Consultant - Analysis of perverse Fiscal Incentives to Peatlands

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority. This role focuses on the Congo Basin peatlands, the world's largest tropical peatland complex, spanning the Republic of Congo (RoC) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). These peatlands store significant carbon and are vital for biodiversity and local livelihoods, facing pressures from extractive industries.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to analyze existing fiscal incentive frameworks that influence land-use decisions within the Congo Basin peatlands. The consultant will identify "perverse" fiscal incentives that lead to peatland degradation and develop actionable, costed recommendations. These recommendations will include climate-smart fiscal instruments and ecological fiscal transfers, aiming to align fiscal policies with peatland conservation objectives in the RoC and DRC. This work is crucial for providing an evidence base to support policy interventions and ensure the sustainable management of these vital ecosystems, contributing to global climate and biodiversity goals.

Responsibilities

The consultant will conduct a comprehensive analysis of fiscal incentive frameworks impacting land-use decisions in the Congo Basin peatlands. This includes identifying and mapping relevant fiscal policies, tax regimes, subsidies, and economic instruments across key sectors like forestry, oil and gas, mining, and agriculture. A key task is to analyze how these instruments create economic advantages for certain land uses and assess their impact on peatland conservation. The consultant will identify specific "perverse" incentives that promote unsustainable land use, undervalue ecosystem services, or fail to account for environmental costs. This involves quantifying potential fiscal revenue losses from current incentives and assessing the economic costs of environmental degradation. Finally, the consultant will develop and propose a range of feasible options and recommendations for reforming these perverse incentives, including "climate-smart fiscal revenue instruments" and innovative mechanisms like ecological fiscal transfers and payment for ecosystem services.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in fiscal policy analysis, public finance, and/or environmental economics is required. Proven experience analyzing fiscal incentives, tax regimes, and economic instruments related to natural resource management, forestry, or land use is essential. Demonstrated experience working on policy issues within the Congo Basin or Central Africa region, with a strong understanding of the political economy, is also required.

Skills

Fiscal policy analysis, public finance, environmental economics, analysis of fiscal incentives, tax regimes, economic instruments, natural resource management, forestry, land use, political economy of the Congo Basin/Central Africa, stakeholder engagement, policy advocacy, fluency in English and French.

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