The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced a specialized home-based consultancy focused on REDD+, environmental safeguards, and environmental institutional frameworks in Paraguay. This five-month consultancy represents a strategic opportunity for legal professionals with expertise in environmental governance, climate law, and public policy to contribute to one of Paraguay’s most significant climate and forest governance initiatives.
The consultancy forms part of the “Paraguay +Verde” program, implemented through the UN-REDD framework in collaboration with national institutions and international agencies. The project supports Paraguay’s efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation while strengthening sustainable forest management and climate governance.
Overview of the Consultancy
The position seeks a legal consultant capable of producing high-level legal and institutional analyses related to:
- REDD+ environmental and social safeguards
- Paraguay’s environmental institutional structure
- Carbon market regulation and standard homologation
- Climate governance modernization
- Legal frameworks linked to environmental sustainability
The consultancy is fully remote and is expected to last five months. The closing date for applications is May 20, 2026.
Key Objectives of the Assignment
The consultant will help strengthen Paraguay’s legal and institutional framework surrounding REDD+ implementation and climate finance mechanisms. The work focuses on ensuring legal coherence, regulatory clarity, and alignment with international environmental standards.
The consultancy aims to deliver three major legal outputs:
1. Legal Analysis of REDD+ Safeguards
The consultant will review Paraguay’s national legal framework related to REDD+ safeguards and compare it with international climate obligations, particularly the Cancun Safeguards established under the UNFCCC.
Key tasks include:
- Reviewing environmental, forest, indigenous, and participation laws
- Identifying legal gaps and contradictions
- Supporting the development of the Safeguards Information System (SIS)
- Creating comparative legal matrices
- Recommending updates to the legal framework
This component is essential for ensuring Paraguay’s REDD+ mechanisms comply with global environmental governance standards.
Institutional Modernization of MADES
A major aspect of the consultancy involves supporting the modernization of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADES) in Paraguay.
The consultant will prepare a proposed regulatory decree clarifying institutional responsibilities linked to:
- Climate change governance
- Carbon markets
- Environmental safeguards
- Wildlife management
- Environmental information systems
- Gender equality integration
The assignment seeks to address institutional overlaps and improve coordination among environmental agencies involved in REDD+ implementation.
Key Deliverables Include:
- Draft regulatory language
- Institutional analysis
- Legal justifications
- Governance recommendations
- Roadmaps for institutional adoption
This work is expected to improve transparency and operational efficiency within Paraguay’s environmental governance framework.
Carbon Market Regulation and Legal Harmonization
Another central pillar of the consultancy involves analyzing Paraguay’s legal readiness for international carbon markets.
The consultant will examine the legal implications of homologating international carbon market standards within Paraguay’s regulatory system.
Important areas of analysis include:
- Carbon market legislation
- Climate finance regulations
- Institutional oversight responsibilities
- Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
- Regulatory risks and gaps
- Legal options for standard recognition
The consultancy focuses specifically on legal and regulatory analysis rather than technical carbon accounting methodologies.
Skills and Qualifications Required
UNEP is seeking candidates with strong legal and policy expertise in environmental governance.
Required Qualifications
Applicants must possess:
- A university degree in Law or related disciplines
- At least two years of professional experience in environmental law or climate-related legal analysis
- Demonstrated experience drafting regulations, decrees, or legal frameworks
- Fluency in Spanish
Preferred Qualifications
Additional strengths include:
- Master’s studies in environmental law or climate governance
- Experience with REDD+ or carbon markets
- Familiarity with Paraguayan environmental institutions
- Experience with international organizations or development projects
- English language proficiency
Professional Competencies Expected
The consultancy demands a high level of legal and analytical capacity. UNEP emphasizes several professional competencies, including:
Legal and Analytical Skills
The consultant should demonstrate:
- Strong legal reasoning
- Advanced regulatory interpretation
- High-quality legal drafting
- Ability to formulate institutional recommendations
Organizational and Coordination Capacity
The role also requires:
- Effective planning and time management
- Coordination with multidisciplinary teams
- Participation in technical and institutional meetings
- Ability to work under tight deadlines
Importance of the Paraguay +Verde Program
The Paraguay +Verde initiative is a flagship climate governance project supported through the UN-REDD Programme and financed through Green Climate Fund results-based payments.
The program supports:
- Forest conservation
- Sustainable agriculture
- Indigenous participation
- Climate finance mechanisms
- Emissions reductions from deforestation
By strengthening environmental institutions and legal frameworks, the consultancy contributes directly to Paraguay’s climate commitments and long-term sustainability goals.
Why This Consultancy Matters
As global carbon markets expand and climate accountability becomes increasingly important, countries require strong legal frameworks to support environmental governance and international cooperation.
This UNEP consultancy offers legal professionals a unique opportunity to contribute to:
- Climate governance reform
- REDD+ implementation
- International environmental compliance
- Carbon market regulation
- Institutional modernization
The assignment combines environmental law, public administration, climate policy, and international governance, making it a highly specialized and impactful consultancy within the United Nations system.
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