Result of Service

The expert delivers government-validated technical inputs to the transport substantial component of Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 Implementation Strategy and Action Plan, and a prioritized, investment-ready transport pipeline comprising: a screened long-list, a government-validated short-list, pre-feasibility and business-model analyses, and investor-ready concept notes/project profiles for at least three (3) priority transport projects, prepared jointly with the financial engineering, structuring and financial modelling expert.

Work Location

Home-based, with missions to Abuja, Nigeria

Expected duration

From 25 September 2026 to 25 September 2027 (120 working days over 12 months)

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The NDC Act & Invest is a global project led by UNEP and currently funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and the NDC Partnership’s Partnership Action Fund (PAF) multi-donor trust fund. It is designed to support countries raise their climate ambition and translate their new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0) submitted in 2025 into actionable, investable plans. Structured around three interconnected workstreams: 1/fostering G20+ ambition and action, 2/piloting policy and planning alignment, and 3/providing deep-dive support to enhance NDCs 3.0 investability, the project aims to bridge the gap between climate commitments and tangible implementation. By aligning national strategies, strengthening enabling environments, and working collaboratively with key partners, including the NDC Partnership, GIZ, UNDP’s Climate Promise, UNFCCC, multilateral development banks (MDBs), development finance institutions (DFIs), and private sector actors, NDC Act & Invest seeks to make the next generation of NDCs both more ambitious and more achievable, accelerating progress toward the 1.5°C goal and enhancing global resilience. The NDC Act & Invest team, based within the Mitigation Branch in Paris, is responsible for the global management and overall coordination of the project across partner countries, in line with UNEP’s delivery model. The team also acts as the main liaison between UNEP and the NDC Partnership, coordinating UNEP’s responses to country support requests shared through the Partnership, identifying and applying for additional funding where appropriate, and consolidating implementation and progress reporting. In addition, the team maintains close coordination with related projects under the IKI framework to ensure coherence and synergies across IKI initiatives in countries. Nigeria submitted its Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) to the UNFCCC in September 2025, committing to economy-wide absolute emissions reductions of 29% by 2030 and 32.2% by 2035 relative to the recalculated 2018 baseline of 573.5 Mt CO2e, on a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2060. Nigeria estimates that US$337 billion will be required over 2026–2035 to implement the NDC 3.0 (US$195 billion for mitigation and US$141.5 billion for adaptation), with 80 per cent conditional on international support. The NDC 3.0 foresees the preparation of an Implementation Strategy and Action Plan (ISAP) and an NDC Investment Plan, while the Net Zero Investment Plan (NZIP, endorsed in May 2026), prepared under the auspices of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), estimates total investment needs of approximately US$2.04 trillion to 2060, around US$38 billion per year to 2030, against tracked climate finance flows of only about US$2.5 billion per year in 2021/2022. Following the Government of Nigeria’s request channeled through the NDC Partnership, UNEP, through Workstream 3 of NDC Act & Invest, has agreed with the NCCC to provide support structured around two complementary components: (i) technical assistance to the development of a comprehensive, inclusive and actionable Implementation Strategy and Action Plan (ISAP) for NDC 3.0, translating NDC targets into costed, monitorable and implementation-ready interventions, and (ii) targeted deep-dive support to advance priority measures towards investability and bankability, through feasibility work, business model design, financial structuring and investor engagement, in the two priority sectors confirmed with the NCCC: agriculture and transport. The implementation timeline for this support was validated by the NCCC in June 2026. Institutional ownership, coordination and decision-making rest with the NCCC and the relevant federal and state Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), UNEP and its consultants provide technical inputs and analysis in support of this Government-led process. The support is delivered by a team of three experts: an agriculture sector expert, a transport sector expert, and a financial engineering, structuring and financial modelling expert, working under UNEP’s coordination and in close collaboration with each other. Transport is one of the largest wedges in Nigeria’s mitigation and investment agenda. The NDC 3.0 targets, inter alia, the transition of 30% of the car, HDV and LDV fleet to electricity and of 20% to CNG (a combined mitigation potential of some 44.3 Mt CO2e), the adoption of EURO IV standards for 100% of vehicles by 2030, an increase of bus rapid transit to 22% of passenger-kilometres, expanded metro services in Abuja and Lagos, and 50% of locomotives running on CNG by 2035. The Net Zero Investment Plan estimates transport at 37.7% of Nigeria’s net-zero investment needs, about US$485 billion to 2060, or US$1.24 trillion when the electrification of the bus fleet is included, with the wide adoption of electric vehicles the single largest investment component of the entire transition and a planned public–private funding split of roughly 50/50. In this regard, the expert will map and build on the significant momentum in the sector, including: the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), which has mobilized over US$2 billion in private investment, supported over 100,000 vehicle conversions and some 380 accredited conversion centres, deployed the first government-backed electric bus