Engagement of a consulting firm to undertake validation of ASCENT countries Carbon Project — Accelerating Sustainable & Clean Energy Access Transformation Program Using the Multiphase Programma

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION OF CARBON PROJECTS UNDER COMESA ASCENT PROGRAM -ZM-COMESA-553255-CS-QCBS. 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) received a grant from the World Bank towards the implementation of the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) program and intends to apply part of the proceeds towards the provision of consultancy services for the validation and verification of caron projects under the ASCENT program. As a key element of the ASCENT Program, the Regional Energy Access Acceleration Platform aims to create an enabling environment for increasing access to sustainable and clean energy. COMESA has the responsibility of managing the ASCENT Regional Energy Access Acceleration Platform. This COMESA-managed Platform contributes to implementation and monitoring of the overall ASCENT program, and progress towards the overall program objectives. Particularly relevant for the aim to mobilize financing through carbon markets is the digital MRV (d-MRV) for energy access that the COMESA-managed platform is establishing at the regional level. The Regional Energy Access Acceleration Platform is also an important vehicle to facilitate capacity-building efforts, including carbon markets among the ASCENT countries, as well as to exchange knowledge and experiences. This includes support for the validation of ASCENT countries’ carbon programs. 2.0 OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT COMESA, as manager of the ASCENT Regional Energy Access Acceleration Platform, is seeking to hire Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) operating in Africa to provide services for the validation of ASCENT countries’ carbon programs according to the Energy Access Program (EAP) Standard developed by the Global Carbon Council (GCC). Scope of Work COMESA is seeking to identify VVBs that are operating in Eastern and Southern Africa and can offer carbon project validation services for ASCENT Countries’ carbon programs following the Energy Access Program (EAP) Standard developed by the Global Carbon Council (GCC). The scope of work may cover the validation of 1 or 2 ASCENT Carbon programs per ASCENT countries (i.e., one country may have ASCENT carbon programs on (i) electricity connection, and (ii) clean cooking). The confirmation of the countries and timing of validation assignments will depend on the readiness of individual countries’ ASCENT Carbon programs. VVBs are also invited to indicate for which country(ies) in the ASCENT geography they are expressing interest to offer their carbon project validation services and also confirm their ability to validate both types of ASCENT Carbon programs: (i) electricity connection; and (ii) clean cooking. The selected VVB will conduct rigorous technical and methodological assessments to confirm that proposed projects meet the GCC requirements for registration. Activities include desk review of the Project Submission Form (PSF), Emission reductions calculations, additionality assessment, Environmental and Social Safeguards forms, SDG Impact assessment forms, supporting audit documentation and any other relevant documents required for validation. The validation engagement will also include a site visit. For each carbon project submission, the expected deliverables include a final validation report in line with the GCC requirements, and any other document required by the GCC for project registration. Full detailed TORs may be downloaded in English from the following link: https://www.comesa.int/consulting-services-for-the-validation-and-verification-of-carbon-projects-under-comesa-ascent-program/ Or can be obtained from the COMESA Secretariat on request using the email provided below: Attn: Mr. Silver Mwesigwa Head of Procurement Email: procurement@comesa.int 3.0 SHORT LISTING CRITERIA The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria is as follows. No. Evaluation CRITERIA 1 The firm’s core business (Submit company profile) 2 Experience of the firm Evidence of having carried validation and verification of carbon project (Name, scope and cost of precious comparable similar assignments and client contact details -email, physical address and details of the contact person) 3 Technical and managerial capability of the firm to manage the assignment 4 Eligibility (Firms must not be debarred or sanctioned by the World Bank) The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers,” Sixth Edition of February 2025. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations, Sixth Edition of February 2025. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 09:00 to 16:00 hours Monday to Thursday, on Fridays from 09:00 to 12:30 hours Zambian time except for weekends and Public Holidays. Address: Head of Procurement, COMESA Secretariat, Ben Bella Road, Lusaka, Zambia. Email address: procurement@comesa.int 4.0 SUBMISSION Expressions of interest must be submitted written to the following email address; Tenders@comesa.int with a copy to procurement@comesa.int ATT: THE HEAD OF PROCUREMENT ASSIGNMENT TITLE : CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION OF CARBON PROJECTS UNDER COMESA ASCENT PROGRAM REFERENCE No. ZM-COMESA-553255-CS-QCBS. 5.0 C LOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION The Closing date for receipt of the Expression of Interest is 29 July 2026 at 10:00 hours Zambian time NB: Physical submission of EOIs shall not be accepted.