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Position Title: Call for Experts: REDD+/MRV Subject Matter Experts (Short-term Consulting Assignments)

Location: Global, with a preference for experience working with countries focused on Jurisdictional REDD+ in either Latin America, Africa, and Asia

Department: Environment & Climate Group (EC) 

Unit: Ecosystem Services Unit (ECO) 

BACKGROUND

Winrock International is seeking experienced subject matter experts (SMEs) in REDD+ to provide technical support for jurisdictional REDD+ programs across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Winrock is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing sustainable development by increasing economic opportunities, strengthening natural resources management, and addressing environmental challenges. The SMEs will be part of a roster to support Winrock's Ecosystem Services Unit (ECO) efforts to strengthen jurisdictional REDD+ programs globally. Winrock is seeking candidates who can contribute to strategic, technical, and policy expertise, with a strong emphasis on Measurement/Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV).   

POSITION SUMMARY 

The REDD+ SMEs will work under donor-funded initiatives that deliver essential support to governments seeking to protect the world's most valuable carbon sinks and mobilise forest finance at scale. The initiative provides technical assistance to jurisdictions to access vital finance for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) via voluntary carbon markets through the LEAF Coalition and the ART-TREES program.

The SMEs will provide technical support for the design, implementation, and advancement of jurisdictional REDD+ (JREDD) systems in Latin American, Africa, and Asia, with a primary focus on MRV systems and carbon accounting aligned with ART-TREES and other leading standards. Working closely with ECO leadership, the consultant will support jurisdictions and partners, government counterparts, and donors to ensure technically robust, policy relevant, and audit ready deliverables. The position is based in the consultant's home country.

This role is project-based and contingent upon donor funding. 

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Support the technical design and implementation of jurisdictional REDD+ programs, including emissions baselines, reference levels, MRV systems, nesting frameworks, and integration with national GHG inventories. 
• Apply remote sensing, field-based forest carbon measurement, and geospatial analysis tools to generate emissions estimates at the jurisdictional level. 
• Translate complex technical content into accessible formats for policy makers, donors, and stakeholders. 
• Develop and implement methodologies and protocols aligned with compliance-grade carbon standards such as ART-TREES. 
• Support state/regional governments in interpreting and applying JREDD eligibility, performance, and verification requirements. 
• Provide capacity building and training for government counterparts and stakeholders in MRV and nested system design. 

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS 

Education: Minimum of a Master's degree in environmental science, natural resource management, forestry, ecology, spatial modelling, climate change, or other related fields.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE 

Technical Skills: 

• Minimum of 4 years of technical experience in REDD+ and forest carbon measurement, with specific experience in JREDD programs preferred. 
• Experience working with subnational and national governments on MRV and emissions baselines. 

• Experience with GHG accounting and audit processes, including forest inventories, biomass estimation, and field-based data collection for carbon and natural resource assessments.

• Experience in geospatial and quantitative analysis including using ArcGIS, Google Earth Engine, and R and/or Python.

• Experience with forest inventories, biomass data collection, and field data
• Ability to contribute to project operations and workflow effectively and to track and meet deadlines for multiple tasks. 
• Knowledge or experience in the development of AFOLU/REDD+ projects and/or programs in the voluntary and/or compliance carbon market.  

Communication Skills: 

• Excellent problem-solving, teamwork, and interpersonal skills.    
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are required, including effective public speaking and the ability to communicate complex issues both verbally and in written form. 
• Ability to foster and maintain good working relationships with clients and partners, including government ministries and officials at national and local levels, non-profit organizations, the private sector, foundations, multilateral organizations, and governments.   
• Willingness to travel in country as needed for field visits (per diem provided)
• Fluency in host country language.

The compensation range for this consultancy is determined based on the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's experience, education, specialized knowledge and skills, and current market conditions.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal treatment for all people. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by law. 
At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation.