TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THE CLIMATE CHANGE AGENDA OF THE FSC INDIGENOUS FOUNDATION THROUGH THE IPARD PROGRAM

1. CONTEXT

A. BACKGROUND

In 2019, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) established the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC- IF) as the operational office of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC). The FSC-IF is a private interest foundation in accordance with Law No. 25 of June 12, 1995, of the Republic of Panama. The mission of FSC-IF is to enable an enabling environment to guarantee the rights of Indigenous Peoples and promote sustainable forest-based solutions within 300 million hectares of indigenous forests on the planet. The vision is that Indigenous Peoples’ global values, rights, livelihoods, ecosystem services, natural capital and communities are incorporated into forest governance, climate change governance and market systems.

Indigenous Peoples’ Alliance for Rights and Development

The FSC-IF is the implementing partner of the five-year Global Development Alliance (GDA) program funded by USAID and FSC: Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights and Development (IPARD). The IPARD Program is guided by three development objectives:

• Objective 1: To organize and convene a capacity building program for Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and stakeholders.
• Objective 2: To foster an enabling environment for the recognition, effective participation and joint decision-making by Indigenous Peoples in matters affecting them, and
• Objective 3: Promote the sustainable development of Indigenous Peoples based on sustainable economic models.

IPARD uses three interconnected approaches to support Indigenous Peoples in overcoming their development challenges:

1. Multi-Sectoral Approach (MSA): under the strategic guidance of IPARD’s Steering Committee (SC), the Program convenes and leverages the expertise of multi-sectoral partners to ensure that the needs of Indigenous communities are considered across a wide range of sectors.
2. Country-Focused Approach (CFA): IPARD’s programmatic strategy is guided by a country-focused approach, driven by specific national contexts related to Indigenous Peoples. IPARD implements a structured process to identify, evaluate and select countries for its programs. FSC-IF works in conjunction with the IPARD Steering Committee, and according to the guidelines of the multi-sectoral approach, in order to select countries and identify key priorities and strategies.
3. Indigenous Project Management Approach (IPMA): Leveraging FSC-IF’s networks and relationships with Indigenous leaders and organizations around the world, IPARD seeks ongoing dialogue, consultation, and feedback with Indigenous Peoples to inform the Program. IPARD supports a forum through which the FSC-IF Indigenous Foundation serves as a bridge between Indigenous Peoples, technical partners, national governments, and the private sector. IPARD invests in best practice conservation and effective approaches and methodologies to ensure long-term development of Indigenous Peoples Organizations in multiple management areas to allow them to develop, negotiate, manage, and implement their own programs, projects and other initiatives.

Through these three approaches, IPARD aims to empower Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and catalyze an enabling environment where Indigenous Peoples can pursue their development.

B. IPARD PROGRAM – GLOBAL CONTEXT

The FSC-IF is committed to supporting the rights of the indigenous communities and their rights and to promote rights-promoting public policies through close collaborations with the governments, mainly through the nation’s institutions for indigenous affairs.

Indigenous Peoples are key actors for effective solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss. There will be no solution without including them. Their importance to environmental protection and climate change policies and actions has been recognized by the UNFCCC’s Conference of the Parties including the Cancun Agreement. The Paris Agreement also calls for efforts to respect, consider, and promote its implementation while also incorporating the respect to Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

However, Indigenous Peoples are facing critical threats to their rights and their contribution and participation have not been effectively considered in climate change actions. Moreover, a 2021 Rainforest Foundation Norway Report indicates that less than 1% of climate funding over a 10-year period was converted into direct financial support to Indigenous Peoples.

In response to this challenge, at the 2021 during the World Leaders Summit at the UNFCCC’s 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow a coalition of governments and diverse stakeholders from public and private finance announced a commitment of US$ 1.7 billion to direct support to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) in recognition of their important to protect forests and face climate change. After the COP26 US$ 1.7 billion commitment, there has been an urgent need to design an Indigenous Finance Mechanism to appropriately implement innovative funds to support IPLC in line with their strategic visions, ancestral values, traditions, and knowledge.

In lieu, the IPARD Program has been carrying out actions aimed at contributing to this process that include the generation of capacities and a favorable governance environment for Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations and other public and private actors around climate change, as well as the design and implementation of services to strengthen sustainable indigenous economic models. Within the framework of this process, the IPARD Program seeks to promote innovative instruments that contribute to the development of sustainable financial infrastructures of Indigenous People Organizations at the national, regional, and global level in the face of climate change and that involve international cooperation actors, governments, and other interested private sector actors. These instruments will contribute to the well-being of Indigenous Peoples and help protect communities and cities from the influence of extreme weather events and the development of sustainable economic models.