fleet in Abuja, and targets US$5 billion of investment and 3,000 conversion centres by 2027, the Electric Vehicle Transition and Green Mobility Bill (2025) under consideration and the ongoing review of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan to integrate EVs and CNG, the January 2026 agreement for an EV assembly plant in Kano with a nationwide charging infrastructure roll-out, Lagos State’s BRT network, urban rail (Blue and Red Lines), electric bus deployments and inland waterways electrification initiatives, innovative commercial models such as battery swapping for electric two- and three-wheelers and “drive-to-own” EV financing facilities (e.g. the US$100 million LagRide/Lagos State/UBA facility), and analytical work such as the SEforALL e-bus study recommending gross cost contract PPP models, alongside the Energy Transition Plan and National Integrated Resource Plan transport pathways. Key barriers to be addressed include sparse charging and refueling infrastructure, grid reliability, high upfront vehicle costs and limited consumer and fleet financing, foreign exchange risk, and limited PPP structuring capacity. The support will also build on UNEP's existing engagement in Nigeria's transport sector, notably its support to the adoption and national domestication of the 2020 ECOWAS fuel and vehicle emission standards (50 ppm sulphur fuels, EURO IV vehicle standards, used-vehicle age limits and fleet fuel economy targets), which underpin the NDC 3.0 EURO IV measure, its Share the Road work with LAMATA on the Lagos Non-Motorised Transport Policy and BRT corridor design, and its contribution to the AU/ECA Continental Electric Vehicle Framework referenced in Nigeria's EV policy instruments. Key Competencies o Excellent command of project preparation methodologies, transport economics and modelling, multi-criteria prioritization and results-based frameworks. o Strong analytical and drafting skills, with proven ability to produce policy and technical documents of publishable quality for government endorsement and investor audiences. o Ability to design and facilitate participatory workshops and validation processes, transferring technical knowledge to government counterparts. o Solid capacity to deliver multi-output assignments in a team setting, working hand-in-hand with financial specialists. o Rigour, ability to work under pressure, and strict respect of deadlines. o Proficiency in MS Office, electronic communication tools and online research. The expert will contribute directly to the achievement of the objectives of the NDC Act & Invest support to Nigeria agreed with the NCCC, as described in section 1 above. The expected results outlined below correspond to the main milestones of the work plan and are accompanied by performance indicators to assess their achievement. Result 1: Government-validated sectoral analysis and technical inputs to the transport component of the NDC 3.0 Implementation Strategy and Action Plan (ISAP). o Activity 1.1: Review the NDC 3.0 transport measures, the Net Zero Investment Plan transport analysis, the Energy Transition Plan and National Integrated Resource Plan transport pathways, and relevant policies (National Transport Policy, the National Automotive Industry Development Plan review, the Electric Vehicle Transition and Green Mobility Bill, the 2020 ECOWAS fuel and vehicle emission standards as domesticated by Nigeria, Nigeria's commitment under the Accelerating to Zero Coalition declaration, etc), including a review of the status of compliance with 50 ppm sulphur fuel and EURO IV vehicle standards following the expiry of the refinery waiver in December 2024 and of progress against the fleet fuel economy target, and prepare a concise transport sector baseline and gap analysis. o Activity 1.2: Map ongoing and planned government and partner initiatives and investments, including Pi-CNG & EV, NADDC programmes, the Kano EV assembly plant agreement, Lagos State’s BRT, rail, e-bus and waterways electrification initiatives, Abuja e-buses and metro, private e-mobility and battery-swapping ventures, financing facilities such as the LagRide/Lagos State/UBA EV facility, and development partner support (including the AFD-financed Lagos Quality Bus Corridors, the AFD/EIB/EU-financed Omi Eko electric ferry programme, RMI/Energy Transition Office and SEforALL e-mobility roadmap work, the World Bank/ESMAP E-Trans study, UK PACT private sector bankability work, the ICAT transport MRV tools developed with the NCCC, and UNEP's earlier clean fuels and vehicles and Share the Road engagement), to identify complementarities and avoid duplication. o Activity 1.3: Provide technical inputs translating the NDC 3.0 transport measures into implementation-ready actions, with indicative responsibilities across federal MDAs (Federal Ministry of Transportation, FMITI/NADDC, Pi-CNG & EV), the FCT Administration and states, timelines, cost estimates building on the NZIP and NDC costing, and monitorable indicators building on the ICAT transport MRV tools developed with the NCCC, together with a disaggregated estimate of the transport share of the NDC 3.0 finance need and a mapping of existing and committed financing. The inputs will also identify the policy, regulatory and institutional reforms required to enable delivery, including the legislative and secondary instruments still pending or under review (e.g. the Electric Vehicle Transition and Green Mobility Bill, the National Automotive Industry Development Plan review, enforcement of the domesticated ECOWAS fuel and vehicle emission standards), fiscal and tariff measures (import duties, incentives for EV and CNG vehicles and components), technical standards and codes for charging and refuelling infrastructure and grid connection, and the PPP, concession and licensing frameworks governing mass transit and fleet operations, with indicative sequencing and responsible institutions, for integration by the NCCC into the ISAP and the NDC Investment Plan. o Activity 1.4: Prepare technical content for and support the facilitation of sector consultations convened by the NCCC and line ministries, including federal and state authorities, transport