhancing and institutionalising the national NDC tracking framework. The project will operationalise a framework for the regular collection and management of the data needed to develop GHG projections, assess the impact of selected policies and measures, and develop MRV for reporting on progress, by implementing the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Cost Model (GACMO) and applying the ICAT Renewable Energy (RE) and Sustainable Development (SD) methodologies. This work plan covers three outcomes: (1) inception; (2) institutionalisation of the GACMO tool and strengthening of national readiness for NDC implementation; and (3) assessment of the GHG impact of selected renewable energy policies and measures and their sustainable development co-benefits.

Under the Project Cooperation Agreement, national experts are engaged by the EPA-SL as individual consultants to support the implementation of the activities; the budget may not be used for the direct remuneration of civil servants or other staff already working under a full-time employment contract for the EPA-SL.

Specific Tasks:

The Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development Expert will perform the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Identify, in consultation with national stakeholders, one to two renewable energy policies and/or measures with significant potential impact for achieving the NDC targets, and define the objective of the assessment (ex-ante or ex-post).
• Conduct the GHG impact assessment of the selected policies/measures using the ICAT Renewable Energy (RE) Guide.
• Assess the relevant sustainable development co-benefits of the selected policies/measures using the ICAT Sustainable Development (SD) Methodology, including the identification of SD/SDG monitoring indicators.
• Develop an MRV approach for the selected policies and measures, defining how data on GHG impacts and SDG co-benefits will be monitored, how results will be reported transparently, and how verification will be conducted, ensuring alignment with existing national MRV systems.
• Participate in the ICAT RE and SD training workshop and support capacity building of national stakeholders on the methodologies.
• Prepare the inception/scoping note and the final report (Deliverable 3.1) and incorporate feedback from stakeholder consultations.

Academic qualifications:

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent), preferably in energy, environmental science, climate change, economics or a related field.
• A bachelor’s degree with a relevant combination of two additional years of experience related to the position may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experiences:   

• At least 7 years of proven experience in energy / climate change mitigation analysis, including the assessment of renewable energy policies and measures.
• Demonstrated experience in the assessment of sustainable development co-benefits and/or SDG and co-benefit analysis of climate actions.
• Familiarity with the ICAT Renewable Energy (RE) Guide and the ICAT Sustainable Development (SD) Methodology, or with comparable policy GHG-impact and SD-impact assessment methodologies.
• Experience in the design of MRV approaches and in linking policy assessment results to NDC tracking frameworks.
• Good knowledge of the renewable energy sector and the national climate policy context in Sierra Leone.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and working with governmental institutions is highly desirable.

Technical and Financial Proposal:

The national consultant is requested to prepare and submit his or her technical and financial (professional fee, other cost including travels and DSA) proposal to be submitted to the address not later than 11^th August  2025 at (1:00 Pm).

This advertisement is open to all individual Consultants nationally. 

Kindly submit the following documents;

• Technical proposal
• Financial Proposal, that indicates all-inclusive fixed total contract price supported by a breakdown of costs (inclusive professional fee and specify other costs if applicable. But excluding travel costs and DSA.
• A Cover Letter
• Personal CV indicating educational background/professional qualifications. contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
• Individual Profile
• Samples of previous work/ experience from similar project.

Interested consultant may obtain further detailed information on www.epa.gov.sl  or collect the terms of reference (TOR) at the address below between [9am to 4pm Mondays to Fridays] or send an email to the below email address.

WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Bids (technical and financial proposals including supporting documents) must be delivered to the address below or by email to kamara.isatu2000@gmail.com/isatu.kamara@epa.gov.sl and copied to massaquoiabubakar@gmail.com/ab.massaquoi@epa.gov.sl no later than 11^th August, 2025.

 Executive Chairperson

Environment Protection Agency-SL;

2^nd Floor

38 Freetown Road, Wilberforce Village

Freetown

TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. Background and context

The Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) was established in 2015 at the COP that adopted the Paris Agreement to support the implementation of the Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework. ICAT provides countries with tailored support and practical tools and methodologies to build robust transparency frameworks needed for effective climate action in sync with national development priorities. The Initiative is hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) on behalf of its Donor Steering Committee, and is implemented in Sierra Leone through its international implementing partner, the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC).

The Environment Protection Agency of Sierra Leone (EPA-SL), which houses the National Climate Change Secretariat and is the national focal point for climate transparency, is implementing the ICAT project “Strengthen Sierra Leone Climate Transparency” under a Project Cooperation Agreement with UNOPS (Project No. 11875-003/ICAT PCA/2025/10). The overall objective is to enable Sierra Leone to update its NDC and track the implementation of its NDC mitigation actions by enhancing and institutionalising the national NDC tracking framework. Building on the milestones achieved under the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) project, the project will operationalise a framework for the regular collection and management of the data needed to develop GHG projections, assess the impact of selected policies and measures, and develop MRV for reporting on progress, by implementing the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Cost Model (GACMO) and applying the ICAT Renewable Energy (RE) and Sustainable Development (SD) methodologies. This work plan covers three outcomes: (1) inception; (2) institutionalisation of the GACMO tool and strengthening of national readiness for NDC implementation; and (3) assessment of the GHG impact of selected renewable energy policies and measures and their sustainable development co-benefits.

