Green Economic Advisory Support to the Africa Union

for Implementation of the Green Recovery Action Plan

TERMS OF REFERENCE

BACKGROUND

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of

at https://au.int/en/agenda2063/goals).

The implementation of the Agenda 2063 is largely through the African Union Commission (AUC) which is the

AU’s secretariat in collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities

1

(RECs) and the regional

commissions

2

. Supported by AU’s high level decision-making coordination mechanisms and organs, which also

strengthen Africa’s participation and active involvement both in global negotiations and in international

agreements on the environment.

that an additional 23 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty and 20 million jobs could disappear,

costing Africa up to $500 billion in revenue. Food insecurity and debt are rising, and hard-won development

gains are being lost.

The recovery effort from the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, presents an unprecedented opportunity that delivers

cleaner, healthier, more resilient and more inclusive economies and societies, especially to protect the most

vulnerable sectors of society including women and the youth that are the most adversely effected by the

economic fallout of the pandemic. Moreso, an opportunity to align with the United Nations 2030 Agenda on the

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biodiversity (UN CBD)

2

Recently three regional commissions have been established, including the Sahel commission chaired by the Republic of Niger, the Congo Basin

commission chaired by the Republic of Congo, and the Commission for African Island States chaired by the Republic of Seychelles.

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The AU Green Recovery Action Plan was developed jointly by the African Union Commission, United Nations

development and green jobs; and (v) Green and resilient cities, including a focus on water (flooding and water

resources) and enhancing information, communication and technology.

Under the leadership of the African Union Commission, the Green Recovery Action Plan seeks a green

economic transformation that will require strong partnerships and coordination with public and private investors

to deliver up to the magnitude proposed in the plan. Within the existing institutional mechanisms, it is proposed

to establish co-champions for each thematic area - a member state and an international partner. The co-

champions will be steering the coordination, resource mobilization and technical support for Green Recovery

efforts within the specific thematic area across the continent.

States on the GRAP; supporting a few ‘signature’ initiatives to push forward dialogue in Africa, including setting

up task forces for the different thematic areas for example a Task Force for Climate Finance, Task Force on

Renewable Energy or Green Recovery; and supporting lessons sharing, side events at major events,

commissioned reports under the GRAP, and dialogue platforms.

The Green Recovery Action Plan is intended to complement and enhance African Union member States own

recovery plans for a greater impact on the continent as well as the broader African Green Stimulus Programme

(AGSP) under the AMCEN. The plan intends to draw from existing initiatives among others the outcomes of the

country-driven Economic Advisory initiative and NDCs implementation processes under the NDC Partnership

country engagement work and align support to countries.

The NDC Partnership has initiated support to integrate climate actions in recovery planning in response to the

COVID-19 global pandemic. This initiative is addition to the NDC revision and implementation support to

countries. In Africa, the NDC Partnership is active in 34 countries with NDC support and about 20 countries

have accessed Economic and Finance Advisors embedded in ministries of finance and/or planning. This

support comes at a critical time when many countries are revising their commitments to the Paris Agreement in

2020, through the enhancement of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While countries design

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stimulus packages and recovery plans in response to COVID-19, there is opportunity to ensure that national

climate ambition is an integral component of short- and long-term recovery and economic growth strategies.

from the NDC Partnership to be embedded in the Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy

for 6 months until March 2022 (subject to extension pending funding availability), to ensure effective

coordinated implementation of the AU Green Recovery Plan. The NDC Partnership has secured approval and

funding from the UK Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy to provide this support, as outlined

under these Terms of Reference, developed by the African Union Commission.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE GREEN ECONOMIC

ADVISOR

The Green Economic Advisor will coordinate the implementation of the five thematic priority areas of the AU

Green Recovery Action Plan across member states in Africa. The Advisor will also provide Technical Advice to

the Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE) of the African Union Commission on

The Green Economic Advisor will report primarily to the Director, Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy

under the direct supervision of the Head of Division of Sustainable Environment and work in close collaboration

with the Climate Change Team of the AUC and the NDC Partnership Support Unit Africa team. The Green

Economic Advisor will be producing monthly and quarterly progress reports about the AU Green Recovery Plan

implementation across the continent. Quarterly continental update reports will be distributed among

stakeholders both in-country and internationally. S/he will also regularly provide progress reports to the NDC

Partnership Support Unit and the focal point of the government of the UK on key deliverables as per the

contract.

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