Request for Proposals: Assessing the Carbon Market Landscape in Rwanda
Summary
The United Nations Foundation’s Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) is accepting proposals from firms with deep knowledge on global carbon markets to support the development of a landscape market analysis of the clean cooking carbon market in Rwanda, capturing current trends, projected future trends and specific opportunities to catalyze the clean cooking carbon market in Rwanda. The analysis should be developed for several audiences, including outcome buyers, carbon project developers, policymakers, and other ecosystem actors. The goal of this analysis is to demonstrate Rwanda’s market potential, highlight areas of opportunity to attract outcome buyers, and provide market intelligence to relevant stakeholders on the evolution of Rwanda’s national landscape.
Background of Assignment
At least US $10 billion per year is required to achieve universal access to clean cooking by 2030, yet current levels of funding fulfill less than 1% of this need. Each year, the clean cooking ecosystem receives about US $130 million, leading to a significant shortfall in the funding required to achieve universal access. As a result, clean cooking remains one of the most underfunded development challenges despite its widespread health, environmental, and economic impacts.
Carbon finance represents a significant opportunity to close the clean cooking funding gap. The voluntary carbon market – where private organizations and individuals trade carbon credits voluntarily – surpassed US $1 billion in 2021. Over the last four years, carbon finance has becoming increasingly important for the clean cooking ecosystem with a 21-fold increase in the volume of carbon finance compared to annual growth of about 5% for commercial capital. Carbon finance can improve the top and bottom lines of clean cooking enterprises, thereby making them more attractive to traditional banks and investors, while also enabling clean cooking enterprises to lower costs for consumers, thereby driving sales growth. Rwanda, which recently announced that it will begin offering carbon credits on the global carbon market, is in the process of developing a regulatory framework and national carbon registry to leverage growing carbon opportunities, including those related to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
However, it is unclear if carbon finance opportunities will materialize for the clean cooking ecosystem. While carbon markets are large and growing and the clean cooking ecosystem has seen several large carbon deals, challenges and uncertainties remain. Lessons from other early-stage markets suggest a need to take a proactive approach to manage risks inherent in fledgling, fragmented, and thin markets. Rigorous policies, standards, and methodologies are required to demonstrate the integrity of the market and build market confidence, transparent and equitable distribution of carbon revenues is required to accelerate access, and improved market infrastructure and access to finance can reduce the cost barriers and challenges to project development and capital investment.
Given the emerging carbon market in Rwanda and the importance of carbon finance for clean cooking, CCA is seeking support to develop a detailed landscape market analysis for Rwanda. The market analysis is intended to provide actionable insights into the current state of the clean cooking carbon market and to identify and quantify the opportunity for clean cooking projects in Rwanda in order to provide outcome buyers, carbon project developers, policymakers and other ecosystem actors with perspective on the current and future trends and opportunities to catalyze the clean cooking carbon market in Rwanda. This market analysis will support CCA’s efforts to establish a Clean Cooking Delivery Unit (DU) in Rwanda as one in a series of inputs informing the mandate of the Delivery Unit once the DU has been established.
Background of Organization
The Clean Cooking Alliance works with a global network of partners to build an inclusive industry that makes clean cooking accessible to the 2.4 billion people who live each day without it. Established in 2010, CCA is driving consumer demand, mobilizing investment to build a pipeline of scalable businesses, and fostering an enabling environment that allows the sector to thrive. Clean cooking transforms lives by improving health, protecting the climate and the environment, empowering women, and helping families save time and money.
CCA is currently establishing a Clean Cooking Delivery Units Network with an inaugural cohort of DUs across sub-Saharan Africa. These DUs will consist of small, high-performing teams embedded in government with the sole mandate of setting and achieving ambitious clean cooking targets. To support DUs, CCA will provide a suite of Network Services, including: technical assistance to national governments to build their capacity to set ambitious clean cooking targets and adopt national strategies; resource mobilization support to help national governments secure large-scale funding and finance to fund their ambitious transitions; catalytic funding for ambitious special projects to accelerate clean cooking transitions; leadership training and professional development for DU staff to attract and empower the next generation of local leaders that will own and champion this agenda; and a peer-to-peer action network to accelerate knowledge transfer across countries and curate stronger connectivity for action.
