Objectives and Scope of Work
Objective 1 - Lead planning, project management, and on-ground coordination between partners and key stakeholders (project proponents, government, communities and conservation partners) to ensure smooth project implementation, information sharing, documentation of processes and maintaining a database of evidence required for the carbon auditing (validation)
In coordination with TNC teams, GKLL and other key stakeholders, validate and manage a PDD phase implementation plan with milestones, dates and responsible persons/required capacity (based on sound knowledge of the policy and legal environment in Zambia and Carbon project standards).
- Schedule and coordinate meetings between teams to ensure adherence to the implementation plan.
- Schedule and coordinate meetings between the TNC, GKLL and key stakeholders to ensure a smooth flow of information to advance the PDD.
- Coordinate and facilitate data collection (e.g. Develop terms of reference and manage consultants for field inventory and social baselines), and transfer of information from ground/reports to GCM (TNC Global Carbon Markets team) to meet methodology requirements.
Objective 2 - Guide the project through and facilitate compliance with the statutory requirements of a carbon project in Zambia, including the requirements for alignment with both the Forestry Department and Department of Climate Change
- Remain on top of the project’s alignment with Zambia’s carbon policies and regulatory processes and develop a stepwise plan with key requirements at each step to facilitate the projects full compliance with the statutory requirements
- Regularly engage the relevant government departments (Forestry Department, Department of Climate Change, Department of National Parks & Wildlife) to keep them informed of project progress and liaise with technical staff at regional and national levels to ensure their input into the design.
Objective 3 – Ensure the project conforms to best-in-class carbon project standards by leading and contributing to the Project Design Document including, baseline data collection, community engagement, and providing data for specific subsections of the PDD.
- Developing terms-of reference and leading engagement of relevant expert to undertake baseline surveys
- Developing terms of reference and leading engagement of relevant expert to undertake community engagements
- Be responsible for evidence collection of all activities, engagements, other events (e.g. meeting minutes, letters of interest, raw data from baselines, proof of ownership, and many others) required for the validation/verification process (carbon auditing process)
- Proved data and evidence for specific sections of the PDD with guidance from the PDD writing lead.
- Ensuring project adherence to the following key guiding principles of a best-in-class carbon project:
· Equitable: Enhanced inclusivity, transparency, accountability, and capacity-building for all actors, including at the national, local, and external partner levels. Drawing on the FPIC framework, local communities’ rights and interests are respected throughout the project’s lifetime, and communities are legally- and logistically- empowered to sustainably manage activities within their region.
· Accurate and Conservative Baselines: Develop comprehensive and Robust monitoring baselines to track progress, impact, and benefits across this diverse landscape, with regular reporting to stakeholders.
· Good governance: The Governance Plan and Stakeholder Equity & Benefit Distribution Mechanism (in development) is essential for ensuring that the project is fair, transparent, sustainable, and beneficial to all stakeholders, particularly local communities.
· Safeguard biodiversity: Science based objectives to put ecological objectives first and foremost in the fire management planning process.
· Clear financial and climate additionality, Permanence and leakage mitigation
Objective 4 - Providing technical support and assistance with Fire Management Planning, driving the adoption of operational innovations and new techniques, and maintaining wholistic implementation oversight of fire management in the surrounding GMAs.
- Supporting the organizational infrastructure of the on-the-ground fire management units in the Game Management Areas (GMAs). This includes providing management oversight for the recruitment, training, and operational structure of fire teams, as well as assisting and supporting Training Providers and ensuring resource availability for quality training.
- Develop and deliver an organisational structure for fire management in the GKE which is streamlined, cost effective.
- Coordinating with local government partners, Community Resource Boards (CRBs), and Village Action Groups (VAGs) to ensure full alignment of local objectives with the project's fire goals. This includes overseeing the institutional capacity building of these groups and establishing adequate monitoring and feedback mechanisms to keep them informed and engaged in the project's success.
Objective 5 - Investment Readiness Analysis & Documentation
- Conduct an initial investment gap analysis against NCSA’s criteria and develop a workplan to create documentation that investors will use to evaluate the project.
- Develop a “data room” to house critical enterprise documentation and data, that is accessible to a range of project parties, including investors during the due diligence process.
- Create a detailed month-by-month plan for developing necessary documentation for which the Business Incubator is responsible and soliciting all supporting documentation from technical experts to be added to the “data room” with clear due dates.
