CONSULTANCY TO BUILD CAPACITY AND ESTIMATE CARBON STOCKS FOR CBF EBA FACILITY PROJECTS IN THE CARIBBEAN REGION

Date Solicitation is Issued: April 9, 2024

Solicitation Number: 3407.04.05.2024.CBF

Closing Date: April 29 2024

Closing Time: 11:59 PM UTC-5:00

Entitles That May Apply: Individuals, consortia of individuals, or firms

Contractual Mechanism: Fixed Price

1. Introduction

The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) and the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF)’s Ecosystem-based Adaptation Facility are seeking a firm to develop and implement carbon accounting activities for projects supported by the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF). This consultancy will involve generating baseline data, calculating and estimating carbon stocks, and assessing and estimating the impact of restoration efforts within CBF's Ecosystem-based Adaptation Facility. More detailed information is provided in the Project Overview and following sections below.

About PADF

The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) believes in creating a hemisphere of opportunity, for all. We work across Latin America and the Caribbean to make our region stronger— more healthy, peaceful, just, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable for current and future generations. For 60 years, we have served the most vulnerable communities, investing resources throughout the hemisphere. We partner with and enable civil society, governments, and the private sector for the greater good of the region.

More information about the Pan American Development Foundation can be found athttp://www.padf.org.

About the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund

The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) is a regional environmental fund whose mission is to ensure continuous funding for conservation and sustainable development in the Caribbean. Established in 2012, the CBF was designed to accommodate the receipt, investment, distribution and monitoring of conservation funding throughout the region. The 2022-2027 CBF Strategic Plan has three main goals:1) CBF is an effective institution with exemplary practice standards; 2) CBF grantees and beneficiaries geographically cover more of the Caribbean region; 3) CBF provides sustainable financing opportunities for the Caribbean region.

The CBF has a flexible structure to implement innovative solutions for resource mobilization at the regional level through a range of financial instruments. Currently, the CBF manages a total of USD 175 million, including USD 95 million endowment in its Conservation Finance Program, which aims to support 12 countries across the region, a USD 60 million sinking fund for Ecosystem-based Adaptation – the EbA Facility- which anchors the CBF’s Climate Change Program; and a USD 25 million sinking fund for the Advancing of Circular Economy – the ACE Facility which anchors the Nature Based Economies Program. More information about the CBF can be found athttp://www.caribbeanbiodiversityfund.org.

About the CBF Ecosystem-based Adaptation Facility

The CBF has established a USD 60 million sinking fund for the EbA Facility in 2016, in partnership with the German Government under the International Climate Initiative (IKI) through the German Development Bank (KfW). The EbA Facility finances climate change adaptation measures that incorporate biodiversity conservation and ecosystems management as part of adaptation strategies. The Facility’s activities contribute to help people and economies adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, while also ensuring the resilience of ecosystems in 11 Caribbean island states. Funds allocated to the EbA Facility are expected to be expended by the end of 2030.

The goal of the Ecosystem-based Adaptation Facility is to improve the management and/or rehabilitate ecosystems to strengthen the resilience and reduce climate risks to people in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), while also contributing to biodiversity protection and climate change mitigation. EbA Facility projects aim to support effective climate change adaptation measures in the marine and coastal zone of the insular Caribbean. These actions include restoration and rehabilitation of ecosystems, reduction of land-based stressors, other measures to reduce pressures on ecosystems, measures to reduce physical damage to ecosystems, restoration of coral reefs, and grey-green infrastructure (hybrid solutions) relevant to the EbA approach.

Since its operationalization in 2019, the EbA Facility has committed USD 45.4 million and supported 34 Projects implementing EbA approaches in the Caribbean region. Targeted countries of the EbA Facility currently include Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. Additionally, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago may benefit through regional projects.

EbA Facility Indicator: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduced / Carbon Stocks Enhanced

The EbA Facility is collecting key results through its Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Framework (see below), using 17 indicators to measure the EbA Facility’s objectives. Three standard indicators were stipulated by the International Climate Initiative (IKI); this consultancy focuses on Action Mitigation – AM:

Greenhouse gas emissions reduced or carbon stocks enhanced in project/program area (Action Mitigation – AM)
Area of ecosystems improved or protected by project measures (Action Ecosystems – AE)
Number of people directly supported by the project to adapt to climate change or to conserve ecosystems (Action People – AP)

The Action Mitigation indicator aims to capture the additional potential volume of greenhouse gas emissions stored directly attributable to mitigation activities. In addition, it collects estimates of long-term effects after the project has ended. In line with the UNFCCC’s Common Reporting Framework, EbA Facility projects can lead to GHG reduction or carbon stock enhancement in different sectors. These include reforestation and rehabilitation; product use; agriculture and aquaculture (e.g., sea moss); Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) (incl. REDD+ activities), and relevant waste management activities, and any other activities which enhance carbon sinks. For further detail, please seeIKI’s online seminar on “IKI Standard Indicator 1 – Mitigation”

2. Project Overview

CBF requires support in the calculation of reduced Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions or carbon stocks enhanced as a result of EbA Facility projects. The consultancy will review the 14 completed and 12 on-going and 8 incipient EbA projects to: (i) design and receive approval for a workable carbon measurement system for terrestrial and marine ecosystems that is both accurate enough and practical for use on the ground throughout the various projects, and (ii) provide training to up to 25 EbA grant-receiving institutions on methods of measuring GHG reductions or carbon stocks enhanced according international standards, and (iii) provide the requisite documentation for future training on the system. Both terrestrial (green) and marine (blue) carbon are to be considered. The language of this consultancy is English. Competency in Spanish and/or French would be an asset but not required.

3. Period of Performance

The deliverables are expected to be started by May 10, 2024 and to be completed by October 10, 2024.

4. Terms of Reference, Deliverables, and Deliverables Schedule

(All applicable Taxes, Fees, and other costs should be included in the price proposal.)

The estimation of carbon stocks from EbA projects should involve a multidisciplinary team, including a number of key experts. Applying organizations or consortia are asked to present a TECHNICAL PROPOSAL for achieving the proposed deliverables that includes but is not limited to the following factors:

Relevant subject matter experts (please attach CVs as annexes)
Data collection/baseline data generation for selected carbon pools
Type, number of plots, location of measurement and frequency of measurement
Biomass estimation and carbon stock assessment
Carbon sequestration calculation
Ecosystem management/restoration impact assessment
Remote sensing and GIS Integration as required
Reporting and communication
Institutional Capacity Building
Responsibilities and Project Timeline
Deliverables
Cost Application

A schedule of milestones and deliverables is included below. All deliverables should be shared with PADF and CBF for review and approval.

Schedule of Deliverables

Deliverable 1

PADF

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