Objective
The objectives of this assignment are as follows:
- Develop a richer understanding of the current state of the clean cooking carbon market in Rwanda;
- Quantify and assess the size and parameters of the clean cooking carbon market opportunity in Rwanda; and
- Develop recommendations for accelerating a responsible carbon market in Rwanda by prioritizing areas of opportunity to grow the clean cooking carbon market while strengthening the integrity and transparency of the market.
Scope of Work and Deliverables
The following includes the proposed scope of work. The consultant should identify opportunities to facilitate knowledge transfer where possible.
1. Assess the state of the current clean cooking carbon market in Rwanda. The consultant should seek to use existing data and analysis, to avoid replication of other studies where possible. This should include:
- Overview and analysis of past, current, and upcoming carbon deals, including: Size of carbon deals (emissions volume and $ amount), Details on outcome buyers (typology, types of projects/technologies, methodologies adopted, etc.); Details on clean cooking projects (technologies, business models, type and scale of co-benefit outcomes delivered, etc.); Deal terms (price of carbon, methodologies used, MRV requirements, etc.); and other relevant factors.
- Market readiness assessment, including: Decision journey for clean cooking project developers (pain points, how and where project developers sell outcomes, sales strategy, etc.); State of ecosystem support services (types of support and resources available, list of providers, quality of support and resources, etc.); Challenges and barriers shaping the market today (challenges faced by successful deals, challenges preventing new deals, etc.); Other market factors (e.g. existing or emerging regulations).
- Emerging and cross-cutting trends that can help to understand how the ecosystem is currently structured and evolving related to deals, outcome buyers, developers, etc., including: Segmentation of clean cooking projects; Segmentation of active and potential outcome buyers; Other relevant typologies or segmentations; and emerging trends within and across segments (e.g. types of projects receiving the greatest financing by technology, size, etc., preferred methodologies and technologies).
Deliverable: State of the current clean cooking carbon market in Rwanda Report
2. Quantify the opportunity of clean cooking carbon projects in Rwanda. This should include:
- Quantifying the potential size of the clean cooking carbon market in Rwanda, by market segment based on the landscape of clean cooking projects
- Identifying the potential outcome buyers (active, scoping and currently not engaged) that could be well suited to the Rwanda market and quantify the potential quantum of capital
- Identifying high, medium and low potential segments of the clean cooking market for carbon finance and analyze the major contributing factors for each segment
- Identifying specific market gaps (for project developers and at the ecosystem level) that need to be addressed to support a stronger deal pipeline in Rwanda, including gaps in information, infrastructure, access to finance, etc.
Deliverable: Rwanda clean cooking carbon market opportunity report
3. Develop recommendations for accelerating a responsible carbon market in Rwanda. As part of this analysis, the consultant should review Rwanda’s existing Carbon Market Framework, Carbon Project Registry, and Manual Procedures and develop recommendations that reflect global best practices and the context of Rwanda. This should include:
- Overview of a path forward for the clean cooking carbon market in Rwanda, highlighting the market segments with the highest potential for carbon finance and the specific support and resources required
- Mechanisms through which the ecosystem can move more quality deals from latent to active, including recommendations for policymakers, funders, carbon project developers, outcome buyers, and ecosystem support providers
Deliverable: Report on a path forward for the clean cooking carbon market in Rwanda
Project Period of Performance
This assignment will be performed between October 2023 and December 2023.
