INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

Consultancy Level: 4

Consultancy Type: Deliverable

Daily rate for the Level: 300 

Application Deadline: Shown in the bottom of the page

General Information

• Project: DO010-E1: Dominican Republic Country Platform. Strengthening institutional capacity and developing a national climate investment portfolio to advance the NDC and strategic climate frameworks.

• Duty station: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Up to 20% of the work may require physical presence in Santo Domingo.

• Contract duration: 1/12/2026 -30/04/2027

• Consultant level: Level 4

• Total fees: Up to USD 30,000.

Project Background

GGGI operates in more than 40 countries to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement. In the Dominican Republic, GGGI supports the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MMARN) in strengthening the national climate finance architecture and the instruments that mobilize private sector participation in climate action.

In its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0 RD-2025), the Dominican Republic commits to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2030 and by 32% by 2035 relative to the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario. Meeting these targets requires the private sector to know, manage and reduce its emissions, and the country to have reliable and traceable information on these efforts.

In this context, MMARN, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), developed a Carbon Footprint Platform as the technological basis for a future National Voluntary Carbon Footprint Program. The Platform is administered exclusively by the Ministry and is open to any organization.

The Platform has two modes of use, adapted to different levels of organizational experience:

• Module 1. Know your footprint: an exploratory module that allows organizations to make a first estimate of their corporate carbon footprint. It simulates the calculation of emissions using relevant sources according to the organization's type of activity or sector, without requiring registration or storing information in the system.

• Module 2. Manage your footprint: a formal module in which organizations register and the Ministry validates the documents required for enrollment. Here organizations can upload their emissions data, quantify their emissions, generate automatic reduction reports and view results on a dashboard. The module allows users to track the status of their application, manage several organizations or sites under a single user. Once the incentive system is designed (Deliverable 4), the module would also serve as the gateway through which organizations could progressively access its benefits. The program is voluntary and, by design, non-punitive.

The Platform uses the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) methodology, provides guidance on emission sources and allows organizations to register the mitigation initiatives they implement. It also includes a transparency section for publishing verified footprints, commitments and recognitions, which must meet the technical criteria and disclosure conditions to be defined for the program.

In addition, the country has environmental assessment, authorization and monitoring instruments that set requirements and commitments applicable to projects, works and activities. These instruments offer an opportunity to assess the incorporation and standardization of GHG emissions information and its possible linkage with the Carbon Footprint Platform RD. This requires determining the scope of existing quantification, mitigation and monitoring obligations, taking into account the methodological differences between organizational inventories and emissions associated with projects and facilities.

Implementing the program requires assessing the applicable legal and institutional framework, defining the mechanisms for linkage with environmental management instruments, and establishing procedures for its administration, the use of the information generated and the recognition and incentive schemes. Its linkage with the national climate transparency systems and NDC tracking must also be considered, ensuring data quality and traceability.

The GCF Readiness Programme (Readiness II) supports these efforts through a programmatic approach focused on establishing the Country Platform for Climate Finance, strengthening institutional capacity for NDC implementation and advancing strategic frameworks and policy instruments. In addition, a services firm will be contracted to deliver awareness-raising and training activities for the private sector.

Objective of the Assignment

To achieve the project objectives, GGGI seeks a Consultant on Institutional Capacities for the National Voluntary Carbon Footprint Program who, under the supervision of GGGI's Senior Green Investment Officer and Project Manager and in close coordination with MMARN's Directorate of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, will contribute to the following objectives:

• Assess the legal, regulatory and institutional framework applicable to the National Carbon Footprint Program and its possible linkage with environmental assessment, authorization and monitoring instruments.

• Define the mechanisms for using the data generated by the Platform and linking it with the national climate transparency systems, the MRV system, the BTRs and NDC tracking.

• Design the procedures, manuals and process flows that will allow MMARN to administer the Platform, including the internal (back-office) processes of each module and the validation of information.

