Senior Specialist Carbon Markets

Brief Description of the project/ unit

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is a German public-benefit company operating on behalf of the German government. As part of the German Development Cooperation, GIZ implements technical cooperation projects aimed at supporting its partners’ development goals.

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the global project “Article 6 Connect – Sustainable Development through Carbon Markets” aims to strengthen the capacities of Ethiopia and South Africa to effectively engage in international market mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Article 6 provides countries with the opportunity to cooperate in achieving their climate goals by financing mitigation projects and transferring emission reduction outcomes internationally.

The projects focus lies on implementation-oriented capacity building around Article 6, enabling partner countries to establish the necessary regulations, processes, instruments, and platforms for participation in international carbon markets. Furthermore, the project facilitates knowledge exchange and networking, thereby supporting informed decision-making among political actors and ensuring the integrity and transparency of Article 6 implementation.

By enhancing institutional readiness and fostering cooperation, the project contributes to the achievement and enhancement of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of partner countries.

Duration of contract: Until December 31, 2028,

Application deadline: 28 November 2025

Required Candidates: 1

Place of Work: Addis Ababa

Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide policy and technical advisory services to partner institutions in Ethiopia on the rules and implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and related international carbon market mechanisms, supporting ambition raising in NDC implementation and sustainable development.
• Design and steer targeted support measures for the implementation of Article 6 activities in Ethiopia, ensuring alignment with national priorities and international best practices.
• Lead and coordinate climate finance–related analytical and research work under the project, generating insights to inform policy dialogue and capacity building.
• Liaise closely with government counterparts, including the Ministry of Planning and Development, as well as with private sector and civil society stakeholders, to ensure effective coordination and implementation of project activities.
• Contribute to the design and establishment of a national carbon market network in Ethiopia, potentially with regional outreach and knowledge-sharing functions.
• Support the development and delivery of capacity-building activities, such as workshops and trainings on Article 6 and Voluntary Carbon Markets, targeting internal and external stakeholders.
• Supervise and provide technical guidance to national and international consultants, ensuring quality assurance of deliverables and, where applicable, the management of grants, contracts, and financial agreements.
• Contribute to global and internal knowledge management and learning exchange, including the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, supporting the exchange between country-level implementation and global policy processes.
• Support component-level monitoring, communication (including event organisation), and reporting to the commissioning partner (BMZ).
• Ensure close coordination and alignment with other GIZ programmes, and other development cooperation partners to foster synergies and coherence across related initiatives.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in climate policy, environmental economics, international relations, environmental science, or another field relevant to carbon markets and climate finance.
• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in the field of carbon markets, climate finance, or market-based climate cooperation, including substantial experience with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM).
• Proven track record in the design and implementation of carbon market activities, including policy advisory, capacity building, and institutional readiness support in developing or emerging economies.
• Extensive experience advising government institutions and ministries on climate policy, NDC implementation, and market mechanism governance, ideally in the context of international development cooperation.
• Strong conceptual and analytical understanding of international carbon market architecture, including methodologies for emission reduction accounting, authorization processes, and corresponding adjustments under Article 6.
• Demonstrated experience in managing or steering research and technical assistance projects, including coordination of consultants, quality assurance of deliverables, and oversight of financial or grant agreements.
• Sound knowledge of climate finance mechanisms, their interaction with carbon markets, and their potential to leverage private sector engagement for NDC implementation.
• Excellent stakeholder management and networking skills, with experience engaging public sector institutions, private sector actors, civil society, and international organisations in complex policy environments.
• Experience in developing and facilitating capacity-building activities, such as workshops, trainings, and peer-learning formats at national and international levels.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and representation skills, including the ability to convey technical content effectively to both policy and technical audiences.
• Proven ability to operate independently and strategically, while ensuring close coordination within multinational teams and with development cooperation partners.
• Excellent command of English (spoken and written) and Amharic
• High level of intercultural competence, diplomatic sensitivity, and result orientation, with the capacity to lead technical processes and contribute to strategic policy dialogue.