May 18th, 11am EDT
Consultancy Opportunity - Conservation Finance Consultant with WCS
Conservation Finance Consultant to deliver training on innovative biodiversity financing solutions involving the private sector
Background
With support from USAID through the closed USAID/Uganda Biodiversity Trust Fund Activity cooperative agreement, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) implemented activities that established the Uganda Biodiversity Trust Fund (UBTF), also known by the brand name Uganda Biodiversity Fund (UBF). In 2020, UBF received a follow-up five-year award running from May 2020 to May 2024 direct from USAID intended to develop UBF further into a reputable, well-functioning, sustainable entity capable of generating and managing funds for biodiversity conservation in Uganda.
Objectives and scope of the consultancy
The goal of the training is to strengthen UBF’s knowledge and skillset on innovative financing mechanisms that involve the private sector for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services. The main objective is to deliver a training course on effective approaches to raise funds from the private sector for biodiversity conservation, capitalizing on some known financing innovations such as impact investments, management of biodiversity offsets, payments for ecosystem services, to mention but a few.
The deadline for submission is Monday, 10 May 2021, 17:00 Pacific Daylight Time
Conservation Finance in Practice: CPIC Blueprint Replication.
Webinar: Administration and Human Resources.
Webinar: Designing Financing Structures for Nature-based Solutions.
Job Opportunities: The Global Fund for Coral Reefs
The Global Team is an independent structure under the Global Fund for Coral Reef Executive Board and administratively hosted by the UN Multi Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO). While hosted within the MPTFO, the Global Team will work closely with relevant focal points of the Participating UN Organizations (UNDP, UNEP, UNCDF) and the Investment asset management team.
The Global Team directly supports the GFCR Executive Board and manages the day-to-day management and operation of the Fund. The Global Team has management, technical, and operational expertise, and one of its primary roles is to develop the Fund investment plans and manage approval of project or programme proposals in accordance with financial decisions made by the GFCR Executive Board and in open collaboration with the Investment Window partners. The Global Team guarantees that successful innovative blended solutions are developed in accordance with agreed-upon objectives and criteria specified in the Terms of Reference and criteria specified in the Standard Operations Manual.
Please find the various postings for the Global Team below:
The Deputy Head of Fund Secretariat: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/2499559263
The Coordination Analyst: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/2499560061
The Programme Analyst: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/2490363339
The Communication Specialist: https://www.unv.org/calls/USAR000122-9269
UNEP consultancy for a coral reef M&E expert to support the Global Fund for Coral Reefs
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is looking for a Proposal Manager to manage the process and lead the development of a full proposal for the TNC Bahama Reefs Programme for the GFCR.
Individuals or firms are welcome to apply. Please submit a brief proposal (maximum five pages) describing the approach to developing the full GFCR proposal, a proposed budget, a sample of previous similar work (i.e. full proposal for multilateral funding) and resumes for all key staff. Please send applications by April 23, 2021 to Mr. Frederick Arnett @ frederick.arnett@tnc.org
Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) is seeking a Human Resource Consultant
The CBF is inviting qualified individuals (“Consultants”) to apply for the “CBF Human resources Policy and Procedures” consultancy bidding process. The objective of this consultancy is to focus on establishing the necessary human resources policies, procedures, and systems for the CBF to manage its most important resource, its staff, in an equal and fair manner.
Specifically, the key objective of this consultancy, therefore, is to develop the CBF’s Human Resources Policy and Procedures Manual (HR Policy) and systems, which will guide the approach adopted by the organization, and therefore its staff, concerning various aspects of employment.
Executive Director: Land Trust of Santa Cruz
Painter Executive Search is supporting the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County in its search for an Executive Director to lead its efforts to protect, care for, and connect people to the extraordinary landscapes of Santa Cruz County.
Please consider your network and send this opportunity along or contact us for more information. We welcome your suggestions and recommendations and appreciate your help in identifying potential candidates.
Santa Cruz County has nearly 30 miles of Pacific coastline, rugged mountains, dense evergreen and redwood forests, fertile farm and grazing lands, wetlands, key watersheds, and unique sandhill ecosystems that are home to many rare plants and animals. Located a short drive from Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz County retains its rural charm in the face of substantial development pressure. As local land experts, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County (Land Trust), protects critical working lands and open space while ensuring that important habitat and wildlife corridors are safeguarded and that access to open space is increasingly available for all people.
The Land Trust is engaged in many of the most challenging aspects of land conservation. The Land Trust actively manages land including periodic timber harvests, seasonal livestock grazing and active cultivation. It is engaged in wetland restoration and stewards land with threatened species. It also has a deep commitment to public access. Working with a variety of partners, the Land Trust is in the process of developing over 50 miles of hiking and biking trails on properties throughout the county.
The new Executive Director will have the opportunity to engage a highly supportive community in protecting the underpinnings of environmental vibrancy of this unique county and ensuring that the public can more fully access the diverse beauty and bounty of this land. The organization is seeking a forward-thinking leader who will help shape the vision for conservation and public access in the county and solidify the Land Trust as an important local leader in the community and among its numerous conservation partners.
