USAID Value-chain Opportunities for Indigenous Conservation Enterprises (VOICE)

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) USAID AMAZON REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM (AREP) ISSUANCE DATE: January 16, 2024 CLOSING DATE: March 1st, 2024 at 3pm (Local Lima Time) SUBJECT: Request for Information (RFI) No 72052724RFI00002 - USAID Value-chain Opportunities for Indigenous Conservation Enterprises (VOICE) This is a Request for Information (RFI) from the USAID/PERU Mission’s Amazon Regional Environment Program (USAID/AREP). An RFI is a call for organizations to share technical or other requested information and gather feedback before we issue a formal solicitation. The RFI is one manner in which USAID explores ideas and plans for future projects in a particular technical area. With this RFI, we would like to collect responses related to the enclosed draft program description entitled “USAID Value-chain Opportunities for Indigenous Conservation Enterprises (VOICE).” Attachment #1 provides the background, draft objectives, and illustrative activities of the proposed program. The RFI questions and submission instructions are included in Attachment #2. Submissions with responses to this RFI might be considered to develop a final approach to the program description. USAID is trying to sincerely make an intelligent well-researched design for this Regional Environment Program. We acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers and offer the opportunity for interested organizations and individuals to provide their experience, information, opinions, and recommendations to refine future approaches to advance the self-reliance of Indigenous/Maroon Peoples in the Amazon region. This program intends to improve indigenous and Maroon peoples' capacities across the Amazon region to pursue inclusive community development involving commercial activities that are environmentally and economically sustainable as well as respectful to indigenous rights and culture. These transformative conservation enterprises and bioeconomy models will provide these communities with economic benefits and promote regional conservation of natural resources in the Amazon through forest protection, sustainable practices, strengthened local governance, and associated activities. USAID recognizes that much work could be done to support indigenous/Maroon groups in the Amazon in many sectors. It is envisioned that funding requirements for this program will be limited to those approaches that reduce threats to biodiversity and drivers of greenhouse gas emissions in the Amazon region. AREP works in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Suriname. Recommendations concerning Guyana and Suriname are of particular interest. USAID intends to use the information received as a result of this RFI for planning purposes and to help make strategic decisions and refine any future approaches of USAID VOICE. USAID is not seeking technical or cost proposals at this time . Submissions will not be acknowledged, nor will responses be returned. Information provided in response to this RFI must be received in writing via email; telephone calls will not be accepted. The RFI is released in English with courtesy copies available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch. In case of discrepancies between these versions, the English version will govern. USAID will not reimburse RFI respondents for any associated expenses. USAID reserves the right in its sole discretion, without liability to utilize any, all, or none of the RFI response(s) in its planning efforts. USAID sincerely appreciates respondents’ efforts and inputs. This RFI will be open to receive responses for 45 days from the date of release. Responses should be in a Microsoft Word document no more than five (5) pages (Calibri font 12) total in length. Subject line for email responses to [email protected] must be as follows: “ RFI No. 72052724RFI00002 - USAID VOICE Activity. Responses must be received by the date and time indicated in the cover letter. The submitted responses should include the following information: Reference Number: RFI No. 72052724RFI00002 Date: Name/Email: Affiliation/Organization: Address: Phone: Thank you for your interest in USAID programs and helping us make them more successful. We look forward to receiving your responses. Sincerely, Dion Glisan Regional Agreement Officer