Request for Information (RFI) - New Activity: Climate Change Mitigation through Sustainable Land Use. The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Republic of Ecuador is designing a new Climate Change activity that aims to promote sustainable livelihoods and advance natural climate solutions in areas affected by deforestation and land degradation through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and mitigation efforts. This Request for Information (RFI) has the following purposes: 1. Gather ideas, strategies, and/or approaches on how to improve sustainable livelihoods and promote natural climate solutions through GHG reduction and mitigation efforts. Specifically, USAID/Ecuador is interested in activities focused on identifying the needs, approaches, and opportunities to reverse land degradation. 2. Solicit capability statements from interested entities. Please carefully review the New Activity Information section to ensure your technical observations align with USAID objectives. SECTION I. PURPOSE The purpose of this RFI is to collect information from local and foreign organizations with knowledge and experience in promoting sustainable livelihoods and natural climate solutions through GHG reduction and mitigation efforts and to learn about potential partners' interest in implementing or in partnering with USAID to implement a sustainable land use activity. Eligible respondents include non-government, non-profit, for-profit, academic and research institutions, and civil society. More specifically, organizations with experience designing and implementing climate mitigation projects in the previously mentioned sectors in Ecuador are especially encouraged to participate. Please note that USAID is particularly interested in responses from nontraditional partners1, local entities, and locally established partners. USAID/Ecuador plans to use the information gathered through this RFI to contribute to the design of an intervention to bolster sustainable land use that will contribute to climate change mitigation in areas affected by deforestation and land degradation. SECTION II. NEW ACTIVITY INFORMATION Total Estimated Funding: Up to 15 Million USD Period of Performance: 5 years Type of Mechanism: TBD USAID’s Climate Change Strategy 2022-20303 takes a holistic approach to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, enhance partner countries' resilience to climate change, and improve operational efficiency. The strategy emphasizes facilitating activities, technologies, and processes that mitigate emissions, conserve ecosystems, and bolster community resilience and leadership. To realize these goals, USAID focuses on mobilizing public and private climate finance, aligning development portfolios with countries' climate commitments, and promoting inclusive participation in climate action. These efforts align with USAID's core principles of locally led development, equity and inclusion, private-sector engagement, natural climate solutions, and evidence-based approaches. To further these objectives and translate USAID's Climate Change Strategy into action, USAID will be designing a new activity focused on improving sustainable livelihoods and promoting natural climate solutions through GHG reduction and mitigation efforts. This new activity will target areas impacted by deforestation and land degradation, including forests, wetlands, coastal areas, peatlands, grasslands, and/or agricultural lands. 1 (For more information see USAID’s New Partnerships Initiative). 2 (For more information see USAID’s Locally Led Development). 3 (For more information see USAID’s Climate Change Strategy). The primary objectives of this activity are as follows: 1. Generate measurable results in terms of avoided emissions, reduced emissions, or carbon sequestration, 2. Support the conservation, restoration, or management of Ecuadorian landscapes with a climate change mitigation benefit, and 3. Mobilize climate financing finance for climate SECTION III. INSTRUCTIONS A. GENERAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Responses to the RFI must be addressed to Andre-Guy Soh through
[email protected],
[email protected], and
[email protected] no later than May 27,2024, 5:00 pm (Ecuador time). Responses to this RFI may be in English or Spanish. Electronic submissions must include the subject line: “Response to RFI No.72051824RFI00002 -Climate Change Mitigation through Sustainable Land Use.” All submissions must be in Microsoft Word, using Calibri font, size 12. Responses may not exceed seven (7) pages. B. SUBMISSION OF TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTION: Technical contributions may not exceed 5 pages (included in the 7 page limit), may directly respond to the questions presented below, or address other areas deemed important, and must directly align with the objectives presented in Section III. ● What has been implemented successfully to reduce, or reverse GHG emissions from land use, land use change, and/or forestry sector in Ecuador? o What have been the most significant challenges to achieving or sustaining desired results? o Where and how have been the greatest successes in terms of climate mitigation impact and/or other aspects of programming such as local buy-ins and participation, livelihood benefits, biodiversity benefits, or others? ● Which ecosystems exhibit the greatest need and the greatest potential to maximize impact in terms of GHG reductions through sustainable land use approaches in Ecuador? ● Describe the 3 foremost challenges that affect the implementation of climate change mitigation projects through sustainable land use in Ecuador now and/or in the near future. ● What are the 3 biggest threats or drivers of climate change that are overlooked or not being effectively addressed in current projects aimed at reducing GHG emissions in the sustainable land use sector? ● Describe the 3 most important criteria to consider in selecting geographical and ecosystem priorities for programming designed to reduce GHG emissions through sustainable land use. ● What innovative ideas and/or programs have you implemented or identified for improving management of forests, páramos, mangroves, and/or other ecosystems that suffer high levels of deforestation and degradation in Ecuador? o Do you think that these innovations could be replicated elsewhere? o Are there modifications / improvements or other things to consider regarding these ideas and/or programs? ● How would you recommend engaging with women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, Afro-Ecuadorians, LGBTQ+, and/or youth populations to achieve GHG reductions and sustainable land use goals? ● How can the private sector be most effectively engaged to facilitate GHG reductions through sustainable land use in Ecuador? ● Where are the biggest gaps for mobilizing finance for natural climate solutions in Ecuador? ● Is there anything else you think we should know or consider regarding sustainable land use and climate mitigation in Ecuador? C. SUBMISSION OF CAPABILITY STATEMENTS Please do not exceed 3 pages (included in the seven page limit). Please be succinct and address the following: 1. Contact Name, Title and email address 2. Description of the organization's capacity to receive and manage bilateral/multilateral or other donor funding and the amounts (if any); 3. Is the organization Ecuadorian or International? Provide a number of years of experience working in Ecuador, and a brief presentation of past, present and future activities/projects managed in the sector of natural climate solutions and reducing GHG emissions from the land use sector. 4. Brief financial presentation of your organization. This section should cover the last 5 years and include overall budget, independently conducted financial audits, and any other information 5. Describe your overall management capability and leadership i.e., operations, procurement, personnel, certifications etc. 6. Describe your organization's overall implementation capacity i.e., technical know-how, established relationships and presence in the geographical area, certifications, and/or capacity to deploy or establish operations in targeted geographies. 7. Confirmation of your organization’s registration in the System for Awards Management (SAM). This is not required for this RFI but will be mandatory for receiving USAID funds. 8. Identify areas for further capability (management and implementation) strengthening. 9. References DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for gathering information and design planning purposes and does not constitute a Notice Of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) or a Request for Proposals. Responses to this RFI are not considered applications or proposals. This RFI must not be construed as the U.S. Government’s commitment to issue a solicitation. Respondents are directly and fully responsible for bearing all incurred expenses associated with preparation and submission of their RFI responses. USAID reserves the right to use any, all, or none of the information submitted in response to this RFI in a future solicitation/funding opportunity. Thus, respondents must clearly mark or label all proprietary information contained in their submission. USAID will not disclose proprietary information unless required by law. Failure to properly mark or label proprietary information may result in an inappropriate use of such information. If a solicitation/funding opportunity is issued, it will be announced on www.sam.gov and/or www.grants.gov at a later date, and all interested parties must respond to that solicitation/funding opportunity announcement separately from any response to this announcement. [END OF RFI NO. 72051824RFI00002]