• Analyze relevant international experiences and propose implementation alternatives that distinguish reporting mechanisms subject to regulatory obligations from voluntary participation components.

• Design a proposal for institutional, operational and technological linkage between the Carbon Footprint Platform RD and the environmental assessment, authorization and monitoring systems, including responsibilities, information flows and interoperability mechanisms.

• Propose the decision mechanism through which MMARN will formally endorse organizations' participation or the results of the program (for example, no-objection, approval or expression of interest), consistent with MMARN's legal mandate and the GCF Readiness results framework. The specific mechanism will be defined with GGGI and MMARN during the inception phase (Deliverable E0).

• Prepare the proposed regulatory instruments, procedures and roadmap required for the progressive implementation of the model, including consultation and validation mechanisms with the relevant MMARN units and stakeholders.

• Provide technical inputs for the design and supervision of the services firm responsible for private sector awareness-raising and training activities.

A. CONTINUOUS TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND ADVISORY SERVICES

Throughout the consultancy, and as a general contractual obligation, the consultant will provide continuous technical and advisory support to MMARN on all matters related to the National Voluntary Carbon Footprint Program and its Platform. This support is reported and certified through Deliverable E9 (monthly progress reports).

This continuous support includes:

• Providing timely technical advice and policy recommendations to support MMARN's decision-making on the program.

• Coordinating with MMARN's technical units on climate change, environmental management, legal affairs and information technology.

• Identifying the functional and technical requirements for the possible linkage of the Platform with other institutional systems, in coordination with the responsible teams.

• Preparing technical notes, presentations, talking points and other materials requested by GGGI and MMARN.

• Supporting the preparation of the Terms of Reference for the private sector awareness-raising and training services firm, and providing technical follow-up on its outputs.

• Coordinating with other consultants and firms contracted under the project, as well as with other relevant institutions.

• Responding to ad hoc technical requests from GGGI and MMARN throughout the consultancy.

B. LINKED DELIVERABLES

The deliverables listed below are the concrete, verifiable outputs against which payment will be certified, upon GGGI’s and MMARN’s approval. Delivery dates and the distribution of days are indicative and will be confirmed in the final signed work plan (see Deliverable E0).

E0. Work plan and scope definition (inception phase)

The consultant will prepare a Work Plan defining the detailed scope of the consultancy, the working methodology, the schedule of activities for each deliverable, milestones and progress indicators, in coordination with GGGI's Senior Green Investment Officer and Project Manager and MMARN. The Work Plan will also set out the proposed decision mechanism (no-objection, approval, expression of interest or another) to be developed during the consultancy.

• Output: Work plan and scope definition, validated by GGGI and MMARN.

E1. Diagnosis of the regulatory framework and analysis of international experiences

The consultant will assess the regulatory framework applicable to the quantification, reporting, mitigation and monitoring of GHG emissions in the Dominican Republic. The analysis will cover environmental assessment and authorization instruments, Environmental Management and Adaptation Programs (PMAA), Environmental Compliance Reports (ICA) and other relevant provisions, identifying existing obligations, monitoring mechanisms and possible regulatory and operational gaps.

The consultant will also analyze comparable international experiences, with emphasis on the linkage between voluntary carbon footprint programs, emissions reporting systems and environmental regulatory instruments. Based on this analysis, the consultant will present alternatives for implementing the program and its possible linkage with existing mechanisms, identifying the legal, institutional and operational conditions required for each alternative.

• Output: Legal, regulatory and institutional diagnostic report, including a matrix of obligations and competencies, an analysis of other countries' experiences, identification of gaps, options for harmonizing reporting with the climate transparency instruments, and an assessment of implementation alternatives with substantiated recommendations for MMARN.

E2. Linkage of the Platform with environmental management and climate transparency systems

The consultant will analyze the mechanisms for linking the Carbon Footprint Platform RD with MMARN's environmental assessment, authorization and monitoring instruments, as well as the potential use of the information generated for the MRV system, NDC tracking and the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR). The consultant will identify the technical and methodological requirements, information exchange mechanisms and measures needed to ensure data quality and traceability while avoiding duplication.

