Consultoría jurídica sobre REDD+, salvaguardas e institucionalidad ambiental

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority. This consultancy supports the "Paraguay + Verde" project, a joint initiative by UN-REDD Programme agencies (UNDP, UNEP, FAO) with UNOPS administrative support. The project aims to generate new CO2 emission reductions through sustainable forest management and climate change mitigation instruments, supported by a $50 million Green Climate Fund disbursement for avoided deforestation.

Job Purpose

This consultancy aims to strengthen Paraguay's legal and institutional framework for REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). The role involves producing three strategic legal documents: an analysis of the legal framework for REDD+ social and environmental safeguards, a proposal for a decree to modernize the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADES) competencies, and a legal document on carbon market standards homologation. The objective is to enhance legal coherence, ensure legal certainty, and bolster credibility with international climate finance mechanisms and carbon markets, thereby strengthening the country's climate and environmental institutional capacity.

Responsibilities

The consultant will analyze and update the legal framework for REDD+ safeguards, ensuring alignment with national legislation, the Cancún Safeguards, and the Safeguards Information System (SIS). This includes identifying legal gaps and proposing updates. The consultant will also draft a regulatory decree for MADES to clarify and modernize competencies related to REDD+, environmental and social safeguards, climate change, carbon markets, and wildlife. Additionally, the role involves preparing a legal document on the homologation of carbon market standards in Paraguay, identifying regulatory bases, legal gaps, and institutional competencies. The consultant will participate in meetings with stakeholders, UN agencies, government authorities, and project teams, and will ensure all products are delivered in digital format with necessary supporting documents.

Work Experience

Requires at least two years of professional experience in environmental law, public institutional regulation, or legal analysis of environmental/climate policies. Proven experience in drafting decrees, regulations, legal proposals, or analyses of regulatory frameworks is essential. Experience with climate change, REDD+, environmental/social safeguards, environmental services, or carbon markets is desirable, as is experience with inter-institutional legal coordination and Paraguayan legal systems.

Skills

Excellent legal analysis, regulatory interpretation, and legal argumentation skills. High-level legal drafting abilities for regulatory proposals and legal documents. Strong professional judgment, planning, organization, and time management. Effective oral and written communication. Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams. Fluency in Spanish is required; confident English level is desirable.

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