Job Description
Background
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has been at the forefront of transforming Africa’s agricultural sector by enhancing productivity, market access, and resilience among smallholder farmers. In Rwanda, AGRA has supported key initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s agricultural value chains, improving climate resilience, and fostering inclusive economic growth.
Rwanda has identified avocado production as a key driver for its agricultural diversification and export-oriented growth strategy. The expansion of the avocado value chain presents an opportunity to enhance smallholder livelihoods, increase foreign exchange earnings, and contribute to environmental sustainability through carbon sequestration. Given the growing interest in carbon markets, establishing avocado plantations under a structured carbon credit scheme can provide financial incentives to farmers while promoting climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Objectives
The objective of this consultancy is to develop a structured approach for registering smallholder avocado plantations for carbon credits in Rwanda. The consultant will assess feasibility, develop a methodology for carbon accounting, and establish pathways for household farmers to access carbon markets. Additionally, the consultant will develop a full design document required for carbon-credit registration.
Scope of Work
The consultant will be responsible for the following activities:
- Conduct a situational analysis on avocado production in Rwanda, focusing on household farmers’ engagement and potential expansion areas.
- Assess the feasibility of carbon credit registration for smallholder avocado plantations, including an evaluation of applicable standards (e.g., Verra, Gold Standard, Plan Vivo and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)).
- Develop a methodology for measuring, reporting, and verifying (MRV) carbon sequestration from avocado plantations, and associate regenerative agricultural practices,
- Identify potential financial and technical partners for supporting household farmers in carbon credit registration and trading.
- Develop a full design document required for carbon-credit registration, including baseline assessments, MRV framework, and registration requirements.
- Develop a roadmap for integrating smallholder avocado growers into international carbon markets.
- Provide recommendations on capacity-building initiatives for farmers, cooperatives, youth, and relevant institutions to enhance participation in carbon markets.
Location and nature of the assignment
This assignment will take place in Rwanda.
Duration
90 effective working days in a period of eight (8) months.
Qualifications and Experience
The Consultant is expected to possess the following:
- An advanced degree (Master or above) in Agronomy, Plant Science, Soil Science, Agroecology, Sustainability, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Development or related fields.
- A strong understanding of carbon farming, carbon-credit registrations and carbon-market, soil carbon and carbon-sequestration, soil health, climate change, climate adaptation and resilience, agricultural systems, farming systems, geospatial analysis, and stakeholder and policy engagements
- Strong knowledge of agriculture value chains and sustainable practices in Africa.
- Experience working with diverse stakeholders in Rwanda’s food systems.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in African farming systems, agricultural development, food systems, and policy engagement.
- Proven track record in the registration of interventions for carbon-credit registration
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and facilitation skills.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to generate actionable insights from data.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
- Knowledge and understanding of Rwanda agriculture, and related local context will be added value.
