GHG Accounting Specialist

Organizational Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports the transformation to efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. The independent Office of Evaluation (OED) conducts independent evaluations of FAO's strategies, programmes, and projects. OED generates evidence to inform decisions, support oversight, and contribute to accountability. OED evaluates projects addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation, including those funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector, which often involve greenhouse gas (GHG) estimates.

Job Purpose

This role focuses on greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting and carbon flux estimation within the AFOLU sector. The specialist will apply and critically assess GHG accounting tools such as EX-ACT, IPCC Inventory Software, NEXT, and GLEAM, ensuring alignment with IPCC Guidelines. Key responsibilities include providing methodological guidance and quality assurance for project-level GHG estimates in FAO, GCF, and GEF evaluations. Additionally, the role involves capacity development for OED staff and evaluation consultants on GHG accounting methodologies and tools, contributing to more robust and credible evaluations of climate-related projects.

Responsibilities

Provide technical and methodological guidance to staff and consultants on selecting and applying GHG accounting tools (EX-ACT, IPCC Inventory Software, NEXT) for project evaluations. Conduct comparative analyses of different GHG estimation approaches and advise on harmonizing inputs, emission factors, and assumptions across tools and evaluators. Identify and address methodological divergences, calculation errors, or data gaps in project-level GHG assessments. Stay updated on GHG accounting tools, IPCC Guideline revisions, and donor expectations for reporting under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). Review and validate GHG estimates in FAO, GCF, and GEF projects, ensuring consistency with IPCC Guidelines and verifying completeness, accuracy, and transparency across AFOLU categories and carbon pools. Assess the appropriateness of applied tier levels and land representation approaches. Apply cross-validation practices and identify non-AFOLU components for GHG accounting. Support the development of standardized guidance documents and maintain a decision log for methodological choices. Provide training and serve as a helpdesk resource for GHG accounting queries. Collaborate on integrating GHG indicators into evaluation instruments and liaise with FAO divisions and external institutions. Advise management on criteria for selecting projects requiring specific GHG software and support engagement with national partners for data alignment.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of relevant professional experience in GHG accounting, carbon flux estimation, or climate change mitigation assessment, with a focus on the AFOLU sector. Demonstrated practical experience with at least two of the following tools: EX-ACT, IPCC Inventory Software, or NEXT. Experience in monitoring, evaluation, or quality assurance within a development or multilateral organization is advantageous.

Skills

In-depth knowledge of IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (2006, 2013 Wetlands Supplement, 2019 Refinement), including AFOLU methodologies. Ability to critically assess the quality, completeness, and transparency of project-level GHG estimates. Experience with scenario analysis for climate mitigation projects and familiarity with GCF and GEF reporting requirements. Understanding of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement. Strong communication skills to explain complex methodological findings to non-specialist audiences. Hands-on experience applying GHG accounting tools like EX-ACT, IPCC Inventory Software, or NEXT to real datasets. Proven ability to develop methodological guidance or training materials. Understanding of the relationship between project-level estimates and national inventory reporting.

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