Technical Requirements
CCA welcomes firms or individual consultants with the following experience to submit proposals:
- Deep knowledge of carbon finance and global carbon markets
- Familiarity of the state of carbon finance in Rwanda and existing carbon regulations, including the Carbon Market Framework, Carbon Project Registry and Manual Procedures
- Experience working in Rwanda
- Previous experience in conducting carbon market assessments, authoring market assessment reports, and developing actionable recommendations
- Strong understanding of the clean cooking landscape, with an ability to interpret data on stove performance, knowledge of clean cooking business models and underlying unit economics, and ability to assess clean cooking carbon finance deals
- Familiarity with existing data, research, and initiatives relevant to clean cooking carbon markets
- Relevant academic qualifications, such as a Bachelor’s degree in related fields such as environmental engineering, economics, or social or physical sciences
- At least 7 years of professional experience in a related field
Firms should include the details of the proposed team, which should include a Team Leader, Carbon Market Expert, and Climate Mitigation Expert. This assignment will be performed between October 2023 and December 2023.
Selection Timeline
- 9/15/2023: Proposals due
- 9/22/2023: Proposal review and scoring
- 9/29/2023: Consultant(s) selected and notified via email
- 10/06/2023: Kickoff meeting with selected Consultant(s)
- 11/10/2023: Completion of the assignment
Budget
A detailed budget in US Dollars must be submitted with the proposal. Budget should include both pre-tax and net of tax values. The budget should include direct costs (Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Travel, Sub-Agreements, Equipment, Supplies, etc.), as well as indirect costs (overhead). For indirect costs, please indicate a list of expenses covered by the indirect rate. For all direct cost, please include assumptions that were made to arrive at line item costs (e.g. 2 trips @ $1,500/trip = $3,000 or 20 staff hours @ $40/hour = $800).
If a bid has a mathematical discrepancy, CCA may correct the discrepancy and notify the Consultant of the adjustment. In such circumstances, the Consultant may choose to withdraw their bid.
The budget should not exceed $100,000 USD.
Proposal Guidelines and Requirements
- This RFP is open to multiple partners and is a competitive process.
- Firms are encouraged to submit a joint proposal for this RFP and the Ghana Carbon Market Assessment RFP. If selected for both assignments, UNF will combine the SOWs and budgets into one consolidated contract.
- Proposals received after September 15, 2023, 5 pm ET/9 pm GMT will not be considered.
- The price provided should be in US dollars, and should contain both pre-tax and net of tax values. If the process excludes certain fees or charges, the applicant must provide a detailed list of excluded fees with a complete explanation of the nature of those fees.
- CCA prefers a single point of contact who manages deliverables. If the execution of work to be performed by the Consultant requires the hiring of sub-contractors, the Consultant must clearly state this in the proposal. Sub-contractors must be identified and the work they will perform must be defined. Subcontractors are subject to vetting and approval of UNF/CCA.
- CCA will not refuse a proposal based upon the use of subcontractors; however, we retain the right to refuse the sub-contractors you have selected.
- Provisions of this RFP and the contents of the successful responses are considered available for inclusion in final contractual obligations.
- Proposals should include details on the technical approach, workplan, and proposed areas of analysis.
- Proposals should include short biographies of each member of the project leadership.
- Proposals should include the applicant’s signature as well as a signed declaration form.
- Proposals should include the full legal name of applicant, as well as legal formation and ownership structure (e.g., incorporation certification, tax status and ID, etc.).
Proposals should not exceed 10 pages.
Evaluation Process
All applications will be scored by the Clean Cooking Alliance in accordance with the scoring criteria outlined below. The Clean Cooking Alliance will review all written proposals and may request a phone or in-person interview and/or updated submission to address questions or provide clarification. CCA will use the following criteria in its evaluation.
Evaluation Criteria | Weighting | Score (1-5) |
Approach: e.g the analytical framework and methodology answering the project’s key questions and deliverables | 25% | |
Subject matter expertise: e.g experience working with emerging markets and the field of global development | 25% | |
Project management: e.g achievable action plan that will deliver the project on time and on budget | 25% | |
Capabilities and experience: e.g demonstrated firm experience with similar projects | 25% |
Intent and Disclaimer
This RFP is made with the intent to identify a Consultant or Firm to deliver results as described in this RFP. UNF/the Clean Cooking Alliance will rely on the Consultant’s representations to be truthful and as described. The Clean Cooking Alliance assumes it can be confident in the Consultant’s ability to deliver the product(s) and/or service(s) proposed in response to this RFP.