• Output: Technical note with a proposal for linking the Platform with environmental management instruments and the national climate transparency systems, including requirements and recommendations for implementation.

E3. Procedures manual and process flows for the Platform

The consultant will design the procedures for administering the program and its possible linkage with environmental management instruments, including the processes for registration, reporting, validation and monitoring of information, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the relevant MMARN units.

• Output: Program procedures manual, with process flows by module, responsible units and associated templates.

E4. Proposal for the recognition and incentives program

The consultant will design a recognition and incentives scheme to promote voluntary participation by organizations and the progressive management of their GHG emissions. The scheme will include a graduated system of recognition for four levels (quantification, reduction, offsetting and neutrality), with differentiated requirements and evidence for each level. It will cover the types of possible benefits, eligibility criteria, verification criteria, requirements applicable to verification bodies, oversight and management of conflicts of interest, the institutional requirements for implementation, and the conditions for granting, use, validity, renewal, suspension and withdrawal of seals or certificates.

• Output: Proposal for a graduated recognition and incentives program by level achieved (quantification, reduction, offsetting and neutrality), with differentiated requirements and evidence according to progress in emissions management, including a matrix of potential incentives prioritized by their legal, fiscal, operational and institutional feasibility.

E5. Proposed regulatory instruments and preliminary roadmap

Based on the previous deliverables, the consultant will prepare the proposed regulatory and administrative instruments needed to implement the program and its possible linkage with environmental management mechanisms, as well as a preliminary roadmap setting out implementation actions, responsibilities, resources and milestones.

• Output: Draft of the recommended regulatory and administrative instruments and preliminary roadmap, presented to and validated by MMARN.

E6. Consultation process with the private sector and stakeholders

The consultant will prepare the concept note for the consultation workshops, provide technical inputs to workshop planning and facilitate the presentation of the regulatory, institutional and incentive program proposals to the private sector and other relevant stakeholders. The consultation process will meet the following parameters:

• A maximum of five (5) workshops, organized by economic sector and/or region of the country, in coordination with business associations and chambers, to ensure broad territorial and sectoral participation, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

• At least 100 people trained across all workshops, with participation data disaggregated by sex.

• Each workshop will include a module on the NDC and the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR).

• The logistics cost of each workshop may not exceed USD 5,000.

• Some targeted workshops may take place in d December 2026 and January 2027; the remainder will be scheduled once the draft instruments (E5) are available.

Formal adoption of the instrument is a sovereign decision of the Government of the Dominican Republic and is not a deliverable of the consultancy.

• Output: Workshop concept note, consultation workshops held, consultation report and consolidated comments matrix.

E7. Updated enabling legal instrument and roadmap

The consultant will update the proposed regulatory and administrative instruments, as well as the implementation roadmap, incorporating the inputs received during the stakeholder consultation process.

• Output: Updated version of the proposed instruments and roadmap, accompanied by a matrix on how the comments received were addressed.

E8. Feasibility assessment and implementation proposal

The consultant will assess the technical, institutional and operational feasibility of the proposed model, considering the current capabilities of the Carbon Footprint Platform RD, available resources and the requirements for its progressive implementation. The consultant will also identify priority actions and the conditions required for launch.

• Output: Feasibility report and implementation proposal, including requirements, estimated resources, risks and recommendations for execution. The report will include a matrix of functional requirements and technological adjustments derived from the program design and the lessons from the pilot (for example, which functionalities to keep, adjust or develop), with their priorities, dependencies and responsible parties, covering interoperability, security and traceability.

E9. Monthly progress reports to MMARN

The consultant will prepare and submit a concise monthly progress report for each month of the consultancy, summarizing the activities carried out, progress against the work plan, main challenges, proposed mitigation measures, priorities for the next period and the monthly timesheet.

• Output: One monthly progress report per month of the consultancy (five reports, December 2026 to April 2027), each with its timesheet, submitted to MMARN and GGGI.

C. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Payment will be made upon satisfactory certification and approval of each deliverable by GGGI and MMARN. Completion dates are indicative and are counted from the contract start date. All deliverables must be completed by 30 April 2027 at the latest.

• University degree in law, economics, business administration, environmental engineering, industrial engineering, chemical engineering, environmental sciences, public policy or related fields.

• Master's degree in environmental law, regulation, public policy, environmental management, climate change or related fields.

• [5–8] years of relevant experience in the design or evaluation of regulatory frameworks, public policy instruments and environmental management mechanisms, preferably related to environmental assessment, authorization or monitoring systems.

• Solid knowledge of GHG quantification and reporting methodologies and standards (GHG Protocol, ISO 14064), carbon neutrality standards (ISO 14068-1), and national carbon footprint programs, as well as of carbon markets, including cooperative approaches under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the voluntary carbon market.

• Knowledge of MRV systems, the Enhanced Transparency Framework of the Paris Agreement (BTR) and NDC tracking.

• Experience designing administrative procedures, manuals, process flows and user guides for public institutions or digital platforms.

• Experience working with ministries and government agencies. Experience with the Government of the Dominican Republic and MMARN is a significant advantage.

• Experience organizing and conducting consultations, workshops and capacity-building activities with the private sector.

• Desirable: experience designing incentive or recognition schemes for companies.

• Ability to review and synthesize information and produce high-quality reports.

• Excellent oral and written command of Spanish. Proficiency in English is an asset.

• Availability to work in person in Santo Domingo for up to 20% of the consultancy period.

Functional competencies

• Proactive attitude, with the ability to find workable solutions promptly.

• Punctuality, professionalism and the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with multicultural and interdisciplinary teams.

Institutional competencies

• Understands and actively supports GGGI's mission, vision and values.

• Is committed to the team's objectives and works effectively across the organization with people of different opinions, cultures, nationalities, genders and ages.

• Excellent problem-solving skills.

• Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty, integrity and professionalism.

Administrative Information

Interested consultants shall submit following documentation:

• Availability during the project period
• No conflict of interest arises while taking this assignment
• Application, Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English.

Selection method/process: competitive.

Duration of the selection process: 15 to 21 working days.

The closing date is , Korea Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. A consortium or firm may not be contracted for this individual consultancy.

As an institution, GGGI applies its project-level Sustainability and Safeguards Rules (SSR) to all its projects, in line with international environmental and social safeguard standards. The SSR are aligned with internationally recognized environmental and social safeguard (ESS) standards, namely the World Bank Performance Standards, which ensure the project-level protection of communities and people affected by GGGI's activities. GGGI has integrated project-level environmental and social safeguards into its Project Cycle Management (PCM), with mandatory gender and social screenings and an ESS analysis of all projects to identify and manage risks.

In addition, GGGI's Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Strategy 2021–2025 provides a framework for achieving the principle of "leaving no one behind" in the transition to green growth, guiding GGGI's approaches to mainstreaming gender equality and poverty reduction within its program in the Dominican Republic. This also includes applying the indicators of GGGI's Gender Equality and Poverty Reduction Policy in all projects. GGGI's Corporate Results Framework requires sex-disaggregated indicators for participation in GGGI capacity-building events.

GGGI's Child Protection Rules and its Rules on Sexual Exploitation protect children affected by GGGI's activities or in contact with personnel contracted by GGGI, reflecting GGGI's zero-tolerance approach to child exploitation. GGGI is committed to child protection regardless of whether a specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI's Child Protection Policy has been drafted in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. All of the procedures mentioned are accompanied by guidelines and capacity-building initiatives. GGGI also offers a working environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, acceptance of diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy work-life balance. We are committed to maintaining a gender-balanced workforce and therefore encourage women to apply. GGGI promotes equal opportunities for all, including persons with disabilities.

All GGGI policies are publicly available at: https://gggi.org/policy-documents/

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.