Please contact Nancy Painter should you be interested in learning more or submit your background for consideration at Nancy@painterexecutivesearch.com. To learn more about our organizations, please visit our websites landtrustsantacruz and painterexecutivesearch.
Call for applications: 2021 Ocean Solutions Accelerator
Applications are open now through April 12 for the 2021 Ocean Solutions Accelerator Program 4th and 5th Cohorts!
For founders with a for-profit, market-driven, ocean solution, applications are now open for the Ocean Solutions Accelerator Program 4th & 5th Cohorts. This is a first-of-its-kind initiative for future-thinkers with an idea that will solve critical ocean challenges we face today.
Know someone who might be interested? Please refer them.
4th Cohort: For early-stage startups (June 7 - July 2, 2021)
5th Cohort: For later-stage startups (September 7 - October 1, 2021)
PRESS RELEASE - GFCR Approves First Round of Programming
First Executive Board Decisions Demonstrate Blended Financing Principles
[New York, March 10th 2021] – The first round of funding approved by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) covers proposals from six countries including a USD $4.7M proposal led by the UN Fiji Country Office, “Investing in Coral Reefs and the Blue Economy.” The Fiji joint programme will receive an initial 2021 disbursement of US$1M along with UN Joint SDG Fund co-financing of US$5.3M awarded in February of this year. The programme leverages philanthropic and development finance to mobilize commercial investments and promote the financial sustainability of coral reef conservation and reef-positive livelihoods.
“Building reef resilience protects a sustainable source of food and livelihoods for the Fijian people and a vibrant hub of biodiversity for the world,” said Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Attorning General and Minister for Economy, Fiji. “We hope this innovative financing initiative offers a scalable model that can support the conservation of marine ecosystems across our globally connected blue economy.”
Principal transactions of the programme establish a locally managed Technical Assistance Facility to incubate a pipeline of reef-positive business models and institute Special Purpose Entities (SPEs) with revenue streams to manage Fijian Locally Managed Marine Area networks. The joint programme will also support a new initiative to source sugar cane plantations with a non-synthetic fertiliser and paired with educational programmes to reduce agricultural run-off and erosion harmful to nearby coral reefs.
Additionally, the GFCR is supporting the development of a new sanitary landfill with a network of transfer stations to improve waste collection and prevent leaching of harmful pollutants that are detrimental to Fijian mangroves and coral reef ecosystems. This joint programme is a collaboration with partners that include UN agencies (UNDP, UNCDF, UNEP), the WWF-Pacific, Matanataki, Blue Finance, Fijian local actors and the Government of Fiji and aims to leverage US$50M in investment capital by 2030.
“The pilot investments of the Global Fund for Coral Reefs and Joint SDG Fund in Fiji will bring positive impacts not only to reef systems but to the people who depend on them,” said Jodi Smith, Partner at Matanataki. “During a time of extreme economic and climatic uncertainty, this investment will pave the way for world class solutions and new manufacturing and income opportunities, while at the same time enabling active stewardship of the environment.”
Sombrero Island Reef, Philippines. Photo Credit: Jett Britnell / Coral Reef Image Bank
The GFCR Executive Board also approved initial grant funding of US$350k for a blended finance programme led by Blue Finance in the Philippines. “Development Facility for Blue Economy Projects for Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas in the Philippines” targets three coral reef focal areas: (1) Verde Island Passage; (2) Calamian Islands; (3) Tañon Strait. Revenue generating activities will include ecotourism, a visitor facility, blue carbon, sustainable fisheries and mud-crab aquaculture. The grant will also be used to develop a proposal focused on highly scalable and sustainable financing for effective management of over 200 Philippine marine protected areas and leverage US$50M in investment capital by 2030.
The GFCR has also approved four preparatory grants to develop full programme proposals to be considered at the next GFCR Executive Board meetings.
“Blended finance is not just about pooling funds to catalyze private investment, it’s about the power of governmental, inter-governmental, philanthropic, private sector and non-governmental organizations working together to achieve impact in a way that wouldn’t be possible on our own,” said Chuck Cooper, Chair of the GFCR Executive Board on behalf of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. “This first round of Global Fund investments demonstrates the types of projects we believe can change the trajectory of the coral reef crisis.”
The GFCR executive board is pleased to be working with Conservation International in Indonesia, The Nature Conservancy in The Bahamas, Wildlife Conservation Society in the Kenya-Tanzania Transboundary Conservation Area and UNDP in the Maldives on these grants that will demonstrate the blended finance platform to catalyse private sector investments.
The six priority countries and proposals were recommended by Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA) who is leading the development of the GFCR’s Investment Plan. With contributions and engagement from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Government of Germany, BNP Paribas and with technical support from SYSTEMIQ, the GFCR is showcasing the power of partnerships and innovative financing.
Banner image: CREDIT: CINZIA OSELE BISMARCK / CORAL REEF IMAGE BANK