In 2019, the German Ministry of the Environment began the program “Capacity Building and Finance for National and Local Action on Climate and Biodiversity,” which is specifically aimed at supporting small projects in developing and emerging countries in the context of the Paris Climate Agreement and Biodiversity Convention. The program emphasizes structural change and the promotion of women and youth. More than 100 small projects are funded through this program. Each year, external evaluators receive and assess hundreds of project proposals. Unique was commissioned to provide an initial assessment of project proposals on forest protection and conserving natural carbon sinks (focus on REDD+ mechanism, emission reduction, carbon storage, and UN Decade on Ecosystems) for the coming funding period.

• Participation in on-boarding, coordination meetings, and selection rounds
• Technical evaluation of proposals using predetermined criteria and an Excel tool
• Development of standardized short descriptions of proposals and technical commentary