Kazakhstan – Enhancing capacity in SLCP Mitigation in Kazakhstan’s coal mining sector

Overview

This project responds to a request from the Government of Kazakhstan, through the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR), to support the development of a Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) mitigation strategy and an enhanced monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system for the coal mining sub-sector. The initiative builds on Kazakhstan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen air quality management and greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring systems as part of its commitments under the Global Methane Pledge and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The project will conduct assessments of SLCP emissions in the coal mining sector to update and enhance existing inventories, develop tailored mitigation measures, and recommend policy and regulatory options to government. It will also deliver capacity-building activities, including technical workshops and training sessions, to strengthen institutional and technical capacity in SLCP monitoring, reporting, and reduction practices.

Kazakhstan currently addresses methane and SLCP emissions primarily through broader GHG and environmental policies. However, this project will help develop a targeted SLCP mitigation sub-strategy for the coal mining sub-sector—an important step toward achieving national climate goals, improving air quality, and delivering public health and economic co-benefits through reduced environmental pollution.

Who to involve

• The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MENR).
• JSC Zhasyl Damu - Subsidiary of MENR, Emission Trading System operator, delivery agency for GHG inventory operator and NDC preparation.
• Nazarbayev University (or other university defined by technical partner).
• The Ministry of Energy
• Other line ministries and subsidiary organizations, industry associations and civil society organisations in Kazakhstan
• Coordination with international partners carrying out relevant work in Kazakhstan, such as Clean Air Task Force (CATF) and Carbon Limits 

Expected results

Under the Fossil Fuel Reduction Program (FFRP), Kazakhstan will receive technical assistance for the development and operationalization of methane regulations and strengthened MRV systems for fossil fuel sector emissions. In this context, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR), in collaboration with work engaged separately with the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), will develop enhanced methane monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system for emissions from Kazakhstan’s fossil fuel sector.  

To complement and reinforce these efforts, the implementer selected through this call for proposals will provide targeted, country-level support aimed at advancing the objectives of the broader Short Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) MRV enhancement initiative. The project will deliver the following outcomes:  

Outcome 1: The Government of Kazakhstan adopts an enhanced MRV system for the coal mining sub-sector by the end of the project or soon after.  

Indicator: Number of monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems developed or updated that include SLCPs.  

In the context of the referenced additional support to Kazakhstan via the CCAC’s FFRP, CATF will design and operationalize a comprehensive MRV system for the coal mining sector, integrating short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) monitoring and aligning with national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory processes. The CATF scope of work will be contracted separately and only cover methane. This will include reviewing existing methodologies and data collection standards, developing recommendations to enhance automation and digitalization of MRV processes, and establishing mechanisms for continuous improvement based on technological advances and stakeholder feedback. Additionally, CATF will deliver targeted training for government officials and national experts from relevant ministries, agencies, and state-owned enterprises to ensure effective use of the enhanced methane MRV system in support of transparent SLCP monitoring, BTR reporting, and NDC tracking.

The selected implementer under this call will contribute to the achievement of these overall MRV system enhancement objectives by delivering locally focused interventions that reinforce and complement the ongoing work led by MENR and CATF. This will provide practical, in-country support to ensure the effective and sustainable implementation of the enhanced MRV framework.

The assignment includes, at a minimum, the following required outputs:

• Output 1.1: Organize study tour to exchange best practices in coal mining sector, remote sensing, and other relevant climate issues (including organizations of meetings/webinars with US EPA and GHG Center, WMO, Copernicus, etc.). This could take place via different modalities such as targeted visits, capacity-building events, and support efforts. The focus should be on best practices and/or remote sensing pilots  
• Output 1.2: Develop user-friendly manuals and guidelines for consistent reporting and verification.
• Output 1.3: Conduct review of existing coal emissions coefficients and characterization studies and develop disaggregated emission factors, where necessary based on laboratory measurements.
• Output 1.4: Develop guidelines and processes for further annual updates of coefficients.
• Output 1.5: Conduct pilot study on remote sensing applications in coal mining SLCPs measurements.

Outcome 2: The Government of Kazakhstan increases its capacity to assess and reduce SLCPs from coal mining by the end of the project or soon after.  

Indicator: Number of government entities with improved capacity for SLCP action.  

The assignment includes, at a minimum, the following required outputs:  

• Output 2.1: Deliver training to government officials from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic on SLCP monitoring and reduction techniques and share best practices in SLCP reduction.
• Output 2.2: Develop training materials, manuals, and case studies tailored to local context.
• Output 2.3: Provide technical assistance to government entities for the implementation of SLCP reduction measures.
• Output 2.4: Facilitate knowledge-sharing platforms and webinars among government entities to share experiences and challenges.
• Output 2.5: Incorporate SLCP reductions strategies into regulatory updates for the coal mining sector and align with and support the national climate goals outlined in the NDCs.
• Output 2.6: Execute a targeted advocacy campaign and stakeholder engagement to promote the incorporation of SLCPs into soon-to-be revised and new regulatory frameworks, emphasizing the importance of integration of SLCP considerations into NDCs.

Outcome 3: The Government of Kazakhstan promotes a SLCP mitigation sub-strategy or enhanced regulatory framework for coal mining sector once developed.  

