Individual Consultant (Tree & Carbon at IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Description

• The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is seeking to engage the services of an Individual Consultant to conduct a comprehensive tree inventory, carbon sequestration assessment, and capacity building within the IITA–Ibadan Campus. The Forest Center at IITA manages diverse landscapes, including natural forests, reforested areas, an arboretum, a golf course, and built-up zones, which host both native and non-native tree species that contribute significantly to carbon storage, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem services.
• The purpose of this assignment is to support IITA’s sustainability objectives by leading the tree inventory and carbon assessment process, building staff capacity in forest monitoring techniques, and co-authoring scientific publications based on the findings. The assignment is critical to advancing IITA’s climate resilience strategy and enhancing its role in promoting sustainable land management practices.
• In line with this, we invite suitably qualified and experienced individuals to express their interest in providing the required services.

Scope of Work / Key Responsibilities
The consultant will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

• Conduct a comprehensive inventory of trees across major land-use categories within the IITA–Ibadan Campus, including natural forests, reforested areas, the arboretum, golf course, and built-up zones.
• Quantify aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, and soil carbon stocks across these land-use categories using standardized methodologies (e.g., IPCC and FAO guidelines).
• Develop carbon maps and spatially explicit models by integrating field measurements with remote sensing data and geospatial analysis techniques.
• Collate and analyze collected data and prepare a scientific manuscript for submission to an international journal indexed in Scopus or Web of Science.
• Submit at least one peer-reviewed scientific manuscript to a recognized international journal and deliver a comprehensive final report summarizing findings, methodologies, and actionable recommendations. 
• Provide monthly updates to the Manager of the IITA Forest Center and ensure knowledge transfer and capacity building throughout the assignment. 

Requirements
Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Forestry, Environmental Science, or Ecosystem Restoration or any related discipline.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of relevant professional experience, preferably in forest carbon assessment or ecosystem monitoring.
• Demonstrated expertise in GIS, remote sensing, carbon accounting and other quantitative methods.    
• Proven track record of scientific publications in forest inventory and tree carbon assessment.
• Experience mentoring graduate students, facilitating training, and contributing to capacity building.
• Strong analytical, communication, and scientific writing skills.
• Previous experience working with international organizations, donor-funded projects, or research institutions will be an added advantage.

Duration and Location of the Assignment:

• The consultancy is expected to last for a period of five (5) months.