Result of Service

Private sector engagement on sustainable peatlands management in the Congo Basin is strengthened through the development and delivery of high-quality, evidence-based bilingual English and French communication products, including two targeted briefs, outreach materials, and event support documents, enabling effective outreach to investors and financiers and promoting investment in sustainable and inclusive landscape management.

Work Location

Home-Based

Expected duration

5 Months - part time

Duties and Responsibilities

I. Background The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The Congo Basin peatlands, spanning the Republic of Congo (RoC) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), constitute the world's largest tropical peatland complex. The recently mapped peatlands of Cuvette Centrale are estimated to be the largest continuous tropical peat complex in the world at 145,000 km², storing approximately 30 gigatons of carbon, equivalent to two years of global greenhouse gas emissions. The Lac Télé/Lac Tumba (LTLT) landscape covers 126,440 km² of the larger Cuvette Centrale peatland and is the focus of this project. The area is largely pristine and highly biodiverse, containing the highest densities of western lowland gorillas in the world, in addition to bonobos, chimpanzees and forest elephants. The area contains several protected areas, including Ramsar wetland sites such as the Ngiri-Tumba-Maindombe, the second largest in the world. Nearly two million people depend on the landscape's water, forests and swamps for their livelihoods. The DRC and RoC made a strong political commitment towards the sustainable management of natural resources in 2017 by creating the world's largest transboundary Ramsar site in the Cuvette Centrale. In 2018, both countries signed the Brazzaville Declaration on Peatlands, committing to work together to protect the benefits provided by peatland ecosystems. Furthermore, in 2019, UNEA4 adopted a resolution on the Conservation and sustainable management of peatlands. Despite these commitments, the region faces ongoing pressures from extractive industries. Recent actions, such as the DRC's approval of oil blocks in the Cuvette Centrale, highlight the tension between conservation objectives and economic development priorities. Logging concessions overlapping peatland areas have been revoked by the new government, but discussions on oil concessions continue. The road from Ouesso to Impfondo connects the Lac Télé landscape to the national road network, offering opportunities for development but also bringing risks of unsustainable and uncontrolled developments. Experience from other tropical peatland regions, particularly Southeast Asia, demonstrates that perverse economic and fiscal incentives can drive land-use decisions that lead to peatland drainage, deforestation, and catastrophic carbon emissions. In the Congo Basin, historical and ongoing fiscal policies, including tax breaks for extractive industries, low royalty rates, subsidies to agricultural expansion, and inadequate valuation of ecosystem services, have created economic conditions that systematically disadvantage conservation and sustainable land use. UNEP, in partnership with FAO, WWF, WCS, and other consortium members, is implementing a project to secure the Congo Basin peatlands through evidence-based decision making and good governance. A critical component of this project, specifically under Output I, Work Package 1.3, is developing targeted briefs and outreach materials to engage private sector investors and financiers to advocate for the inclusion of peatlands value into their plans. This will establish the basis for negotiating and securing private sector or private/public blended financing for sustainable peatlands management (Activity 1.3.3). II. Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall guidance of the Head of Biodiversity, Peoples and Landscapes Unit, and direct supervision of the Workstream Lead, the consultant’s primary objective is to develop a series of targeted briefs and outreach materials to engage private sector investors and financiers, advocating for the inclusion of peatlands value into their plans and investment decisions. The consultant will produce compelling, evidence-based communication materials, including two substantive briefs, social media content, and email outreach materials for each brief, that clearly articulate the business case for investing in sustainable peatlands management in the Congo Basin. These materials will serve as the basis for a series of targeted events and meetings to engage private sector investors and financiers. 2.1. Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities: The consultant will perform the following tasks: A. Inception phase: 1. Inception report: prepare a detailed inception report outlining the proposed methodology, analytical framework, work plan, stakeholder engagement approach, target audience mapping, and a preliminary outline of the proposed briefs and outreach materials. This report must be submitted to UNEP for review and approval prior to commencement of the work. 2. Literature and data review: conduct a comprehensive review of existing project outputs, ecosystem services analyses (including the wall-to-wall map from Activity 1.3.1), fiscal incentive studies, and other relevant documentation to inform the development of the briefs. 3. Target audience mapping: identify and map key private sector audiences to be targeted, including:

