RECRUITMENT OF INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP THEGHG MITIGATION MODELING AND EMISSIONS PROJECTIONS FOR SIERRA LEONE

Procurement Number: EPASL/NRG/UNEP/RFP/2026/0014

Date of First Issue:  20^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.

The GACMO Modelling Expert will perform the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Support the Outcome 1 stocktaking exercise on data sources, institutional arrangements and gaps relevant to GHG projections and NDC tracking.
• Participate in the GACMO train-the-trainer webinar and lead/support the in-person GACMO training workshop for national experts.
• Collect and process national sectoral activity data, technological assumptions and emission factors consistent with national inventory practices.
• Develop the baseline (business-as-usual) trajectory and the with-measures (WM) and with-additional-measures (WAM) mitigation scenarios aligned with NDC 3.0.
• Assess the costs and cost-effectiveness of mitigation options and generate marginal abatement cost curves (MACCs) for the WM and WAM scenarios.
• Support the population of the NDC tracking templates and relevant CTF tables, ensuring coherence with the policies and measures prioritised for GHG impact assessment.

Prepare the corresponding reports (Deliverables 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3) and incorporate feedback from validation/stakeholder discussions.

Academic qualifications:

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent), preferably in the natural sciences, engineering, energy, environmental economics or a related field, with postgraduate studies in climate change and/or related fields.
• 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:   

The consultant shall possess:

• At least 7 years of proven experience in GHG mitigation modelling and the development of emissions projections.
• Demonstrated experience with mitigation assessment tools (experience with GACMO is a strong asset) and with developing baseline and mitigation scenarios.
• Good knowledge of national sectoral data and emission sources across energy, transport, AFOLU, waste and IPPU.
• General knowledge of GHG inventories, baseline and mitigation scenarios, cost and cost-effectiveness analysis, and marginal abatement cost curves (MACCs).
• Familiarity with the Enhanced Transparency Framework, NDC tracking and CTF tables.
• Experience working with governmental institutions in the Sierra Leone context 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 13^th August  2026  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 13^th August, 2026.

Executive Chairperson

Environment Protection Agency-SL;

2^nd Floor

38 Freetown Road, Wilberforce Village

Freetown

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Position / job title:	GACMO Modelling Expert (ICAT Sierra Leone)
Area of expertise:	GHG mitigation modelling and emissions projections
Project:	ICAT – Strengthen Sierra Leone Climate Transparency (Project No. 11875-003/ICAT PCA/2025/10)
Engaging entity:	Environment Protection Agency of Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) – National Climate Change Secretariat
Type of engagement:	Individual (national) consultant – deliverable / output-based contract
Duration:	1 July 2026 – 30 November 2026
Duty station:	Home-based in Sierra Leone, with in-country participation in the GACMO training in Freetown
Reports to:	EPA-SL – National Climate Change Secretariat (day-to-day coordination by the National Lead Coordinator)
Funding source:	ICAT project budget (Personnel), financed from the UNOPS Contribution to the EPA-SL under the Project Cooperation Agreement

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 functional, nationally-customised GACMO modelling capability in Sierra Leone, delivering baseline and mitigation (with-measures and with-additional-measures) GHG emissions scenarios aligned with NDC 3.0, a costed assessment of mitigation options (including marginal abatement cost curves), and populated NDC tracking templates / CTF tables.

3. Scope of work and responsibilities

For the implementation of Outcome 2 of the ICAT work plan (and in support of Outcome 1), the EPA-SL requires a GACMO Modelling Expert to operationalise the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Cost Model (GACMO) in the national context. The expert will participate in the train-the-trainer and in-person training activities, develop the national GHG emissions scenarios, assess the costs and cost-effectiveness of mitigation options, and support the population of the NDC tracking templates and relevant CTF tables.

The expert will also support the Outcome 1 stocktaking exercise, contributing the analysis of data availability, sources, institutional arrangements and gaps relevant to GHG projections and NDC tracking.

