Background about SEforALL

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an international organization working with leaders in government, the private sector and civil society to drive further, faster action toward achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), which calls for universal access to sustainable energy by 2030, and the Paris Agreement, which calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate warming to well below 2° Celsius (and striving for 1.5° Celsius).

Achieving these goals will require a radical rethink of the way we produce, distribute and consume energy. SEforALL is at the heart of this foundational shift to ensure no one is left behind. Drawing on data and evidence, we identify a critical path to success in achieving SDG7.

The 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 2011. Now an independent organization, we maintain close links with the UN, including through a relationship agreement, partnerships with UN agencies and with SEforALL’s CEO acting as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative (SRSG) for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy. These roles include advising the UN Secretary General and his staff on issues relating to sustainable energy and the implementation of SDG7 and supporting the coordination of sustainable energy issues in the United Nations system.

The ambitions of SDG7 are extraordinary. Aiming to achieve them in the context of the Paris Agreement on climate change involves transformation at a scale never undertaken before. Swift action must be taken by leaders in governments, private sector companies, institutions, financiers, development banks, unions, communities, entrepreneurs and civil society. As we enter the final decade to achieve SDG7, SEforALL has strategically chosen to strengthen global agenda-setting while expanding its activities to an engagement model that prioritizes data-driven decision-making, partnerships with high-impact countries and implementation on the ground. SEforALL’s current three-year business plan outlines “results offers” that scope out our planned interventions and demonstrate to our funding partners the impact of their support.

Context and Objective of Assignment

The Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) is a continent-wide effort launched at COP27 that aims to build the foundations for a thriving carbon market ecosystem in Africa by 2030. To do so, a number of challenges must be overcome, including fragmented projects and carbon-generating assets, limited and fragmented developers on the ground, and a complex and uncertain regulatory landscape. Meanwhile, intermediation and demand are being held back by concerns about the integrity of some carbon credits and the fair distribution of value. To build vibrant and robust carbon markets in Africa, ACMI targets 4 core objectives:

• Grow African carbon credits retirements ~19-fold from ~16 MtCO2e retired in 2020 to ~300 MtCO2e per annum by 2030 and up to 1.5-2.5 GtCO2e by 2050
• Create or support 30 million jobs by 2030 and more than 100 million jobs by 2050 through carbon projects development, execution, certification, and monitoring
• Raise the quality and integrity of African credits to mobilize up to US$6 billion per annum by 2030 and more than US$100 billion per annum by 2050
• Ensure equitable and transparent distribution of carbon credit revenue, with a significant portion of revenue going to local communities

Collectively, this will support the emergence of Africa as a dynamic hub of innovative solutions and cutting-edge technologies, significantly contributing to global climate efforts while empowering local communities. The aim is to ensure accessible carbon market participation for diverse stakeholders, including local communities and small enterprises, fostering sustainable and comprehensive economic growth.

To drive Africa’s Market potential, ACMI is looking to work with African Governments, key regulators and ecosystem stakeholders in developing and implementing Carbon Market Activation Plans (CMAP). The purpose of the CMAP is to identify strategies that will enable countries in Africa to effectively finance their climate goals and development by building the foundations and catalysts for a thriving Carbon Market ecosystem. As such, the ACMI CMAP’s aim to:

• Create an export industry that has the potential to contribute to all sectors of the economy.
• Make African countries investor-friendly destinations for carbon market investments. These have been hampered, in some instances, by counterproductive policies and jurisdictional frameworks.
• Support the government in catalyzing an efficient carbon market (Voluntary, Article 6 & Compliance) with high integrity and quality (and, as a result, high price).
• Amplify the role of the government in streamlining processes and creating transparency across the value chain with a proof of concept exhibited via successful pilot projects.
• Ensure that local communities benefit significantly from the development of this industry with clear benefit-sharing and revenue allocation frameworks.

Purpose/Objective of the Role

In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable development and climate action, SEforALL is pioneering groundbreaking initiatives like the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI).

The objective of the Technical Fiscal and Regulatory Expert would be to serve as a key catalyst within SEforALL, providing specialized knowledge and strategic insights into fiscal policies, regulatory mechanisms, and market dynamics shaping carbon pricing and emissions trading across Rwanda, Nigeria, and Ghana. By conducting rigorous analysis, offering policy recommendations, and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration, this role plays a critical role in mobilizing private sector investments, promoting regulatory compliance, and unlocking the full potential of carbon markets to drive sustainable development and climate resilience in Africa. Through expertise in economic modeling, regulatory reform, and stakeholder engagement, the Technical Fiscal and Regulatory Expert drives transformative change, facilitates knowledge exchange, and strengthens institutional capacities to navigate the complex challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

