Request For The Services Of a Consultancy Firm To Develop Several Biodiversity Benefits Financing Methodologies And Pilot Strategies To Implemented In Landscapes With Ghana Guinea and Cote dIvoire
Job Description
WORK PACKAGE:Consultancy LOCATION:Home based (with the possibility of travel to West Africa) DURATION: 40 days APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications will be accepted until January 31st, 2025 ASSIGNMENT START DATE: March 15th, 2025 Ghana: Lake Bosumtwi and the Wassa Amenfi Landscapes Guinea: Kounoukan and Madina Oula Forest Reserves Côte d’Ivoire: Loh Djiboua (Divo Botanical reserve) and the Nawa region (Tai National Park) Analyse the demand / interest to invest in biodiversity benefits financing schemes from a niche segment of private sector actors including but not limited to those active in the cocoa and mining sectors in West Africa, particularly with relevance for Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea. Analyze the demand / interest of local communities within NbS project landscapes to engage / commit to interventions that are built around biodiversity benefits financing schemes supported by the private sector for the promotion of climate adaptation and biodiversity preservation. Identify and select biodiversity financing mechanisms that are appropriate for the project and align with voluntary standards Develop four (04) unique adaptation and biodiversity benefits financing méthodologies that can each be piloted, in at least one project landscape, in each of the implementing countries. Out of the 04, atleast, one of the methodologies needs to be focused on an aquatic habitat and leverages the Adaptation Benefits Mechanism (ABM) of the AfDB. Develop a project pilot implementation strategy including a full activity work plan for each of the proposed methodologies or mechanisms that can be tested and scaled in the respective project landscapes and habitats. The pilot implementation strategies and proposed methodologies need to be anchored on voluntary standards that largely build on models that can attract private sector investment. Capture and document useful evidence from current project interventions that can contribute important insights to the growing body of knowledge on market based climate adaptation and voluntary biodiversity benefits financing schemes. Analyze the pros and cons of biodiversity credits that focus on netpositive impact on nature as opposed to biodiversity offsets in the light of their applicability for the NbS project. Conduct a mapping of private sector institutions in the three countries, regionally and internationally to identify potential biodiversity benefits financing “buyers”, including an analysis of their requirements, taking into consideration their feasibility for the target landscapes and the nature of the NbS project. This mapping process should be supported by a framework that clearly indicates the key motivations of each identified private sector institution, including the landscape of interest as well as their criteria for investment. Analyze the industry need for nature positive credits in general, with a specific focus on the key demand drivers for biodiversity benefits financing generated by interventions in the selected project landscapes. The demand drivers should be assessed in the light of their capacity to influence the decision of “buyers” to invest in biodiversity financing schemes in the project implementation zones and the supporting conditions of these drivers. This can be in terms of the business case, integrity of the biodiversity unit supply, alignment on recognised voluntary standards and metrics etc. Recommend potential biodiversity benefits financing “buyers” that the project could eventually collaborate with for a pilot, including their requirements in terms of integrity, size, community benefits, linkage (or not) with carbon credits. Engage with local communities within project landscapes to understand their interest / motivation to commit to interventions that are built around voluntary biodiversity benefits financing schemes cofinanced by the private sector to support climate adaptation and biodiversity preservation. Identify barriers that prevent local communities’ engagement in biodiversity benefits financing schemes as well as opportunities and make recommendations Identify and engage with biodiversity benefits financing / credit certifiers to gain insights on the processes for certification (including for voluntary standards) and provide key recommendations for consideration by the NbS Project for complying with certification requirements during the pilot phase. These recommendations also need to be taken into consideration in the proposed pilot implementation plans / strategies. Conduct interviews with expert organisations in the project countries or Africa globally (or countries with similar contexts) with existing biodiversity benefits financing / credit initiatives to draw useful insights and provide recommendations that can inform the methodology development process and enhance shape the structure of the pilot implementation plans In each project country, identify local organisations with the relevant expertise that the project could potentially engage or collaborate with to implement the biodiversity benefits financing pilot implementation plans. Provide an in-depth analysis of the regulatory environment for nature credits in general and biodiversity benefits financing in particular, with a specific focus on the NbS project implementation countries. The review process should address both the barriers and opportunities which the existing regulatory environment for these countries have for implementing biodiversity benefits financing initiatives and for attracting private sector investment to support these initiatives . Provide recommendations for engaging with regulatory actors in the 03 countries to support the growth of the regulatory environment for nature credits in general, and biodiversity benefits financing schemes in particular. NBS project team and partners Collaborate with project teams and project partners to analyze the different landscapes, the richness of their biodiversity, the ongoing project restoration efforts and the comparative advantage of each country in terms of ease of setting up pilot biodiversity benefits financing