Samoa CBIT Measurement, Reporting and Verification Consultant for NDC Tracking

Samoa CBIT Measurement, Reporting and Verification Consultant for NDC Tracking

Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies.

The GGGI is co-executing the Samoa Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) Project with the Climate Change Division (CCD) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), with financial support from the GEF Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the GEF Implementing Agency.

The project aims to strengthen the institutional and technical capacities of Samoa to fulfill its UNFCCC obligations by aligning national reporting systems with the Paris Agreement’s ETF requirements. The project is structured into three components, designed to 1) formalize institutional coordination mechanisms, 2) implement an IT-based GHG inventory and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) tracking system, and 3) establish a sustainable capacity-building strategy.

The project focuses on addressing key barriers identified in Samoa's climate transparency and ETF reporting, including inadequate institutional arrangements, a lack of robust GHG inventory systems and NDC monitoring tools, and limited capacity for implementing ETF requirements. Leveraging prior works and by reviewing existing tools, this consultancy assignment aims to address the limitations in NDC progress tracking by identifying suitable NDC Tracking Tools and GHG estimation tools, developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, QA/QC guidelines tailored to the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) and Waste sectors, and data-sharing agreement(s). Through this consultancy, the consultant will contribute to strengthening Samoa's technical and institutional capacities for NDC tracking and GHG reporting.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

To achieve the project objectives, GGGI is seeking an MRV Consultant to support the development and strengthening of tools, frameworks, data sharing agreements and capacities for NDC progress tracking and GHG estimation in Samoa's AFOLU and Waste sectors. The primary objectives of this assignment are:

• Conduct a gap and needs assessment for NDC tracking in the AFOLU and waste sectors.
• Develop data-sharing agreement(s) for data for Samoa’s NDC progress tracking.
• Facilitate a validation workshop for finalizing the data-sharing agreements.
• Identify and validate suitable NDC tracking tools and GHG estimation tools for the AFOLU and waste sectors.
• Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan for NDC tracking in the AFOLU and waste sectors.
• Develop a QA/QC plan for NDC progress tracking and monitoring.
• Develop comprehensive training materials and facilitate capacity building workshops on GHG estimation, NDC M&E, and QA/QC procedures for relevant government staff and stakeholders.
• Integrate gender considerations across data collection protocols and training activities.

DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The consultant will work in close collaboration with the Samoa CBIT Project Officer. Under the overall guidance of the CBIT Project Manager and in close coordination with the CCD of MNRE, the Consultant will undertake the following tasks and deliverables:

Deliverable 1: Assessment Report: NDC Tracking Gaps and Needs in AFOLU and Waste Sectors

The consultant will develop a comprehensive assessment report identifying gaps and needs for tracking progress toward Samoa’s NDC targets in the AFOLU and Waste sectors in Samoa. The report will take stock of past and ongoing initiatives including work done by ICAT, reviewing existing systems, tools, and frameworks used for data collection, verification, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and assess their effectiveness in supporting NDC tracking.

Crucially, the assessment will evaluate the effectiveness of these systems in providing the specific data required to measure Samoa’s mitigation and adaptation commitments in the AFOLU and waste sectors. Based on this review and leveraging existing and ongoing assessments and the gaps and needs assessments, the report will identify key gaps, weaknesses, and priority areas for improvement and support in each sector. The assessment will be developed through desk review and consultations with relevant line ministries and agencies, and will serve as the foundational reference for subsequent deliverables under this assignment.

Deliverable 2: Draft Data-Sharing Agreement(s) and consultation meeting reports.

The consultant will develop draft data-sharing agreement(s) for relevant government ministries, agencies and key stakeholders responsible for providing data for NDC progress tracking in Samoa. The agreements will outline institutional roles and responsibilities, data types and formats, reporting timelines, procedures, and protocols for data confidentiality, access, and use. As the CBIT project also includes a parallel workstream on GHG inventory data sharing agreements led by a separate consultant, where the data provider for GHG inventory activity data is the same agency as for the NDC tracking data, the consultant shall work closely with the CBIT Project's GHG Inventory Consultant to consolidate data sharing arrangements under a single agreement, avoiding duplication and ensuring consistency across both reporting streams.