With this consultancy, the IPARD Program is seeking to enhance its engagement in international environmental and Indigenous Peoples rights forums to contribute to global discussions, share expertise, increase Indigenous Peoples access to climate finance and promote sustainable practices based on ancestral knowledge. To achieve this, the organization requires technical support in organizing side events during international forums, such as African Climate Week 2024, Climate Week in New York City 2024 with private sector, the Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week (LACCW 2023) and the COP28 (28th United Nations Climate Change conference), among others.

The IPARD program had an active participation in international environmental forums in 2022 and 2023 and this has led to many initiatives and collaboration proposals. The FSC-IF has also established partnerships with regional and global Indigenous People Organizations, in Central America and Central – South Africa and is looking to expand these networks and follow up on collaboration initiatives that resulted from previous engagements. We expect to keep the same or higher participation levels and impact in international forums in the following years 2024-2025. For this purpose, this consultancy will support FSC-IF to develop a participation strategy, strengthen relationship with stakeholders and map spaces for participation, as well identifying strategic partners.

C. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY

General Objective:

The objective of the consultancy is to support FSC-IF in the implementation of the IPARD program to promote effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in international forums related to climate change, promoting the creation, and strengthening of relevant relationships with partners, stakeholders, and financing mechanisms, with the end goal of strengthening their commitment with Indigenous Peoples and their sustainable development objectives.

Specific objectives:

1. Support to develop a participation strategy in relevant high-level international forums, with its respective proposal for outreaching and accessing sustainable development funds.
2. Support program implementation including direct support to the FSC-IF team in tasks related to project activities (workshops, webinars and strategic meetings, draft working documents and presentations).
3. SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY
4. Strengthen IPARD program participation strategy in high-level international forums, with its respective proposal for outreaching and accessing funds, including the creation of strong proposals for donors and financial mechanisms.
5. Strengthen existing relationships with stakeholders and strategic partners including non-profit organizations, government agencies, private donors, development banks and international organizations.
6. Map spaces for participation and identifying strategic partners for program objectives, for IPARD to be present in these spaces and properly represented. Support the participation of IPOs in relevant forums and activities.
7. Provide recommendations i) on project funding opportunities and ii) improvements in project proposals, structure, investment criteria, indicators, results measurement, budgets, among others.
8. Work together with the IPARD communications unit to make all activities visible.

F.CONTRACT CONDITIONS:

Type of Consultancy: Individual consultancy with payments according to the deliverables indicated in the payment schedule.

• Type of contract: Lump sum.
• Duration of the contract: 4 months

Location: The consultant will carry out his/her work virtually Responsible person: Program Leader for Objective 2

G. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Consultant must comply with the following:

Academic background:

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, environmental sciences, or other related disciplines.

General experience:

• At least 5 years’ experience of international cooperation fundraising techniques, including non-profit organizations, government agencies, private donors, development banks and international organizations.
• At least 5 years’ experience in project management for development, environmental projects, relationship management with strategic partners, such as: ONG´s, Indigenous organizations, philanthropies, private companies.
• At least 5 years’ experience on climate change sectors, including public and private mechanisms related to protocols and instruments linked to UNFCC Conference of the Parties, Cancun Agreement, REDD+, Voluntary Carbon Market, benefit sharing, Indigenous climate safeguards, FPIC, among others.
• Work experience in at least four (4) United Nations Agencies and Government Agencies, in tasks related to environmental protection and sustainable development globally.

Specific experience:

• 5 years proven experience organizing high-level international events and conferences, including substantive coordination and logistics.
• 5 years proven experience in partnership management in the international community, public sector, private donors.
• 3 years of proven experiences in climate finance, climate change, sustainable finance, and funding mechanisms.
• At least one (1) year experience organizing high-level international events and conferences, including substantive coordination and logistics for indigenous people organization.

Competencies and skills

• Good interpersonal communication and coordination skills.
• Deeply familiar with Indigenous Peoples culture and communities.
• Excellent written and spoken English and fluent in Spanish.

H. METHODOLOGY AND DELIVERABLES

The consultants will deliver a Work Plan and Schedule of Activities to be carried out during the consultancy period five (5) calendar days counted from the business day following the signing of the service agreement, without payment.

This Work Plan must detail the activities and estimated time to conduct the consultancy, including sources of information, etc.)

For the development of this consultancy, it is required to comply with the activities established in the Work Plan between FSC-IF and the consultant. In this sense, the following products must be delivered:

Deliverables

Outcomes

Delivery time

Payment percentage (%)

1

Prepare Agenda and Side Event Concept note for the Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week (LACCW 2023) and the COP28 (28th United Nations Climate Change conference).

Up to fifteen (15) calendar days counted from the business day following the signing of the contract.

10%

2

Prepare Participation Report of the 2023 COP28 (28th United Nations Climate Change conference).

Up to thirty (30) calendar days counted from the business day following the signing of the contract.