Main Duties and Tasks of the Role

• Fiscal and Regulatory Analysis:
  • Conduct in-depth analysis of fiscal policies, regulatory frameworks, and market mechanisms related to carbon pricing, emissions trading, and climate finance in Rwanda, Nigeria and Ghana.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of existing fiscal and regulatory instruments in promoting sustainable energy investments, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and advancing climate objectives.
  • Identify opportunities and challenges for enhancing fiscal incentives, regulatory compliance, and public-private partnerships to scale up investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and low-carbon technologies.
  • Conduct comprehensive analysis of tax policies and regulations related to carbon markets, emissions trading, and climate finance in countries of interest.
  • Evaluate tax structures’ impact on private sector investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and low-carbon technologies, assess tax benefit distribution among stakeholders, and identify opportunities for optimizing incentives to promote equitable revenue sharing and sustainable development.
  • Provide technical advice, policy recommendations, and strategic guidance to government agencies, policymakers, and stakeholders on fiscal and regulatory reforms needed to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.
  • Provide guidance on establishing benefit sharing frameworks, use of proceeds and related frameworks, leveraging best practice employed across the globe.
• Policy Development and Advocacy:
  • Support the development, review, and implementation of national policies, strategies, and action plans to mainstream climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience-building into development agendas.
  • Advocate for fair and transparent tax policies within carbon market ecosystems, collaborating with stakeholders to design and implement innovative tax incentive schemes and revenue-sharing mechanisms, and integrating tax benefit sharing provisions into national regulations to enhance transparency and accountability in revenue distribution.
  • Engage with government officials, legislators, and international partners to advocate for the adoption of innovative fiscal measures, carbon pricing mechanisms, and financial instruments to mobilize private sector investments and incentivize low-carbon development pathways.
  • Facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations, workshops, and dialogues to build consensus, raise awareness, and foster collaboration on key policy priorities and regulatory initiatives in the energy, environment, and climate sectors.
  • Monitor global and regional trends in carbon markets, emission trading systems, and climate policy frameworks to inform national decision-making processes and strategic interventions.
• Investments and Partnerships:
  • Drive Investment Opportunities: Identify, evaluate, and pursue investment opportunities for carbon market projects in alignment with country ambitions
  • Close Demand Signals into Investments: Work closely with project developers, government agencies, and investors to translate demand signals into viable investment opportunities.
  • Support Fundraising Efforts: Collaborate with the fundraising team to develop and execute fundraising strategies, including engaging potential investors, preparing investment proposals, and securing funding for carbon market projects.
  • Develop Strategic Partnerships: Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, international organizations, financial institutions, and project developers, to enhance the impact and reach of carbon market initiatives.
• Capacity Building and Technical Assistance:
  • Provide technical assistance, capacity-building, and training to government officials, regulatory agencies, and civil society organizations on fiscal analysis, regulatory compliance, and carbon market development.
  • Develop training materials, knowledge products, and best practice guides to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of fiscal instruments, carbon pricing mechanisms, and regulatory frameworks for sustainable energy transition.
  • Foster networks, partnerships, and communities of practice to promote peer learning, exchange of experiences, and collaborative problem-solving among stakeholders engaged in fiscal policy analysis and regulatory reform.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting:
  • Establish performance indicators, benchmarks, and evaluation criteria to assess the impact, effectiveness, and sustainability of fiscal and regulatory interventions in promoting renewable energy deployment, energy access, and climate resilience.
  • Monitor and evaluate the implementation of policy measures, regulatory reforms, and fiscal incentives to track progress, identify gaps, and measure results against established targets and objectives.
  • Prepare periodic progress reports, policy briefs, and technical documents to communicate key findings, lessons learned, and policy recommendations to government stakeholders, development partners, and the wider public.
  • Support knowledge management, data analysis, and impact assessment activities to enhance the evidence base, transparency, and accountability of fiscal and regulatory interventions in the energy and climate sectors.
• Support the ACMI Central Engine Room on other technical and operational matters

Specific Competencies for the Role:

• A Master’s or PhD degree in economics, public policy, environmental law, or a related field with a focus on fiscal policy analysis, regulatory economics, or climate finance.
• A minimum of 5-7 years of professional experience in government, international organizations, consulting firms, or research institutions, with a proven track record in fiscal analysis, regulatory reform, and policy advocacy.
• Expertise in fiscal modeling, cost-benefit analysis, and economic impact assessment of climate change policies, carbon pricing mechanisms, and energy sector reforms.
• Sound knowledge of international best practices, standards, and guidelines for carbon market development, emission trading systems, and climate policy instruments.
• Familiarity with the institutional and legal frameworks governing energy taxation, carbon trading, and environmental regulation in African countries.
• Strong analytical, research, and writing skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information, produce high-quality reports, and deliver compelling presentations to diverse audiences.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with government officials, industry stakeholders, and development partners at national and international levels.
• Proficiency in data analysis software, statistical tools, and econometric models for quantitative analysis of fiscal trends, regulatory impacts, and policy outcomes.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in French or other UN languages is desirable.

Core Competencies

• Policy Analysis and Advocacy: Conducts rigorous analysis of fiscal policies, regulatory frameworks, and market mechanisms to generate evidence-based policy recommendations and advocate for transformative reforms in the energy and climate sectors.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration: Builds constructive partnerships, coalitions, and alliances with government agencies, civil society organizations, and private sector actors to mobilize collective action, leverage resources, and drive positive change at scale.
• Integrity and Professionalism: Upholds the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct in all interactions, demonstrating transparency in decision-making processes and accountability mechanisms.

Our Values – please refer to our core values as defined here: https://www.seforall.org/who-we-are/staff/our-values.

Salary information: The successful candidate will be offered an all-in daily rate determined depending on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, and applying the principle of internal equity. SEforALL will provide compensation to the selected candidate, with the payments being untaxed. It is the responsibility of the staff member to ensure that they meet any applicable national or local tax requirements.

Additional Considerations

• SEforALL offers exciting high-impact assignments, a collegial and creative work environment, and the opportunity for committed professionals to thrive and grow within flat hierarchies and in the pursuit of an inspiring mission.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only short-listed candidates for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• SEforALL reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post.
  

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We will only disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by a court´s or administrative authority´s decision. In such a case, we will inform you as soon as possible of such an order so that you can take legal action against it if necessary. Please email to [email protected] if you require updates to your information in accordance with Art. 5 lit. d of the GDPR