Indicator: Number of action plans, roadmaps, strategies, or other future plans with SLCP targets or mitigation measures    

In the context of the referenced additional support to Kazakhstan via the FFRP, CATF will be engaged separately to conduct a comprehensive regulatory and analytical assessment to inform the development of a targeted SLCP mitigation sub-strategy for Kazakhstan’s coal mining sector. This will include identifying regulatory and policy gaps related to GHG and SLCP management, quantifying current and projected emissions, integrating findings with existing modeling tools, and assessing sectoral vulnerabilities to climate change to inform adaptation recommendations. Building on this analysis, CATF will prepare a detailed SLCP mitigation sub-strategy outlining prioritized measures, policy options, and investment pathways, supported by cost–benefit analyses and implementation of roadmaps. The process will be informed through structured consultations with key national stakeholders, including the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Energy, JSC Zhasyl Damu, the Emissions Trading System operator, relevant academic institutions, and other sectoral partners.

Under this assignment, the local implementer will provide in-country support to the activities led by the CATF. The implementer’s work will focus on ensuring effective local engagement, coordination, and contextualization of analytical and strategic outputs related to SLCP and GHG mitigation in the coal mining sector, ensuring that the MRV enhancement process and SLCP mitigation strategy development are grounded in national priorities, foster broad stakeholder ownership, and contribute to sustained institutional capacity at the local level.

The assignment includes, at a minimum, the following required outputs:  

• Output 3.1: Support the development and validation of the regulatory gap analysis, SLCP mitigation sub-strategy, and related analytical work through coordination with national institutions and provision of local data, context, and feedback.
• Output 3.2: Facilitate organization of consultation meetings and workshops with key stakeholders—including the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Energy, JSC Zhasyl Damu, the Emissions Trading System operator, relevant academic institutions, and other sectoral agencies—to inform and validate project findings and recommendations. Where appropriate, integrate these consultations with ongoing partner events, particularly those related to Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) preparation and implementation.  
• Output 3.3: Provide logistical and technical support for local dissemination of project outputs, including coordination of stakeholder inputs, translation, and adaptation of materials to the regulatory and institutional context in Kazakhstan.

APPLICATION PROCESs

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for consideration, project proposals must meet the following requirements:

• Complete and submitted before the deadline
• Submitted by a non-governmental organization (NGO), intergovernmental organization (IGO), or other not-for-profit entity.
• Requested funding is within the estimated budget amount, or includes a clear justification for additional expenses
• Project duration is less than 24 months
• Budget criteria are met and spending caps on expenses are respected.
• Please note that entities will be required to provide the last three (3) audited financial statements to be eligible for CCAC funding. These statements may be provided along with the application for funding or at the request of the CCAC Secretariat during the evaluation process.

For-profit entities may only participate in the project as stakeholders, co-funders, or end users. Applicants are encouraged to include for-profit entities in the development of the project proposal and/or during project implementation if their ownership of the proposed solution is key to the project’s success.  

How to apply

Eligible applicants are invited to apply using the Application Form and Excel Budget Form. Specific instructions on completing these forms are available in both documents.

Applicants may choose to follow the cost range proposed above OR propose a different budget supported by a clear justification. However, applicants should note that cost efficiency will play a significant role in the selection process.

The completed Application Form and Excel Budget Form should be submitted to secretariat [at] ccacoalition.org.

Evaluation criteria

Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Presents a clear plan to achieve the required outcomes during the lifetime of the project or soon after
• Includes a plan or activities to enable the scaling up of, replication of, or sustained use of project results over time
• Sets out a clear approach for enabling or contributing to SLCP emissions reductions and resulting co-benefits
• Involves relevant stakeholders
• Approach is grounded in a strong understanding of relevant risks
• Complements other relevant initiatives, funding mechanisms, and existing policy processes
• Applicant demonstrates necessary capacity and experience to perform the work
• A realistic, cost-effective, and clearly justified budget and approach is proposed
• Project meets the minimum requirements for the OECD DAC gender equality marker Score 1
   
  Selection process
• A preliminary review of proposals submitted by the deadline will be conducted by members of the CCAC Secretariat, Funding Task Team, and Board, in consultation with relevant CCAC Partners.
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their proposals in further detail and to respond to follow-up questions about their application.
• Successful applicants will be invited to develop a Project Implementation Plan and Detailed Budget in consultation with the CCAC Secretariat and relevant CCAC Partners.
• The selection process may take up to 6 months after the closing date of the call for proposals. Due to the high volume of requests, the CCAC will not respond to requests for updates or feedback during this time.

Due diligence and procurement

Due diligence  

CCAC implementers with UNEP contractual agreements must meet with the following requirements:   

• Have adequate financial resources to perform the contract and meet all existing commitments (financial health)
• Be able to provide proof of registration, proof of not-for-profit status and audited financial statements for the last three completed fiscal years  
• Have a record of satisfactory performance with UNEP/CCAC, when applicable; and  - Not have been suspended or debarred by UNEP/CCAC or another UN agency. UNEP/CCAC also considers entities included in the Security Council Resolution Lists to be ineligible for UNEP/CCAC agreements. 
  * (inter)governmental entities/ United Nations are exempt from this requirement

Contract requirements

If selected for funding, your project will be contracted through the United Nations. Organisation(s) selected to implement the project must meet the following due diligence and procurement rules.

Procurement

As a general rule, Implementation Agreements allow for incidental procurement only.