unions and operators, OEMs and converters, financiers and civil society. Result 2: Prioritized transport investment pipeline validated by government counterparts. o Activity 2.1: Working with the NCCC, line ministries and the financial engineering, structuring and modelling expert, develop and apply transparent screening and prioritization criteria (mitigation impact, climate resilience and adaptation co-benefits, e.g. climate-proofing of transport infrastructure, flood-resilient corridors, etc), air quality and other co-benefits, geographic balance between Lagos, Abuja and secondary cities, alignment with NDC 3.0 and national plans, technical and commercial maturity, implementation ownership, gender equality, social inclusion and just transition considerations, and financing prospects). o Activity 2.2: Prepare the long-list of candidate investments drawn from the NDC 3.0, the NZIP, national plans and stakeholder proposals (e.g. electric bus corridors with depots and charging infrastructure, CNG conversion of freight and passenger fleets, electrification of two- and three-wheelers with battery swapping, BRT extensions and intermodal facilities in Lagos, Abuja and secondary cities such as Kano, Port Harcourt and Ibadan, non-motorized transport infrastructure integrated with mass transit, electric ferries and inland waterways, public charging and refueling networks, and measures supporting compliance with EURO IV and fuel quality standards), and support the Government-led selection of a short-list of at least three (3) priority projects for deep-dive support. Result 3: Deep-dive investability packages prepared for prioritized transport projects. o Activity 3.1: Conduct pre-feasibility level technical analyses for each short-listed project, covering demand and route/fleet analysis, technology options, total cost of ownership, infrastructure, grid and refuelling requirements, delivery and business models (including gross cost contract and other PPP structures), institutional and implementation arrangements, environmental and social considerations and gender equality and social inclusion. o Activity 3.2: Provide technical inputs (capex/opex estimates, ridership/utilization and revenue assumptions, risk registers) to the financial models and structuring options developed by the financial engineering, structuring and modelling expert. o Activity 3.3: Prepare investor-ready concept notes/project profiles aligned with the requirements of prospective financiers (e.g. GCF, World Bank, AfDB, IFC, EIB, AFD, commercial investors, and domestic development finance institutions such as the Bank of Industry, the Development Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority), building on rather than duplicating existing bankability frameworks such as those developed under UK PACT, and support their review and validation by government counterparts. o Activity 3.4: Prepare technical content for, and support, investor engagement events convened under the project, and consolidate a final report with lessons and recommendations, handing over all materials to the NCCC and line ministries. Expected deliverables: o 1.a Inception report with methodology and, detailed work plan and stakeholder map. o 1.b Transport sector baseline, policy and partner mapping of existing and completed support, and gap analysis report. o 1.c Comprehensive technical inputs to the ISAP transport component (implementation-ready actions, indicative costing and indicators), reflecting sector consultations. o 2.a Pipeline prioritization note (criteria, long-list and government-validated short-list of priority projects, with structured theory of change covering detailed projects’ component and activities). o 3.a Draft pre-feasibility and business model analyses for the priority projects. o 3.b Complete pre-feasibility and business model package and draft concept. o notes/project profiles for all short-listed projects. o 3.c Final consolidated report, validated investor-ready concept notes and handover presentation to the NCCC and line ministries. See above. Across all tasks, the consultant will: o Provide the substantive technical inputs and analysis for the transport dimension of the support, ensuring coherence with the NDC 3.0, the NZIP, the Energy Transition Plan and sectoral policies, and full alignment with the Government-led ISAP process under the NCCC. o Lead the sectoral baseline, partner mapping and gap analysis, and translate NDC 3.0 transport measures into implementation-ready, costed and monitorable actions for consideration by the NCCC and line ministries. o Lead the technical screening, prioritization, pre-feasibility and business-model work for the transport pipeline, working jointly with the financial engineering, structuring and modelling expert on all cost, revenue and structuring inputs. o Prepare technical content for consultations, validation workshops and investor engagement events convened by the NCCC and line ministries and integrate government and stakeholder feedback into all deliverables. o Mainstream gender equality and social inclusion, just transition and environmental and social safeguards considerations across all analyses and project documents, applying the guidance of the NDC Partnership Best Practice Brief "Incorporating Just Transition into Climate Action" (May 2026), including procedural justice mechanisms (social dialogue with transport unions, operators and affected communities), distributive justice (livelihoods, skills development and decent work for drivers, mechanics, converters and informal transport workers) and just transition indicators in the monitoring framework. o Coordinate closely with the agriculture sector expert to ensure methodological consistency across the two sector pipelines, with UNEP's Air Quality and Mobility Unit and Share the Road programme to build on UNEP's prior engagement in Nigeria, and with the NDC Partnership in-country facilitation and other development partners active in the sector to avoid duplication with other partner support. o Transfer knowledge and materials to the NCCC, the Federal Ministry of Transportation and other counterparts throughout the assignment.