15%

3

Develop a collaboration proposal with the first (1st) selected private donor including a draft work plan. Deliver the first draft for partners to be reviewed.

Up to sixty (60) calendar days counted from the business day following the signing of the contract.

15%

4

Develop a collaboration proposal with the second (2nd) selected private donor including a draft work plan. Deliver the first draft for partners to be reviewed.

Up to seventy-five (75) calendar days counted from the business day following the signing of the contract.

15%

5

Develop a collaboration proposal with the third (3rd) selected private donor (3) including a draft work plan. Deliver the first draft for partners to be reviewed.

Up to ninety (90) calendar days counted from the business day following the signing of the contract.

15%

6

Develop a Stakeholder Engagement Strategy for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). Prepare Agenda and Side Event Concept Note for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII).

Up to hundred and five (105) calendar days counted from the business day following the signing of the contract.

15%

7

Prepare Side Event Concept Note for the Summit of Indigenous Peoples of Central America.

Up to hundred and twenty (120) calendar days counted from the business day following the signing of the contract.

15%

TOTAL

120 calendar days

100

I. COORDINATION

The consultant will coordinate the expected work with the FSC-IF IPARD Program Director based in Panama, through the Global Manager of Advocacy, Rights and Social Participation of the program the FSC-IF IPARD Deputy Program Director, who will review the products with a maximum period of five (5) calendar days to make observations and/or comments, if any. For its part, the contractor will have a term not exceeding five (5) calendar days to make the necessary adjustments or changes and deliver the corrected product/ deliverable.

• Conditions for payments of the products:

The products must be authorized by the FSC-IF Managing Director and the IPARD Program Manager to proceed with payment. All products must be delivered in English and Spanish, two written copies and in editable digital format. Payments will be made within thirty (30) calendar days counted from the satisfactory approval of the products by the designated authorities.

J. COPYRIGHT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

All the information generated because of the consultancy will be the exclusive property of FSC-IF.

K. CONFIDENTIALITY

The consultant agrees that all the information or documentation provided and/or produced for the purpose of the consultancy will be kept confidential, and it will not be disclosed in any case by it, without the prior authorization of FSC-IF during the execution of the consultancy and after it has been completed.

Likewise, it is agreed that, during the term of the contract, the consultant will refrain from issuing concepts on behalf of FSC-IF in the media, carrying out actions or making representations that directly or indirectly could negatively affect FSC-IF.

L. CONFLICT OF INTEREST

When a potential conflict of interest arises, management will gather all relevant information and may ask questions of the parties involved. If management determines that a conflict of interest exists, steps will be taken to address the conflict. If a conflict of interest is not identified, the inquiry.

M. ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND CODE OF CONDUCT

All consultants must be familiar with and sign the acceptance of the organization’s Ethical Principles, which include the following policies: Code of Ethics; Gender Equality Policy; Guidelines for the detection and prevention of sexual harassment and sexual abuse or exploitation; Anti-corruption Policy; Security Protocol and Safeguards Policy.

II. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Applications need to include the following documents:

a) A technical proposal to address the general and specific objectives of the consultancy and a timeline to complete the deliverables listed above.

b) CV of the consultants, two professional references or background of consultancy firm.

c) Financial proposal for the services and payment conditions proposal, including all local taxes.

Instructions to offerors

a) Proposal Submission Deadline

Deadline for submission is TBD (5:00 p.m. Panama Time).

b) Submission Address

Both the Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal must be submitted, as well as any question about the ToR, via e-mail to: [email protected] with the subject line – “Technical Assistance to Support the Climate Change Agenda of the FSC Indigenous Foundation through the IPARD Program”.

c) Offer Validity

Offers must be valid for up to three months after the date of submission.

Annex 1

FORMAT FOR PRESENTATION OF TECHNICAL AND COST PROPOSAL

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

Interested consultants should provide the proposal in English including the below information and not exceeding 25 pages. The technical proposal format should consist of the following sections:

a) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

b) BACKGROUND OF OFFEROR

c) OBJECTIVES

d) PROPOSED METHODOLOGY

e) DRAFT WORK PLAN – ACTIVITIES/TASKS

f) DRAFT PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Please insert table with Gantt Chart with activities/tasks and insert the Deliverables Timeline

g) PAST PERFORMANCE

Please include a list of executed assignments like this consultant activity and references of clients served.

COST PROPOSAL

The cost proposal format should consist of the following sections:

Cost Breakdown

Please provide a detailed breakdown and explanation of all charges to execute the activity, including all local taxes.

How to apply

b) Submission Address

Both the Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal must be submitted, as well as any question about the ToR, via e-mail to: [email protected] with the subject line – “Technical Assistance to Support the Climate Change Agenda of the FSC Indigenous Foundation through the IPARD Program”.

c) Offer Validity

Offers must be valid for up to three months after the date of submission.