- Aggregate and upload all available materials from the feasibility report to the “data room”.
- Add new documents to the data room on the agreed upon schedule
Objective 6 - Business Development
- Conduct research and draft a brief on state-of-the-art carbon projects in Zambia to inform a range of viable business and operational models as well as examples of benefit sharing approaches.
- Develop comprehensive marketing materials for conversations with prospective buyers and continually update and refine the materials based on feedback from TNC’s Corporate Engagement team, availability of new financial and project inputs, and buyer requests for specific information.
Objective 7 - Business Incubator Project Integration, Representation & Legal Oversight
- Develop materials for integrated project design workshops during contractual period and represent the Business Incubator interests in discussions.
- Articulate legal needs of Business Incubator workstream to TNC legal counsel and international business formation consultants in a brief. Provide initial analysis of regulatory considerations to TNC legal counsel to develop an RFP to engage and vet local legal counsel.
Objective 8 - Operational Model Development, Governance Structure, & Legal Entity
- Support development of operating model with accompanying staffing plan to deliver streamlined, cost-effective operations. Operation model will include project implementation planning and review processes, stakeholder management and communication, documentation and data management, adherence to carbon standard requirements, governance, adaptive management systems, and team growth plans.
- Develop operating manual for carbon business
- Develop Terms of Reference for any open positions identified
Objective 9 Investor Engagement
- Develop investor pitch deck and prepare to lead investor discussions and negotiations alongside TNC and partner staff
Note: The successful individual will be required to work closely with TNC, GKLL, Forestry Department, DNPW and their partners in the GKE, including local communities, other government entities, NGOs and private sector partners. The work will involve extended periods in the field in very remote settings. The successful individual will need to be fully self-sufficient with the ability to operate independently in the field for the duration of project. If successful and aligned with GKE objectives, after validation they could be rehired to lead the monitoring for future verification.
2.4 Core delivery team
The consultant will report to the Project Steering Committee for project implementation progress, performance, and key milestones delivery. The consultant will be required to liaise closely with Conservation Director, TNC Zambia with regular interface with the Regional Biodiversity and Science Coordinator, African Parks Head of Carbon and the African Parks Regional Commercial Manager, Zambia & Zimbabwe. In the specific project areas the consultant will work closely with either TNC staff or project staff as stipulated and agreed upon during the inception meeting.
2.5 Products Delivery
A detailed project information repository must be kept, including documentation of all processes, supporting information and data (Microsoft excel format or spatial information as ESRI shapefiles) must be delivered electronically as stipulated to: Bruce Ellender – bruce.ellender@tnc.org copying; africa.tenders@tnc.org
2.6 Selection Criteria
a. Desired consultant profile – CV, academic qualifications & experience
· Demonstrated expertise in project development, particularly in the field of carbon projects, ideally within Zambia or similar socio-ecological contexts.
· MBA or advanced degree in Operations, Supply Chain, Project Management, Finance, International Development or other related field
· Experience in coordinating technical teams and managing project timelines.
· Knowledge of conservation principles and fire management practices Excellent record keeping communication and interpersonal skills.
· Familiarity with the regulatory landscape and government protocols in Zambia.
b. Cost
· Reasonable financial proposal including a full budget breakdown including professional fees and other reasonable costs needed to complete the outlined deliverables.
Call for Applications
Please send your technical and financial proposal of no more than three pages outlining your experience, your interpretation of the terms of reference and outlining how you would execute the assignment. Please submit the cover letter, technical and financial proposal by 11:59pm, January 19th 2026, to Africa Tenders – Africa.tenders@tnc.org and copy Chilufya Chileshe – c.chileshe@tnc.org and Ellender – bruce.ellender@tnc.org.
3.0 PROPOSAL FORMAT
Please send your technical and financial proposal (refer the guidance below) of no more than three pages outlining your experience, your interpretation of the terms of reference and outlining how you would execute the assignment. Please submit the cover letter, technical and financial proposal by 11:59pm, January 19th 2026, to Africa Tenders – Africa.tenders@tnc.org and copy Chilufya Chileshe – c.chileshe@tnc.org and Bruce Ellender – bruce.ellender@tnc.org.
For more information check on the link below:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-aqjIslmmyi5QOUEN1fpUmdvrx0xiDM8?usp=drive_link