initiatives. This analysis should also be done in the light of the interest of potential “buyers” to invest in a specific project country, in order to better inform the pilot planning process Engage project team and partners in the process of developing the four biodiversity benefits financing methodologies and corresponding pilot implementation plans for the project, which should include but not limited to: Core content of for each of the methodologies The accompanying pilot implementation plan for each of the proposed methodologies A clear roadmap for establishing the pilots in the different countries, A robust monitoring and reporting mechanisms The methodologies should include a benefits sharing mechanisms among stakeholders (community members , project developers, private investors and state institutions) It should also take into consideration the mechanism for mobilising community engagement and support for interventions that are supported through private sector-led biodiversity benefits financing mechanisms. A clear cost structure for implementing the pilot plan as well as a mechanism for the calculations of benefits, including the structure for any financial flows that could potentially be involved in the benefits sharing process. The proposed methodologies must be contextually relevant for the implementing countries, the target landscapes, the key habitat and should fit within the overall nature and scope of the NbS project. The methodologies should also factor in findings from other consultations, relevant documentation such as those in connection to AfDB Adaptation Benefits Mechanism ( particularly for the methodology that is related to aquatic habitats) and as well as existing NBS project documentation. Present methodologies including the accompanying pilot implementation plans as well as overall report findings to stakeholders (private sector actors, community representatives, project developers, state institution representatives) in three workshops, (each in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea). The workshops would be organized by the NBS project where the Consulting Firm will be expected to lead the facilitation, secure additional inputs from stakeholders and validate the overall content and structure of the methodologies and pilot plans. The study should consciously apply participatory and feminist approaches where possible, engage in consultation with stakeholders and participants at all stages, from the design of the methodological details to the analysis, interpretation and dissemination of all collected data; The data gathering process, literature review and other analysis, to the full extent possible, should always take into consideration the context of the project landscapes including the surrounding ecosystems as well as the project interventions within these landscapes. Additionally, the methodology described in the proposal should provide explicit details on the process to determine the selection of respondents for the data collection as well as details of how key ethical issues related to the data collection, analysis and dissemination processes will be addressed. Detailed methodology to respond to each of the key elements identified in the scope of work; Provide a clear implementation schedule (Gantt chart) that details out the activities and timelines4 leading up to the finalization of the mandate. Selection criteria for data collection tools including selected respondents. Level of effort of each team member and detailed budget including professional fees, other reimbursable costs etc.; The total number of days for this assignment should not exceed 40 days cumulatively irrespective of the level of effort provided by each team member. At least, a Master's or PhD degree in climate change, green finance, conservation, environment, sustainable agriculture or related field; Demonstrated experience working with private sector actors in any of the three implementing countries, and the region at large to advance climate sustainability and environmental objectives; Demonstrated experience on working on biodiversity credits initiatives within SubSaharan Africa will be a distinct advantage. At least 10 years' experience (or equivalent) in climate policies design, biodiversity credits, carbon projects, or other Payments for Environmental Services (PES) schemes. Experience at the country / regional levels in designing, or implementing carbon, climate adaptation, or biodiversity conservation for projects in West Africa Experience developing structured finance vehicles for nature credits, standards and methodologies will be a distinct advantage Knowledge of gender mainstreaming within nature credit schemes will be an asset. Contextual knowledge of the forestry landscapes in Guinea, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire will be an asset Ability to produce high quality work under tight timeframes. Consulting Firms will also be required to show evidence of bilingual fluency in both English and French within their teams.
Requirement(s)
Leader At least, a Master's or PhD degree in climate change, green finance, conservation, environment, sustainable agriculture or related field; Demonstrated experience working with private sector actors in any of the three implementing countries, and the region at large to advance climate sustainability and environmental objectives; Demonstrated experience on working on biodiversity credits initiatives within SubSaharan Africa will be a distinct advantage. At least 10 years' experience (or equivalent) in climate policies design, biodiversity credits, carbon projects, or other Payments for Environmental Services (PES) schemes. Experience at the country / regional levels in designing, or implementing carbon, climate adaptation, or biodiversity conservation for projects in West Africa Experience developing structured finance vehicles for nature credits, standards and methodologies will be a distinct advantage Knowledge of gender mainstreaming within nature credit schemes will be an asset. Contextual knowledge of the forestry landscapes in Guinea, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire will be an asset Ability to produce high quality work under tight timeframes. Consulting Firms will also be required to show evidence of bilingual fluency in both English and French within their teams.
