Terms of Reference (ToR)*
| Position Title | : | Development of Nesting and REDD+ Governance Consultant |
| Program | : | GREEN for Riau Initiative – Jurisdictional REDD+ |
| Location | : | Riau Province, Indonesia (provincial and national coordination required) |
| Duration | : | 6 months |
| Reports To | : | GREEN for Riau Secretariat, Country Coordinator of UNEP UNREDD Programme in Indonesia, Project Coordinator from Yayasan PILI |
| Coordination | : | Bappeda Riau, DLHK Riau, National REDD+ related institutions, Provincial REDD+ Working Groups (MRV, Safeguards, STRADA, Finance, Benefit Sharing Mechanism/BSM), and other related consultants under the GREEN for Riau Initiative. |
1. Background
The GREEN for Riau Initiative supports the implementation of Jurisdictional REDD+ (JREDD+) in Riau Province as a key mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the land-use sector while promoting sustainable development, social inclusion, and environmental integrity. As Indonesia advances the implementation of its national carbon market and JREDD+ framework, subnational readiness—particularly in relation to governance arrangements and nesting approaches—has become increasingly critical.
Nesting, which ensures the alignment and integration of project-level and subnational REDD+ activities within national frameworks, is essential to avoid double counting, ensure environmental integrity, and enable transparent benefit sharing. However, operationalizing nesting at the subnational level presents technical, institutional, and governance challenges, including coordination across actors, alignment with national systems (such as SRN and FREL/FRL), and integration of safeguards and social inclusion principles.
In Riau, while progress has been made in REDD+ readiness, further support is required to strengthen REDD+ governance related to nesting, identification of JREDD+ credits, and alignment with the national carbon market framework. This includes facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues, providing technical inputs for international standard concept notes, conducting gap analyses of existing REDD+ projects, and supporting capacity building at provincial and district levels.
To address these needs, the Development of Nesting and REDD+ Governance Consultant will provide technical and facilitative support to strengthen nesting arrangements, enhance REDD+ governance, and accelerate Riau’s readiness for participation in national and international carbon market mechanisms.
2. Objectives
Overall objective:
To strengthen nesting arrangements and REDD+ governance in Riau Province in support of effective Jurisdictional REDD+ implementation and alignment with Indonesia’s national carbon market framework.
Specific objectives include:
- To facilitate multi-stakeholder understanding and coordination on nesting approaches and carbon market implementation at the subnational level.
- To provide technical support for the development of concept notes aligned with international standards and national REDD+ guidelines.
- To support the identification and governance of JREDD+ emission reduction credits, including alignment with national systems.
- To strengthen institutional coordination, transparency, and inclusiveness in REDD+ governance processes in Riau.
3. Scope of Work
The consultant will undertake the following tasks:
1. Facilitation of Nesting and Carbon Market Dialogues
- Organize and facilitate multi-stakeholder meetings on nesting and carbon market frameworks.
- Prepare background notes and technical presentation materials to support discussions.
- Facilitate dialogue to identify opportunities, challenges, and priority actions for transparent and inclusive nesting implementation.
- Document stakeholder inputs, recommendations, and agreed follow-up actions, including alignment with the national carbon market framework.
2. Subnational Technical Support for International Standard Concept Notes
- Provide technical inputs for the preparation of concept notes aligned with international standards, national guidelines, and donor templates.
- Identify and compile relevant data and technical information required for concept note development.
- Facilitate participatory dialogues with government institutions, private sector actors, communities, NGOs, and universities to identify intervention priorities, risks, opportunities, partnerships, and gender and social inclusion considerations.
- Support validation and refinement of technical inputs to ensure consistency with subnational priorities and safeguards requirements.
3. Support for Identification of JREDD+ Credits and Governance Dialogues
- Conduct gap analysis of existing REDD+ and carbon projects (e.g., independent REDD+ initiatives) and assess their potential for nesting within the JREDD+ framework.
- Provide technical inputs for identifying emission reduction credits in alignment with national FREL/FRL, SRN (Sistem Registri Nasional), and JREDD+ requirements.
- Facilitate provincial, district, and multi-stakeholder workshops to socialize JREDD+ crediting frameworks, governance arrangements, and benefit-sharing considerations.
- Support discussions on governance, transparency, and benefit-sharing mechanisms related to JREDD+ credits.
4. Documentation and Reporting
- Prepare technical reports, meeting documentation, and analytical outputs in English and Bahasa Indonesia.
- Consolidate lessons learned, governance gaps, and recommendations to inform ongoing REDD+ and nesting implementation in Riau.
4. Deliverables / Outputs
| No | Deliverable | Description | Timeline |
| 1 | Workplan and Inception Report | Submission of Detailed Work Plan and Inception Report outlining the methodology, timeline, and key activities to be undertaken | Month 1 |
| 2 | ToRs, Concepts, and Agendas for Nesting & Carbon Market Meetings | Four (4) ToRs/concepts and agendas | Month 1 |
| 3 | Nesting & Carbon Market Meeting Report | Agenda, background notes, presentations, participant list, stakeholder mapping, and consolidated recommendations | Month 2 |
| 4 | ToRs, Concepts, and Agendas for Participatory Dialogues for International Standard Concept Notes | Four (4) ToRs/concepts and agendas | Month 2 |
| 5 | Technical Input Report for International Standard Concept Note | Technical analysis and inputs aligned with national and international frameworks | Month 2 |
| 6 | Participatory Dialogue Report for Concept Note Development | Documentation of multi-stakeholder dialogues, including GESI and safeguards considerations | Month 3 |
| 7 | Gap Analysis and JREDD+ Credit Identification Report | Analysis of existing projects, nesting potential, and technical inputs for JREDD+ credits | Month 3 |
| 8 | Provincial, District and Multi-Stakeholder Workshops Report | Documentation of workshops on JREDD+ crediting framework and governance | Month 4 |
| 9 | Draft Final Report | Consolidated findings, lessons learned, and preliminary recommendations | Month 5 |
| 10 | Final Report | Final report incorporating feedback and policy-relevant recommendations | Month 6 |
Note: All Deliverables/outputs should be made in English and Bahasa Indonesia.
5. Expected Outcomes
- Improved subnational understanding and operationalization of nesting approaches aligned with national carbon market frameworks.
- Strengthened REDD+ governance and coordination mechanisms related to JREDD+ in Riau Province.
- Enhanced readiness for identification, governance, and potential claiming of JREDD+ emission reduction credits.
- Increased inclusiveness, transparency, and alignment with safeguards and social inclusion principles in REDD+ implementation.
6. Qualifications
1. Education & Experience:
- Minimum Master’s degree in Environmental Policy, Climate Change, Forestry, Development Studies, Public Administration, or related fields.
- At least 5 years of professional experience in REDD+, carbon markets, climate governance, or related fields.
- Demonstrated experience working with subnational governments and multi-stakeholder processes.
2. Technical Skills:
- Strong understanding of REDD+ architecture, nesting approaches, JREDD+, MRV, safeguards, and national carbon market systems.
- Proven experience in facilitating technical discussions, stakeholder dialogues, and workshops.
- Experience integrating safeguards, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, gender equality, and social inclusion into climate or REDD+ initiatives.
3. Other Requirements:
- Excellent facilitation, analytical, and report-writing skills.
- Fluency in English and Bahasa Indonesia (written and spoken).
- Familiarity with the Riau Province context is highly desirable.
*) This TOR may be adjusted if required during the recruitment process.