Under the Project Cooperation Agreement, national experts are engaged by the EPA-SL as individual consultants to support the implementation of the activities; the budget may not be used for the direct remuneration of civil servants or other staff already working under a full-time employment contract for the EPA-SL.

2. Objective of the assignment

A completed assessment of the GHG impact of one to two selected renewable energy policies and/or measures using the ICAT Renewable Energy (RE) Guide, an assessment of their sustainable development co-benefits using the ICAT Sustainable Development (SD) Methodology, and a proposed MRV approach that integrates the results into the national NDC tracking framework.

3. Scope of work and responsibilities

For the implementation of Outcome 3 (Activity 3.1) of the ICAT work plan, the EPA-SL requires a Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development Expert to conduct the GHG impact assessment of selected renewable energy mitigation policies and measures using the ICAT RE Guide, and to assess the relevant sustainable development co-benefits using the ICAT SD Methodology.

The expert will identify, in consultation with stakeholders, the renewable energy policy(ies) and/or measure(s) with significant potential impact for achieving the NDC targets, conduct the GHG and SD impact assessments, and develop an MRV approach that defines how data on GHG impacts and SDG co-benefits will be monitored, reported and verified, in alignment with existing national MRV systems where available.

The Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development Expert will perform the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Identify, in consultation with national stakeholders, one to two renewable energy policies and/or measures with significant potential impact for achieving the NDC targets, and define the objective of the assessment (ex-ante or ex-post).
• Conduct the GHG impact assessment of the selected policies/measures using the ICAT Renewable Energy (RE) Guide.
• Assess the relevant sustainable development co-benefits of the selected policies/measures using the ICAT Sustainable Development (SD) Methodology, including the identification of SD/SDG monitoring indicators.
• Develop an MRV approach for the selected policies and measures, defining how data on GHG impacts and SDG co-benefits will be monitored, how results will be reported transparently, and how verification will be conducted, ensuring alignment with existing national MRV systems.
• Participate in the ICAT RE and SD training workshop and support capacity building of national stakeholders on the methodologies.
• Prepare the inception/scoping note and the final report (Deliverable 3.1) and incorporate feedback from stakeholder consultations.

4. Deliverables, timeline and payment schedule

The expected outputs and deliverables for this assignment are:

Activity 3.1: identification of renewable energy mitigation policies and/or measures with significant potential for achieving the NDC targets, selected on the basis of the national context and the objective of the assessment (ex-ante or ex-post).

GHG and SD assessment: GHG impact assessment of one to two selected policies/measures using the ICAT RE Guide, and assessment of the relevant sustainable development impacts using the ICAT SD Methodology.

MRV approach: an MRV approach for the selected policies and measures that ensures the assessment contributes to the broader NDC tracking framework, defining how GHG impacts and SDG co-benefits are monitored, reported and verified.

Deliverables

• Inception / scoping note: selection of policies/measures and methodology/work plan for the ICAT RE and SD application.
• Deliverable 3.1: report documenting the application of the ICAT RE and SD methodologies, the results of the GHG and SDG impact assessments of the selected policies and measures, and the proposed MRV approach to support integration into national NDC tracking processes.

Payments will be made by the EPA-SL upon submission and approval of the corresponding deliverables, according to the indicative schedule below.

5. Duration and duty station

1 August 2026 – 30 November 2026. The consultant will be home-based in Sierra Leone and is expected to participate, in person, in the ICAT RE and SD training workshop and relevant stakeholder consultations in Freetown. The duration of the contract is calculated from the start date to the end date and not on the number of days worked during the period.

In-country travel to Freetown for the ICAT RE/SD training workshop and stakeholder consultations is expected; no international travel is foreseen.

6. Reporting and institutional arrangements

The consultant is engaged by, and reports to, the EPA-SL through the National Climate Change Secretariat, working under the day-to-day coordination of the National Lead Coordinator.

Technical guidance and backstopping will be provided by the UNEP-CCC Project Coordinator, including training on the selected tools and methodologies. Deliverables will be submitted to and approved by the EPA-SL National Climate Change Secretariat, subject to technical clearance by UNEP-CCC, and are considered complete only after such approval. Project-level acceptance of deliverables and the release of project funds follow the milestones set out in the Project Cooperation Agreement.

7. Qualifications and experience

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent), preferably in energy, environmental science, climate change, economics or a related field.
• A Bachelor’s degree with a relevant combination of two additional years of experience related to the position may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

• At least 7 years of proven experience in energy / climate change mitigation analysis, including the assessment of renewable energy policies and measures.
• Demonstrated experience in the assessment of sustainable development co-benefits and/or SDG and co-benefit analysis of climate actions.