To inform and validate the draft data-sharing agreements, the consultant will be required to facilitate at least two inclusive stakeholder consultations. These consultations will ensure that practical insights are captured, institutional arrangements are realistic, and gender-responsive considerations are appropriately reflected. The consultant will produce a consolidated stakeholder consultation report that captures key discussions.

Deliverable 3: Final Data-Sharing Agreement(s) and Validation Workshop

Once the draft Data Sharing Agreements are developed, the consultant will facilitate one validation workshop, bringing together all relevant stakeholders to review the finalized agreements and ensure consensus before adoption and implementation. This deliverable will be accompanied by a validation report documenting stakeholder feedback and agreed revisions. The consultant will also support the Samoa CBIT Project Officer in organizing and facilitating a validation workshop with all relevant national stakeholders to present the draft document and receive technical feedback.

Deliverable 4: Assessment and Selection of Tools for tracking NDC progress and GHG emissions and reduction in AFOLU and Waste Sectors

The consultant will conduct a systematic assessment of existing NDC tracking tools and GHG estimation tools relevant to the AFOLU and Waste sectors, evaluating options against defined selection criteria, including data availability, cost, ease of use, and compatibility with Samoa's national GHG inventory process. Based on this assessment, the consultant will recommend the most appropriate tool(s) for adoption.

The findings and recommendations will be documented in a tools assessment report, developed in consultation with relevant national stakeholders. Following the selection, the consultant will support the integration of the selected tool into the national inventory management system, conducting pilot testing and validation to ensure the tool is functional and fit for use in the national context. The consultant will also develop training materials on the use of the selected NDC tracking tool and GHG estimation tool to support national capacity building under Deliverable 6.

Deliverable 5: Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and QA & QC Plan and Tools for NDC Tracking in AFOLU and Waste Sectors

The consultant will develop a comprehensive M&E framework and plan to support NDC tracking in the AFOLU and Waste sectors in Samoa. The consultant will review existing work by the Climate Promise Project and conduct a baseline assessment to establish the current state of emissions and progress against NDC targets in each sector, which will inform the development of measurable indicators aligned with Samoa's NDC commitments.

The M&E framework will define clear indicators, data collection procedures, reporting frequencies, and institutional responsibilities for tracking progress in both sectors. The plan will operationalize the framework by outlining specific monitoring activities, timelines, and data management procedures.

Simultaneously, the consultant will develop a comprehensive QA/QC plan for tracking and monitoring NDC progress in the AFOLU and Waste sectors in Samoa. The plan will outline specific QA/QC procedures, assign institutional responsibilities, define the frequency of QA/QC activities, and identify corrective actions for data verification and quality issues. To operationalize the plan, the consultant will develop standardized templates and checklists to guide the practical application of QA/QC processes.

The framework and QA & QC plan and tools will be developed through stakeholder consultations and validated with relevant line ministries and agencies before finalization, ensuring they are practical, nationally owned, and fit for long-term implementation. The consultant will also develop training materials on the application of the NDC M&E framework and QA & QC plan to support national capacity building under Deliverable 6.

Deliverable 6: Capacity Building Training Workshops and Consolidated Training Reports.

The consultant will plan and facilitate training workshops for national government staff and relevant stakeholders, including MNRE and relevant line ministries and agencies involved in GHG inventory development processes, and NDC tracking and monitoring. The workshops will draw on the training materials developed under Deliverables 4 and 5, covering the use of the selected GHG estimation tool, the NDC M&E framework and plan, and the application of QA/QC procedures.

The training will incorporate sustainability provisions, including a training of trainers approach, to ensure capacity building efforts are sustained beyond the project period. Where requested by MNRE, the training support may be extended to include adaptation M&E, building on materials developed under the ongoing NAP project. Workshops will ensure balanced gender representation through targeted outreach, encouraging the participation of women staff, and will incorporate feedback mechanisms to identify and address any gender-specific challenges. The consultant will document each workshop through an individual summary report and will prepare a consolidated training report synthesizing outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations across all sessions.