The GACMO Modelling Expert will perform the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Support the Outcome 1 stocktaking exercise on data sources, institutional arrangements and gaps relevant to GHG projections and NDC tracking.
• Participate in the GACMO train-the-trainer webinar and lead/support the in-person GACMO training workshop for national experts.
• Collect and process national sectoral activity data, technological assumptions and emission factors consistent with national inventory practices.
• Develop the baseline (business-as-usual) trajectory and the with-measures (WM) and with-additional-measures (WAM) mitigation scenarios aligned with NDC 3.0.
• Assess the costs and cost-effectiveness of mitigation options and generate marginal abatement cost curves (MACCs) for the WM and WAM scenarios.
• Support the population of the NDC tracking templates and relevant CTF tables, ensuring coherence with the policies and measures prioritised for GHG impact assessment.
• Prepare the corresponding reports (Deliverables 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3) and incorporate feedback from validation/stakeholder discussions.

4. Deliverables, timeline and payment schedule

The expected outputs and deliverables for this assignment are:

Output 2.1: national experts are trained and equipped to use the GACMO tool to assess emissions reductions and estimate the costs of mitigation options for NDC implementation.

Output 2.2: GHG emissions scenarios (baseline, with-measures and with-additional-measures) aligned with NDC 3.0 targets are developed using GACMO.

Output 2.3: an integrated assessment of mitigation options – emissions reduction potential, costs, cost-effectiveness and MACCs for the WM and WAM scenarios – is completed and aligned with NDC 3.0.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1.1 (support): stock-taking report on data, institutional arrangements and gaps for projections and NDC tracking.
• Deliverable 2.1: report documenting the GACMO training process, methodology and results.
• Deliverable 2.2: report describing the GHG emissions scenarios for NDC 3.0 – baseline, with-measures and with-additional-measures pathways developed using GACMO.
• Deliverable 2.3: report describing and summarizing the assessment of mitigation options: emissions, costs and MACC analysis for the WM and WAM pathways.

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 July 2026 – 30 November 2026. The consultant will be home-based in Sierra Leone and is expected to participate, in person, in the GACMO training workshop and relevant stakeholder meetings 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 GACMO training workshop and stakeholder meetings 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 the natural sciences, engineering, energy, environmental economics or a related field, with postgraduate studies in climate change and/or related fields.
• 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 GHG mitigation modelling and the development of emissions projections.
• Demonstrated experience with mitigation assessment tools (experience with GACMO is a strong asset) and with developing baseline and mitigation scenarios.
• Good knowledge of national sectoral data and emission sources across energy, transport, AFOLU, waste and IPPU.
• General knowledge of GHG inventories, baseline and mitigation scenarios, cost and cost-effectiveness analysis, and marginal abatement cost curves (MACCs).
• Familiarity with the Enhanced Transparency Framework, NDC tracking and CTF tables.
• Experience working with governmental institutions in the Sierra Leone context is highly desirable.

Competencies

• Strong analytical and report-writing skills, with the ability to produce clear, evidence-based deliverables in English.
• Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and coordinate with multiple institutions and stakeholders.
• Integrity, professionalism and respect for confidentiality in handling national data.

Language

• Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required.

8. Recruitment, application and evaluation

This assignment will be advertised, evaluated and contracted by the EPA-SL (the procuring entity), in accordance with the applicable public procurement and recruitment rules of Sierra Leone — in particular the Public Procurement Act 2016 and the regulations and Public Procurement Manual issued by the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) — and consistent with the Project Cooperation Agreement. The applicable selection method (e.g. selection of individual consultants) and any thresholds will be confirmed by the EPA-SL Procurement Unit. Only nationals of Sierra Leone, or persons legally eligible to work in Sierra Leone, are eligible to apply.

Application requirements

• A cover letter explaining the candidate’s suitability for the assignment.
• A detailed curriculum vitae (CV).
• A financial proposal indicating the proposed all-inclusive fee (within the indicative ceiling set out in Section 4).
• Contact details of at least two professional references.

Evaluation criteria (indicative – to be confirmed by the EPA-SL)

Applications will be assessed on the basis of the qualifications and experience set out in Section 7. An indicative weighting is suggested below; the EPA-SL will confirm the final criteria, scoring and any technical/financial weighting in line with national procurement rules:

• Relevant academic qualifications.
• Relevant professional experience and demonstrated technical expertise for the role.
• Demonstrated experience in the Sierra Leone / national climate context.
• Financial proposal (value for money).

Submissions should be sent to the EPA-SL National Climate Change Secretariat by the deadline indicated in the published advertisement. The EPA-SL reserves the right to request interviews and/or written samples before award.