Project Owner :The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD) and the Sustainable Development Department (DDD), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Implementing Organization :Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

Project : Strengthening strategic approaches for 30x30 investments in the DRC

Consultancy title : Development of an investment strategy for 30x30 implementation in the DRC

Contract term : Approximately 3 months

Location : Remote, with multiple visits to Kinshasa

Reporting to : Program Coordinator, Green Climate Fund (GCF)

Background

Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) states as follows:

“Ensure and enable that, by 2030, at least 30% of terrestrial and inland water, as well as coastal and marine areas, in particular areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed networks of protected areas, and other effective area-based conservation measures. recognizing Indigenous and traditional territories, where appropriate, and integrating them into wider landscapes, seascapes, and the ocean, while ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in these areas, is fully compatible with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, including in their traditional territories”.

This target, known as the ‘30x30 initiative’ therefore commits the DRC to protecting at least 30% of its terrestrial and marine areas by 2030, with a focus on biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management. In the DRC, this initiative is a central part of preserving its vast forest ecosystems, which are important for global biodiversity and local livelihoods.

Recognizing the role of biodiversity, protected areas, and other conserved areas in maintaining ecosystem services for a greater impact on climate, food, and economic security for local communities, the DRC recently joined the High Ambition Coalition, pledging to protect 30% of its land, coastal and marine areas as part of an increased effort to safeguard biodiversity and support its robust climate mitigation and adaptation strategy, while ensuring economic development in line with the National Strategic Development Plan (2019-2023).

As part of the High Ambition for the Coalition, the Democratic Republic of Congo has obtained approval and funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for readiness to prepare a national 30x30 strategy, to be implemented by the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Although the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the countries to have obtained approval for several readiness projects, three main barriers that are preventing the country from having effective climate change adaptation and mitigation projects have been identified:

• Lack of alignment between national climate, biodiversity, and development strategies.
• Insufficient human resources and capacity for planning, multi-stakeholder engagement, and project development on the links between climate, biodiversity, and well-being.
• Insufficient capacity to access financial resources, lack of integration of climate financing flows, and the fact that the financing mechanisms that do exist do not reach local populations most directly affected by climate change and biodiversity loss.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has been designated as a readiness implementation entity to prepare the DRC for a costed and spatially explicit national 30x30 strategy, aligned with national priorities and endowed with a portfolio of projects to benefit climate and biodiversity. This consultancy will specifically address this third barrier – the sustainable finance component of the DRC’s 30x30 strategy.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a private, nonprofit, tax-exempt U.S. organization, founded in 1895, that saves wildlife by understanding critical problems, developing science-based solutions, and taking conservation action that benefits nature and humanity. With over a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, and a presence in more than 60 countries, WCS has helped nations and Indigenous People to establish and manage 245 parks and reserves protecting nature, securing local economies, and strengthening cultural identities. The organization has accumulated the biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships needed to ensure that wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, this knowledge is applied to address species, habitat, and ecosystem management issues critical to improving livelihoods that depend on the direct use of natural resources.

WCS is a GCF Readiness Delivery Partner (DP) and is supporting the DRC's National Designated Authority (NDA): the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD).

Objectives

The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop an investment strategy that will enable the implementation of Target 3 of the 30x30 Initiative.

This investment strategy will be based on the 30x30 strategy and should conduct a financial and economic forecast analysis and develop a business plan for the 30x30 strategy.

The investment strategy should evaluate the short, medium, and long-term costs of creating and managing protected areas, indigenous lands, and Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs). As part of this analysis, current funding streams available for the efficient management of PAs, OECMS, indigenous lands but also corridors, should be identified, and various innovative investment and funding mechanisms, including options for funding mechanisms that can be directed towards Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Local Communities (LCs) and civil society, as well as the relevant private sector representatives, should be evaluated.

The investment strategy should include identification, analysis and the development of dedicated business plans along with recommendations of policy options for scaling up financing for the implementation of the strategy at the national level. The business forecast will include needs for the long-term management of the designated protected or conserved areas. To be efficient, the financial forecast will need to integrate the existing financial initiatives and explore investment opportunities in green and sustainable businesses and potential for public-private investments.

Tasks, responsibilities, and deliverables

The principal deliverable of this consultancy is an investment strategy that will guide the implementation of Target 3 of the 30x30 Initiative. This will include the following tasks, responsibilities, and components:

1. Assessing the current financing mechanisms. This assessment should evaluate existing financial frameworks and mechanisms supporting conservation efforts in the DRC in protected areas, indigenous lands, and through OECMs. Gaps and opportunities for improving funding for biodiversity conservation should be identified and assessed.
2. Conducting financial forecast analyses. These analyses should evaluate short, medium, and long-term costs for creating and managing protected areas, indigenous lands, and OECMs. Identification of long-term management needs for protected or conserved areas should also be included in the business forecast.
3. Developing an investment plan for the 30x30 strategy using the assessment of existing mechanisms and the financial forecasts, a business plan for national-level implementation of the strategy should be proposed. This should include propositions of innovative financial instruments that can mobilize resources for conservation, including public-private partnerships and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanisms. The plan should also assess and propose various innovative investment and funding mechanisms, including options for Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Local Communities (LCs), civil society, and private sector representatives.
4. Support the process of setting-up clear metrics for assessing the effectiveness of financing strategies in achieving conservation outcomes.
5. Facilitate the validation process of 30x30 investment plan and report of validation workshop.
6. Support the drafting of concept notes for the implementation of the 30x30 strategy and facilitate the validation process of the concept notes before submission to GCF.

Requirements

• A master’s degree in economics, finance, statistics, or other relevant fields.
• Significant experience in identifying, reviewing, and analyzing conservation and/or development financing mechanisms.
• A good understanding of the issues related to IPs’ rights in DRC, land tenure, and resource access in the context of climate and conservation finance.
• At least 10 years of work experience in financial analysis and modeling. Experience in the conservation and climate mitigation sectors would be an advantage.
• Project development expertise and prior experience engaging in GCF project design.

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Application process

Interested parties are invited to submit a Technical Proposal that addresses the requirements in these Terms of Reference, along with a Financial Proposal that details the costs of the consultancy.

Please send applications to wcsdrcongorecruitment@wcs.org by December 11, 2024.

Application deadline: December 11, 2024, at 11. 59pm Goma time.