Ref.
2024/SEOEFFSOCFAIU/12185
Job offer type
Experts
Type of contract
Service contract
Deadline date
2024/11/27 17:57
Duration of the assignment
Short term
Duration
6 months
Short-term expertise (group of experts) for Feasibility study on Carbon Farming approach in Ukraine (M/W)
Cellule coordination géographique > -
Published on : 2024/11/13
CONTINENTAL EUROPE
UKRAINE
Mission description
Carbon farming is an approach to agriculture that involves managing land in a way that sequesters carbon and some other greenhouse gases (methane and nitrous oxide) from the atmosphere and stores them in the soil and vegetation, reducing the effects of greenhouse gases on the environment.
Carbon farming encompasses a range of agricultural techniques, among which mulching, composting, cover cropping, and crop rotation, whereby carbon is removed from the atmosphere and stored in soil, enriching soil with nutrients for better plant growth.
These practices can help:
• improve soil health
• increase crop yields
• reduce carbon emissions.
The carbon program can improve SME resilience and viability helping them make money from the carbon credits they generate through carbon farming.
The benefits and opportunities of carbon farming include:
• Extra income: SMEs can make extra money producing and selling carbon credits.
• Improved soil health: Carbon farming improves the physical and chemical properties of soil and protects soil from erosion.
• Environmental benefits: Carbon farming removes carbon from the atmosphere, contributing to climate change mitigation.
As carbon farming presents many benefits and opportunities for participating farmers, it is particularly important, beyond simply reviewing carbon farming methods and techniques, to develop theoretical models for the implementation of carbon farming practices, translate them into practice on the basis of typical farms in Chernihiv Oblast and several other oblasts, test methods and organize demonstration sites to promote and demonstrate economic benefits for farmers and market players. As a result, develop clear practical recommendations on adopting carbon farming practices for the greatest possible number of SMEs.
The expert's work should focus on the tools for implementing Carbon Farming, promoting and replicating best practices in using environmentally sustainable practices to increase the profitability and productivity of agricultural products, as well as reducing the negative impact of agricultural production on the environment.
Purpose and objectives of the assignment The main objective is:
The Carbon Farming Expert/Group of experts (hereinafter referred to as the “Expert”) is expected to develop practical recommendations on adopting carbon farming practices for SMEs in Ukraine.
Essential Functions:
1. Review international and domestic experience in carbon farming.
2. Conduct a feasibility study of adopting carbon farming practices by Ukrainian SMEs:
• cultivating up to 500 hectares
• cultivating up to 3,000 hectares
3. Present and discuss the results of the review and the feasibility study with sectoral actors.
4. Develop practical recommendations on adopting carbon farming practices based on business model and international experience.
|
Assignment |
Scope of works / Deliverables |
Estimated expert days |
|
1. |
Reviewing international and domestic experience in carbonfarming (including a review and analysis of the institutional and legal frame, a review and analysis of the domestic carbon market)
|
20 |
|
2. |
Conducting a feasibility study of adopting carbon farming practices by Ukrainian SMEs • cultivating up to 500 hectares • cultivating up to 3,000 hectares. The feasibility study shall assess the viability, opportunities, and challenges of using i) carbon farming practices to capture carbon in soil to reduce greenhouse gas emissions ii) and generate revenue for SME’s farmers by selling carbon credits from their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The feasibility study shall include: 1. Evaluation of the technical feasibility of carbon farming(various methods and techniques) 2. Financial analysis 3. Risk assessment.
|
40 |
|
3. |
Organizing and holding a conference |
10 |
|
|
Presenting and discussing the results of the review and the feasibility study with sectoral actors. |
|
|
4 |
Preparing a final report Summarizing results and developing practical recommendations forSMEs on adopting carbon farming practices based on business model and international experience as well as the institutional and legal frame, technical, financial, and market analysis. |
10 |
|
Total |
|
80 expert days |
Deliverables:
Deliverable 1: Monthly progress reports on developing practical recommendations for SMEs on adopting carbon farming practices.
1.1 Review of international experience in carbon farming.
1.2 Feasibility study of adopting carbon farming practices by Ukrainian SMEs.
1.3 Conference to present and discuss the results of the review and the feasibility study with sectoral actors.
1.4 Recommendations for SMEs on adopting carbon farming practices based on business model and international experience.
1.5 Preparing a final report. Summarizing results and developing practical recommendations for SMEs on adopting carbon farming practices based on business model and international experience as well as the institutional and legal frame, technical, financial, and market analysis.
Project or context description
1. Background information on Expertise France Agency
Expertise France is the French international technical cooperation agency, with the status of public institution under the joint supervision of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) and the Ministries of Economics and Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. It is the second largest technical cooperation agency in Europe. Expertise France designs and implements projects that strengthen public policies over the long term in developing and emerging countries.