International investors: Private equity firms, impact investors, development finance institutions, and pension funds with a focus on green investments
Sector-specific investors: Companies and investors in oil and gas, mining, logging, agriculture (cocoa, palm oil), and infrastructure
Financial institutions: Commercial banks, investment banks, and insurance companies operating in or with exposure to the Congo Basin region
Industry associations: Chamber of Commerce, extractive industry associations, and sustainable finance networks
Multilateral and bilateral financiers: Development banks and climate finance institutions
Conservation finance actors: Carbon credit investors, payment for ecosystem services (PES) investors, and green bond investors. B. Development of targeted briefs: 1. Brief 1: The Business Case for Investing in the Congo Basin Peatlands
Develop a compelling business case brief (6-8 pages) targeting private sector investors, articulating: o The economic value of peatland ecosystem services (carbon storage, water regulation, biodiversity, fisheries, etc.) o The risks of "business as usual" (economic costs of peatland degradation, stranded assets, reputational risks, regulatory risks) o The investment opportunities in sustainable peatlands management (carbon credits, biodiversity credits, sustainable commodity production, ecotourism, etc.) o The enabling environment and investment-ready projects o Case studies of successful sustainable investment in tropical peatlands o The alignment with ESG criteria and sustainable finance frameworks (e.g., EU Taxonomy, IFC Performance Standards, UNPRI). 2. Brief 2: Partnership Opportunities for Sustainable Development in the Congo Basin Peatlands.
Develop a partnership-focused brief (4-6 pages) targeting private sector partners, outlining: o The role of private sector in sustainable peatlands management o Public-private partnership models and blended finance opportunities o Specific partnership opportunities aligned with project outputs and objectives o Benefits of partnership (corporate social responsibility, ESG performance, access to expertise, risk mitigation) o The policy and regulatory framework supporting private sector engagement o Call to action for partnership and investment C. Development of Outreach Materials: 1. Social Media Content:
For each brief, develop a suite of social media content (minimum 6 posts per brief) tailored to different platforms (CBLI Website, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and potentially other relevant platforms) to promote the briefs and engage target audiences.
Content should include key messages, data-driven insights, compelling visuals/infographics, and calls to action. 2. Email Outreach Materials:
For each brief, develop email outreach materials including: o A targeted email template for distribution to identified investor and financier contacts. o A follow-up email template for continued engagement. o Key talking points and messaging for high-level engagement. 3. Presentation Materials:
Develop a slide deck (10-15 slides) based on each brief for use in events, meetings, and presentations to private sector audiences.
Ensure presentations are tailored to different types of audiences (e.g., technical vs. non-technical, sector-specific). D. Stakeholder Engagement and Validation: 1. Validation and Review:
Present draft briefs and outreach materials to UNEP and key project partners (Governments, FAO, University of Leeds, GRID-Geneva, WWF, WCS, etc.) for review and validation.
Incorporate feedback received during the validation process into the final deliverables.
Coordinate with the stakeholder platforms established under Output 1.1 to ensure alignment and to solicit inputs from government and civil society partners. 2. Private Sector Consultation:
Conduct targeted consultations with select private sector representatives to test messaging and ensure relevance of the briefs and materials.
Ensure that consultation processes consider the perspectives of local businesses and potential investors. E. Support for Events and Meetings: 1. Event Materials:
Prepare materials for a series of targeted events and meetings (Milestone 1.3.2) to engage private sector investors and financiers, including: o Event concept notes and agendas o Speaker briefing notes o Presentation materials o Participant handouts 2. Training:
Develop a brief training module (if required) on using the outreach materials effectively with private sector audiences.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental economics, public relations, communications, marketing, business administration, international development, or a related field is required. A bachelors degree in combination with 2 additional years of experience will be accepted in lieu of the Masters degree. A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in in environmental economics, communications, investor relations, private sector engagement, sustainable finance, or related fields is required. Proven experience in developing compelling business cases, investment briefs, or communications materials targeting private sector audiences, preferably in the environment, conservation, or sustainable development sectors is required. Demonstrated experience in private sector engagement and outreach, particularly with financial institutions, investors, and corporate audiences is desired. Experience working with or for international organizations (UNEP, other UN agencies, World Bank, etc.) is an advantage. Knowledge of sustainable finance, ESG investing, carbon markets, and/or payment for ecosystem services is a distinct advantage. Experience in the Congo Basin or Central Africa region, with an understanding of the political economy context and the specific challenges facing the RoC and DRC, is desirable. Established networks with private sector and investor audiences is a strong asset.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the consultancy post advertised, fluency in oral and written English and French is required.

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.

Consultant - Private Sector Engagement Outreach Materials