If the Clean Cooking Alliance amends the RFP, copies of any such amendments will be sent to all respondents to the proposal.
Contracting and Compliance
CCA will negotiate contract terms upon selection. A copy of the contract terms and conditions will be provided upon selection. All contracts are subject to review by the UN Foundation’s Business Services and Budget Reporting team. The project will start upon the complete execution of the contract. The contract will outline terms and conditions, scope, budget, and applicable flow down terms. Selected recipient(s) must comply with CCA, United Nations Foundation, and funder compliance requirements. The selected recipient(s) must also undergo detailed legal, financial, and commercial due diligence.
Release
The Consultant understands that the Clean Cooking Alliance has chosen to solicit an RFP for consulting services, and that the Consultant’s response does not guarantee that the Clean Cooking Alliance will enter into a new contract with the Consultant or continue any current contract(s) with the Consultant.
The Consultant agrees that Clean Cooking Alliance may, at its sole discretion:
- Amend or cancel the RFP, in whole or in part, at any time
- Extend the deadline for submitting responses
- Determine whether a response does or does not substantially comply with the requirements of the RFP
- Waive any minor irregularity, informality or nonconformance with the provisions or procedures of the RFP
- Negotiate with all Consultants UNF deems acceptable
- Issue multiple awards
- Photocopy the responses for evaluation/review
This RFP is not an offer to contract. The Clean Cooking Alliance assumes no responsibility for Consultant’s cost to respond to this RFP. All responses become the property of the Clean Cooking Alliance.
The Consultant, by submitting a response to this RFP, waives all right to protest or seek any legal remedies whatsoever regarding any aspect of this RFP.
The Consultant represents that it has responded to the RFP with complete honesty and accuracy. If facts provided in the Consultant’s response change, the Consultant agrees to supplement its response in writing with any deletions, additions, or changes within ten (10) days of the changes. The Consultant will do this, as necessary, throughout the selection process.
The Consultant understands it may receive proprietary and confidential information from the Clean Cooking Alliance during the RFP process (“Confidential Information”). The Consultant and CCA agree to not use Confidential Information for any purpose other than the Consultant’s participation in the RFP process, and to not reveal Confidential Information directly or indirectly to any other person, entity, or organization without the prior written consent of the other party. The Consultant and CCA further agree to exercise all reasonable precautions to maintain the proprietary and confidential nature of Confidential Information where it can best demonstrate its value and capacity to delivery ecosystem-wide, meaningful value.
Grounds for Exclusion
Material misrepresentations, including omissions, may disqualify the Consultant from a contract award.
Submissions will be rejected in the Clean Cooking Alliance’s sole discretion if it finds that the Consultant has engaged in any illegal or corrupt practices in connection with the award.
The Consultant will be excluded from participation for the reasons below. By submitting a proposal in response to the RFP, the Consultant confirms that none of the below circumstances apply:
- The Consultant is bankrupt or being wound up, is having their affairs administered by the courts, has entered into an arrangement with creditors, has suspended business activities, is subject of proceedings concerning those matters, or is in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for in national legislation or regulations.
- The Consultant or persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control over them have been convicted of an offence concerning their professional conduct by a final judgment.
- The Consultant has been found guilty of grave professional misconduct; proven by any means which CCA can justify.
- The Consultant has not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions or taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which they are established, or within the United States of America, or those of the country where the contract is to be performed.
- The Consultant or persons having powers of representation, decision-making or control over them have been convicted for fraud, corruption, involvement in a criminal organization or money laundering by a final judgment.
- The Consultant makes use of child labor or forced labor and/or practice discrimination, and/or do not respect the right to freedom of association and the right to organize and engage in collective bargaining pursuant to the core conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Principal Point of Contact
Please reach out to strategy@cleancookingalliance.org with any questions.
Submission Details
Please submit any questions and/or proposal materials related to the Request for Proposals to strategy@cleancookingalliance.org with the subject line “Assessing the Carbon Market Landscape in Rwanda”.
The deadline for submission is September 15, 2023 at 5 pm ET/9 PM GMT.