Consultancy: Development and Implementation of an institute GHG Inventory and Data Management System

1. Introduction

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning, independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 200 people come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in more than 100 countries.

IISD’s Sustainability Committee is responsible for addressing cross-institutional environmental sustainability issues. One of the committee’s objectives is to establish and maintain a system for tracking and reporting the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of IISD to help reduce them through the development of internal mitigation practices.

For this, IISD seeks to engage a consultant to support the development and implementation of an institute-wide GHG inventory management plan and establish a GHG inventory that adheres to the globally standardized frameworks to measure and manage GHG emissions defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

2.  Scope of Work

Define system boundaries: Define IISD organizational boundaries encompassing each source of IISD’s GHG emissions under Scopes 1, 2, and 3 as defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

GHG emissions data collection and conversion: Develop an institute-wide GHG inventory management plan based on the previously defined sources of GHG emissions. This includes:

• Proposing the most suitable GHG accounting approach
• Identifying data requirements, internal and external data providers, internal and external data sources, and preferred methods for data collection
• Developing data collection procedures, guidance, and methodology
• Identifying data gaps
• Defining and providing emissions factors (in CO2 equivalent) for the conversion of IISD activities into GHG emissions data when relevant
• Developing an open-source data collection tool within Microsoft systems: Excel or Power BI, with its accompanying user manual and list of sources

GHG emissions inventory**:** Develop a GHG inventory of IISD activities within the agreed-upon emissions sources and period.

Analysis**:** The data collection tool needs to also support the production of automated analyses that can support the evaluation and interpretation of the results, the identification of hotspots, and internal (as well as, potentially, external) reporting.

Capacity building**:** Build technical capacity within IISD’s Sustainability Committee to manage and coordinate the developed GHG inventory management plan as well as the data collection tool by leading an online technical workshop for the committee members so they are able to use the tool without further consultancy assistance.

Others (optional):

Provide advice on third-party verification to IISD’s Sustainability Committee.

Provide recommendations on GHG emissions sources where IISD has the most capacity to mitigate them and outline high-level potential pathways for mitigation.

3. Deliverables and Timelines

**Activity n°1:**Define system boundaries

Outputs:

• Definition of IISD organizational boundaries encompassing each source of IISD’s GHG emissions under Scopes 1, 2 and 3 as defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol

Deadline: 3 weeks after the start of the contract.

Activity n°2: GHG emissions data collection and conversion

Outputs:

• Development of an institute wide GHG inventory management plan based on the previously defined sources of GHG emissions.
• Open-source GHG emissions data collection tool within Microsoft systems: Excel or powerBi, with its accompanying user manual and list of sources.

Deadline: November 2024

Activity n°3: GHG emissions inventory

Outputs:

• GHG inventory of IISD activities within the agreed-upon emissions sources and period.

Deadline: January 2025

Activity n°4: Analysis

Outputs:

• Presentation of results
• Open-source GHG emissions data collection tool within Microsoft systems (Excel or PowerBi) that supports the production of automated analyses.

Deadline: January 2025.

Activity n°4: Capacity building

Outputs:

• Online technical workshop for the committee members

Deadline: February 2025.

Activity n°4: Others

Outputs:

• Provide advisory on third-party verification.
• Analysis of GHG emissions sources where IISD has the most capacity to mitigate that contains outlined potential pathways for mitigation
• Deadline: TBD

4. Budget

Please itemize (in table format) all costs and days necessary for tasks and/or deliverables outlined in the terms of reference.

5. Qualifications

The consultant should possess the following qualifications:

Qualifications

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in sustainability, energy, natural resource management, engineering environmental or social science, or related field.

Knowledge and Experience

• 5+ years' experience of professional experience in preparation of GHG inventory management plans and GHG inventories;
• Knowledge of methodologies for inventories and previous experience in conducting analyses of both qualitative and quantitative data;
• Experience in developing open-source data collection tools within Microsoft systems: Excel or Power BI
• Professional experience in developing at least two-three organizational GHG inventory programs will be taken as advantage;
• Experience providing training and capacity building on GHG inventory management

Skills

• Familiarity with relevant software, data collection systems, and key source analysis
• Proven communication skills, and ability to work in a GHG area requiring liaising and collaborating with multiple people.

Behavioural Competencies

• Ability to work independently and think creatively;
• Ability to work with teams spread across different localities, including juggling different time zones
• Strong technical written and verbal communication skills.

6. Other Information

Location: Remote global

Term: Contractor

Duration of assignment: Maximum of 6 months – final duration to be agreed upon

Start date: September 15, 2024 - to be agreed upon

Closing date: March 14, 2025 – to be agreed upon

All submissions must be in English.

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR.  The deadline for submission is August 30, 2024, at or before 4p.m. CST. Applications should include:

• Cover Letter
• CV (4 pages max)
• Financial proposal
• Contract details of two references

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for one year.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+, to apply for this position. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants' advice on how best to accommodate their needs.

IISD does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, colour, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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Keywords

GHG InventoryData ManagementSustainabilityEnergyNatural Resource ManagementEngineeringEnvironmental ScienceSocial ScienceGHG EmissionsMicrosoft SystemsCapacity BuildingGreenhouse Gas Protocol