Consultancy - Review of biodiversity impact metrics
The consultancy will commence spring 2024 and conclude by 30 June 2025. The contract spans 35 working days, with the possibility of extension, subject to mutual agreement.
Consultancy support for implementation of Rainforest Foundation Norway's strategy towards international financial actors through review of biodiversity impact metrics.
Introduction: Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN), a Norwegian NGO dedicated to preserving tropical rainforests and safeguarding the rights of indigenous communities, invites qualified and experienced consultants/consulting agencies to participate in a competitive tender process.
Background: RFN recognizes that agricultural expansion, driven by global demand for commodities such as palm oil, soy, cattle-derived products, and timber, is a major contributor to tropical deforestation. RFN, through its Deforestation-Free Markets team, aims to influence key economic decision-makers, including financial stakeholders, companies, and policymakers, to address the economic drivers of deforestation and human rights violations. The focus includes engaging with international financial actors with the objective of building alliances, promoting responsible financial practices, and advocating for deforestation-free portfolios.
Duration: The consultancy will commence spring 2024 and conclude by 30 June 2025. The contract spans 35 working days, with the possibility of extension, subject to mutual agreement.
Remuneration: The consultant will be offered a daily rate in accordance with RFNs policies. Payment will be made on a monthly basis, subject to the satisfactory completion of agreed-upon milestones and deliverables.
Purpose and Scope: The primary objective is to empower RFN in advising international financial actors on the integration of rainforest considerations in popular nature-related impact metrics. The consultant will play a crucial role in:
- Enabling RFN to advise and guide international financial actors on how rainforests are considered in nature-related impact metrics.
- Conducting a comprehensive review of the strengths, limitations, and potential shortcomings of key biodiversity impact metrics and metric providers.
- Addressing concerns related to the accuracy, transparency, and potential inaccuracies of current biodiversity impact assessment tools, with a particular focus on the Global Biodiversity Score.
Deliverables:
1. Report: By 30 June 2025, the consultant is expected to deliver a comprehensive report (5-10 pages) suitable for external use. This report will include:
- Overview of Key Biodiversity Impact Metrics: Overview of widely recognized biodiversity impact metrics.
- Overview of Key Biodiversity Impact Metrics Providers: An analysis of various metric providers, highlighting their methodologies and transparency (including Global Biodiversity Score).
- In-depth review/evaluation: A thorough assessment of how rainforests are taken into account in popular biodiversity impact metrics (Mean Species Abundance, Potentially Disappeared Fraction of Species)
- Actionable Recommendations: Clear and practical recommendations for financial institutions on navigating the complex landscape of metrics and providers.
- 2. Presentation: In 2025, the consultant will present preliminary findings and recommendations at a workshop hosted by RFN. This workshop, tentatively scheduled for spring 2025 will include participation from relevant actors, such as financial institutions, academics, and scientists. The insights gathered during the workshop can contribute to the finalization of the report.
Proposal Submission: Interested consultancy firms should submit their proposals by 3. April 2024. The selected consultancy will be notified by 17 April 2024.
For further questions, please contact Tollak Nylænde Bowitz (Senior Advisor with the Deforestation-Free Markets team at RFN): tollak@rainforest.no
RFN looks forward to receiving innovative and competitive proposals to advance its mission in protecting rainforests and indigenous rights on an international scale.
- Department
- Deforestation-Free Markets
Mariboesgate 8, 0183 Oslo
About Regnskogfondet
Rainforest Foundation Norway supports indigenous peoples and traditional populations of the world’s rainforests in their efforts to protect their environment and secure their customary rights. RFN was established in 1989 and works alongside local environmental, Indigenous, and human rights organizations in the main rainforest countries in the Amazon region, Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. RFN is an independent organization, and part of the international Rainforest Foundation network, with sister organizations in the United Kingdom and the USA.
Consultancy - Review of biodiversity impact metrics
The consultancy will commence spring 2024 and conclude by 30 June 2025. The contract spans 35 working days, with the possibility of extension, subject to mutual agreement.
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