As the French public agency for international technical cooperation, Expertise France operates in more than 100 countries, implementing more than 400 projects. The agency works in close collaboration with French public institutions, as well as with the European Union, in order to respond to the needs of partner countries that wish to improve public policies that tackle these challenges. To do so, the agency coordinates and implements national- or regional-scale projects in major areas of public action:
• Democratic, economic and financial governance
• Peace, stability and security
• Climate, biodiversity and sustainable development
• Health and human development
Ukraine is a key partner for Expertise France, which has had a local presence since 2006 with a representative office and projects. Over the years, Expertise France has built up a relationship of trust with its partner administrations.
Since the start of the of unjustified full-scale Russian invasion, France has launched a coordinated assistance to Ukraine. The mAIDan Ukraine program is a multisector technical assistance facility funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The program’s main objective is to identify needs and propose technical cooperation projects that support resilience, reconstruction, and EU integration.
At this time, Expertise France is focusing its projects within following sectors:
- Governance
- Economic governance
- Rule of law and justice
- Digitalization and innovation
- Healthcare and social policies
- Security and defense policy.
The program may mobilize funding for other sectors if demand is expressed and the opportunity is confirmed by Expertise France and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France.
2. General context related to the assignment RELEVE project:
RELEVE is a 18 months project funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and implemented by Expertise France, the French International Technical Cooperation Agency, part of AFD group.
The purpose of the agricultural activity of RELEVE project is to accelerate the economic development of rural Ukrainian communities with the greatest need through a better governed agricultural sector that encourages more productive, modern, and profitable small, and medium (SMEs) agricultural enterprises that are successfully integrated into competitive markets in Ukraine and/or internationally.
RELEVE works for the restoration of the agricultural sector, in particular its modernization, efficiency improvement, and diversification, which contributes to the long-term economic recovery of Ukraine.
The main goal of the project is to support « Support Recovery and Decentralization of the local authorities » project is structured around three pillars:
• Pillar 1: Reform (Strategic documentations to the recovery process, decentralization reform
• Pillar 2: Recovery through capacity building program in the sectors: Mobility, Agriculture, Waste management and Innovation
• Pillar 3: Reconstruction through partnerships with French municipalities/regions
The project operates in the Chernihiv Oblast and support 13 hromadas in Ukraine.
The expected result of Pillar 1, Reform, is a review and alignment with the national guidelines of the strategic documents in terms of decentralization and local governance.
The expected result of Pillar 2, Capacity Building, is a strengthening of the capacities at the different regional and local levels. Pillar 2 adopts a multi-sectoral approach (mobility, agriculture, waste management, innovation). A large part of the sectoral intervention will consist of carrying out diagnostics and feasibility studies which will make it possible to constitute a solid base for the future projects.
The expected result of Pillar 3. Reconstruction, will consist of the mobilization of French municipalities in a peer-to-peer dialogue with Ukrainian local authorities.
Required profile
The contractor (group of experts) is required to have following set of expertise:
· At least 10 years of professional experience in the field of agronomy/agribusiness (agricultural study and management, understanding of sustainable agricultural practices, cropping system, Carbon Farming techniques, etc.);
Technical certification:
· Knowledge of Carbon Farming practices;
· Environmental science: knowledge of carbon cycles, greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental impacts of farming practices;
· Knowledge of regulations: familiarity with environmental policies, tax incentives;
· Agricultural economics skills: Ability to analyse the economic viability of Carbon Farming practices for SMEs, including assessment of costs and benefits;
· Awareness and training skills: Ability to communicate clearly with farmers, train them on new practices and encourage them to adopt changes;
· Experience in developing and presenting guidelines and providing consultations on their adoption;
· Good analytical and marketing skills;
· Good communication skills when engaging with farmers.
· Event organization: proven experience in organizing and implementing public events
Education requirement: Higher specialized education.
Language qualifications: fluent Ukrainian, good command of English
Travel requirements: yes
Skills and abilities: driving skills, proven ability to perform statistical analysis and use graphics software, communication skillsand ability to present the results of a study in front of a national/sectoral audience.
Computer skills: advanced user level is required for MS Project and the other MS Office 365 applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.).
Additional information
The contractor is responsible to provide the deliverables in Ukrainian and English in written form following the timeline agreed with Expertise France. A final report should be submitted by April 30, 2025. Expert will submit monthly keyoutputs achieved during the period in a form of a monthly progress report
Selection criteria for applications
The selection process for candidates will be based on the following criteria :
- Candidate’s skills linked with the expert mission
- Candidate's knowledges related to local context (country or region intervention)
Deadline for application : 2024/11/27 17:57
Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :
- democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
- peace, stability, and security ;
- climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
- health and human development ;
In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results.