Job Title

UnitingWorld – Carbon financing Study – February-June 2026Remote consultancy – ideally with ability to visit Sydney CBD office Introduction UnitingWorld is the international aid and partnership agency of the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA). We collaborate with partner churches across the Pacific, Asia and Africa to address the causes and consequences of poverty, inequality, and injustice affecting the most vulnerable communities. The current strategic focus of UnitingWorld is to build community resilience where human vulnerability meets climate change and broader environmental degradation. This is done through our community-based, partner-led, long-term development programs, while committing to reducing our own contribution to global warming. In line with this strategic direction, UnitingWorld’s partners are increasingly considering ecosystem-based interventions when designing community programs. For example, some of our partners engage in nature-based solutions to address poverty, inequality and injustice in a sustainable manner. Purpose and Scope Until now, UnitingWorld’s projects have been mainly supported and funded through traditional resource acquisition mechanisms, such as fundraising donations and grants, including through the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). UnitingWorld is now seeking to explore non-traditional climate funding opportunities, particularly related to carbon financing mechanisms. Therefore, UnitingWorld seeks a consultant/team to conduct a review of our current projects’ portfolio and our partners’ contexts and capabilities, to identify potential new funding mechanisms in support of scaling up climate resilience in community-based programming. New sources of funding should be screened according to their technical and financial feasibility, as well as in relation to their social, ethical and environmental aspects, such as benefitting the communities we serve, first and foremost. UnitingWorld is particularly interested in exploring carbon credits certification schemes and/or other private impact investment mechanisms, including with a view to offset our own organisational carbon emissions. The main objectives of the study will be: To help UnitingWorld and our partners understand the current carbon finance landscape To provide recommendations on opportunities to consider based on current projects and partners’ strengths, reach and scope of influence at the local and national level To identify the potential partners UnitingWorld could engage with To guide UnitingWorld in considering if such opportunities and partnerships could involve offsetting the carbon footprint of our own activities and projects, as a co-benefit Methodology A detailed methodology will be determined collaboratively with the UnitingWorld team and relevant stakeholders as part of the first deliverable and may include: Desk-based literature review including Academic and grey literature on carbon finance, within NGO context, examples of best practices, etc. Relevant UnitingWorld and partners documents (including related to our current projects’ portfolio, etc.) Stakeholder engagement – UnitingWorld’s staff, Board and partners (Based on a selection of informants at the church partnership, leadership and program management level). This may be through workshops, surveys, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) or other approaches relevant to our partners’ contexts. Data analysis and interpretation Findings validation with UnitingWorld staff and partners A final report outlining the findings and recommendations emerging from the study Key Study Questions The final list of questions that the study will aim to answer will be finalised as part of the design of the study, but may include the following: What are the suitable opportunities for UnitingWorld’s partners to access carbon finance? Are there specific stakeholders/networks/partners that UnitingWorld and our partners could consider engaging with, to facilitate access? What could UnitingWorld do differently to better support and position our partners to access carbon finance? How could UnitingWorld approach the offsetting of our own carbon footprint? What are risks (ethical, reputational, financial, etc.) associated with exploring such new opportunities and/or new partnerships? Key study principles Collaborative and participative – UnitingWorld’s partners will be involved in this study, and the consultant/team should ensure that the process is collaborative and participative. People-centred – the study should be guided by UnitingWorld’s values, and the consultant/team should place UnitingWorld’s mission and the interests of the communities we serve at the heart of the study and of the recommendations that will emerge from it. Strength-based – in engaging with UnitingWorld’s partners, and in framing recommendations for new opportunities, the consultant/team should consider the existing strengths, assets, resources and capabilities of partners. Deliverables Design and study plan including key questions, methodology, data collection tools, list of key informants and documents to be reviewed. Findings validation session/s with UnitingWorld staff and partners. Draft study report Final study report (including executive summary, introduction, background, methodology, findings, recommendations) Timeline The following provides an overview of when we expect key actions/deliverables: Selection of consultant/team – Feb-March 2026 Inception meeting with the UnitingWorld team – Feb-March 2026 Drafting and finalisation of the design and operational plan for the review – Feb-March 2026 Desk-based literature review – March-April 2026 Stakeholder engagement and data collection – April-May 2026 Findings validation sessions – May-June 2026 Report writing- June 2026 Selection Criteria The consultant/team will be able to demonstrate: Expertise and experience in community-based international development, particularly locally-led programming Expertise and experience in carbon financing mechanisms, especially within an international development context Ability to sensitively and effectively engage, communicate and facilitate with people of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds Application Process Please send inquiries and submit your Expression of Interest to Laura Fontaine ************************** by 28th February 2026. Expressions of Interest will be reviewed as they are received. Include: How you/your team fulfil the required attributes, skills and experience, including a summary of similar work completed How you would approach this task including an indicative methodology and timeframe for key deliverables An indicative budget for the assignment (including professional fees and other related costs) A CV with 2 references for each team members Additional Information UnitingWorld prioritises the safeguarding of all people, including the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, and the protection of children. Engagement is conditional upon the outcome of appropriate checks. The service provider (individual and/or team members) will also be required to read and sign the UnitingWorld Code of Conduct.