OUTPUT / DELIVERABLE

PERCENTAGE

OF MAXIMUM AMOUNT

DUE DATE

1. Assessment Report: NDC Tracking Gaps and Needs in AFOLU and Waste Sectors

15.3% (USD 6,500)

2 months after signing the contract

2. Draft Data-Sharing Agreement(s) and consultation reports

11.8% (USD 5,000)

4 months after signing the contract

3. Final Data-Sharing Agreement(s) and Validation Workshop

11.8% (USD 5,000)

6 months after signing the contract

4. Assessment Report: NDC Tracking Tool and GHG Estimation Tool identified for AFOLU and Waste Sectors, and Training Materials

15.3% (USD 6,500)

5 months after signing the contract

5. Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and Plan and QA & QC plan and tools for NDC Progress Tracking and Monitoring in AFOLU and Waste Sectors, Consultation Meetings Report, and Training Materials.

30.5% (USD 13,000)

8 months after signing the contract

6. Capacity Building Training Workshops and Consolidated Training Reports

15.3% (USD 6,500)

9 months after signing the contract

Notes:

• The Consultant will use their own resources (laptop, etc.) during the consultancy service under the project to produce all deliverables.
• The CBIT Project will support the Consultant by providing resources (stationery, print-out materials, etc.) during workshops and consultations with stakeholders.
• All deliverables must be submitted to GGGI and the Climate Change Division, MNRE, in English.
• Any data and information collected as part of this consultancy must be submitted to GGGI and the Climate Change Division, MNRE, ensuring confidentiality of unpublished government information and complying with GGGI’s and the Government of Samoa’s data protection, ethics and safeguarding policies.
• All data and information collected and/or generated as part of this consultancy (including datasets, interview/consultation records, and draft and final outputs) shall be the property of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and GGGI.
• All reports under this consultancy must be approved by GGGI and the Climate Change Division, MNRE, before payment is made to the Consultant.
• The Consultant shall consider all comments and necessary revisions proposed and provide a final version of the reports reflecting the revisions within 10 working days of the receipt of feedback.
• Electronic versions of deliverables must be compatible with Microsoft Office applications and adhere to GGGI's font and style guidelines. Copies will also be provided to GGGI and the Climate Change Division, MNRE.
• The Consultant will report to the Project Manager of the Samoa CBIT project and work in close coordination with PMU & the Climate Change Division, MNRE.

EXPERTISE REQUIRED

The consultant is expected to have the following qualifications:

• Master’s degree in environmental science, engineering, policy, economics, or any other related fields.
• Minimum 5 years in climate change, environmental policy, or GHG inventory compilation (preferably in Samoa/Pacific Islands context).
• Demonstrated expertise in IPCC methodologies, NDC tracking, and Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) requirements, including Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR).
• Proven experience in the preparation, compilation, or review of national GHG inventories, including the application of QA/QC procedures.
• Experience in developing monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks for NDC tracking or climate reporting is an advantage.
• Proven ability to design, plan, and facilitate effective stakeholder engagement meetings and workshops.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to produce clear, effective reports and other publications.
• Strong interpersonal and motivational skills, with sensitivity to the local environment and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to effectively lead and collaborate with people from diverse professional, cultural, and technical backgrounds.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Interested consultants shall submit the following documentation:

• Curriculum Vitae with a maximum of four pages
• Cover Letter with demonstration of ability and experience in the deliverables outlined in this TOR.
• Proposed one-page workplan, indicating the applicant’s understanding of the scope of work and approach for the completion of the assignment.

Date to close is 24 June 2026 at 2300Hrs Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered Application including Cover Letter and CV must be sent in English. A consortium, or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Project: Samoa Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency Project – Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Consultant for NDC Tracking
Duty Station: Remote/Apia, Samoa
Contract Duration: 10 months
Consultant Level: Individual Consultant 4
Total Fees: USD 42,500

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.