Qualifications/special skills

o An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in transport planning or engineering, urban planning, energy, economics, or a related field is required. o At least twelve (12) years of experience in sustainable and low-carbon transport, electric mobility, urban mobility or transport infrastructure development, including in Sub-Saharan Africa. o Demonstrated experience preparing bankable transport projects and public-private partnerships, including pre-feasibility/feasibility studies, demand and fleet analysis, total cost of ownership assessments, business model design and project concept notes or funding proposals for climate and development financiers (e.g. GCF, World Bank, AfDB, IFC, EIB, commercial investors). o Strong knowledge of EV and CNG vehicle ecosystems (vehicles, conversion, charging/refueling infrastructure, batteries and battery swapping), mass transit systems (BRT, rail, inland waterways), non-motorized transport and transport demand management, vehicle emission and fuel quality standards, and of NDC processes, costing and MRV in the transport sector. o Familiarity with Nigeria’s transport policy and programme landscape (e.g. Pi-CNG & EV, NADDC and the National Automotive Industry Development Plan, the Energy Transition Plan, LAMATA and state-level mass transit initiatives, etc) is highly desirable, prior work in Nigeria or West Africa is a competitive advantage. o Proven experience in multi-stakeholder engagement involving federal and state governments, transport operators and unions, OEMs and converters, financiers and civil society, and in designing gender-responsive and socially inclusive interventions.

Languages

o Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Transport Sector Expert – Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 Implementation and Investment plans