RFI_signed.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Date: December 19, 2018

Subject: Request for Information No. 72052719RFI00002

Title: USAID Request for Information on Amazon Environment programing

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking information, opinions, and recommendations from all interested public and private parties for additional activities that could complement the achievement of USAID’s Amazon Vision.

This announcement is a Request for Information (RFI) issued solely for information and planning purposes, and does not constitute a Request for Applications (RFA) or a Request for Proposals.

Responses to this RFI are not applications or official proposals and will in no way be deemed to from any binding agreement with the RFI issuing authority.

Background & Problem Statement The Amazon Region is a unique asset to its nations and is valued by the world. The region is home to 33 million people, including 1.6 million indigenous peoples. It hosts one third of the world’s known species of plants and animals – many of which are not found anywhere else on earth. The Amazon Region is home to the largest river system in the world representing approximately 15 percent of the freshwater draining into the oceans worldwide. The natural capital of the Amazon region, including biodiversity, water resources, and stocks of carbon in standing forests, is of global importance and has great potential to further contribute to national and regional economic development goals.

In recent years, South America has undergone rapid economic growth and significant political and social change. Large parts of the Amazon Region, however, continue to experience high poverty and essentially remain beyond the authority of the state. As pressures to develop the region’s rich natural resources intensify, so do the over-exploitation, contamination, and degradation of those resources.

Amazonian countries all face significant environmental challenges, including widespread deforestation due to uncontrolled expansion of agricultural frontiers, large-scale infrastructure investments, mining (large and small scale) and petroleum extraction, and unsustainable (legal and illegal) logging.

Environmental challenges will only be magnified by the widespread and severe impacts of climate change, including potential declines in forest health. Unfortunately, ineffective governance, including weak, decentralized systems, widespread corruption, conflict, and a lack of political understanding or will, undermines the potential to sustainably develop the region’s rich natural capital and respond to these threats. This has created tension between biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and indigenous territorial and human rights goals on the one hand, and growing demands for resource extraction and infrastructure construction on the other. In response to these mounting threats, USAID has focused its Amazon regional program on addressing the potentially grave negative social and environmental impacts of large-scale development plans. This is based on the understanding that there is an urgent need to address and plan for sustainable development before the consequences of large-scale drivers of deforestation are irreversible, and that the Amazon can be developed economically while minimizing environmental and social damage.

Addressing threats to the Amazon region may require different, but complementary, approaches throughout the Amazon Basin. To ensure that all USAID environment programs operating in the Amazon Region contribute towards common, high-level goals, USAID developed the Amazon Vision in 2015.

Through consolidated results, and the promotion of greater synergies across operating units, the Amazon Vision will tell the story of USAID’s collective impact across the region.

USAID’s Amazon Vision

The United States Agency for International Development’s Amazon Regional Environment Program (USAID/AREP) developed the Amazon Vision (see annex 1) to describe, guide, and measure USAID’s investments and conservation impact at a regional scale. This includes AREP activities, USAID bilateral missions in the Amazon, and USAID/Washington centrally-funded activities in the region - all of which will align to the vision and be guided by its high level goals.

USAID envisions a healthy and resilient Amazon Basin that is valued by society, ensures human well-being, and safeguards our global climate. The Amazon Vision aims to conserve biodiversity and reduce land-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Amazon Region, with special focus on terrestrial ecosystems around high priority landscapes, the main stem of the Amazon River, and key tributaries and associated aquatic ecosystems. This, in turn, will improve the wellbeing of the people in the Amazon region and global climate health. The four Goals under the Amazon Vision are:

1. Decrease deforestation, forest degradation, and GHG emissions;

2. Foster an environmentally friendly economy;

3. Protect key landscapes and species; and

4. Secure rights, resources, and health of forest-dependent communities.

Current and planned activities under USAID/AREP include:

● Promotion of Best Social and Environmental Management Practices in the Amazon Region (current)

● Strengthening the Capacity of Indigenous Organizations in the Amazon (SCIOA) (current)

● SERVIR Amazonia (planned)

● Amazon Indigenous Rights & Resources. (planned)

More information about the activities under AREP can be found in Annexes 2, 3 and 4.

USAID/AREP’s geographic scope includes the Amazon portion of Brazil, Colombia and Peru, as well as the USAID non-presence countries of Ecuador, Suriname and Guyana. For the delimitation of the Amazon region, USAID/AREP has adopted the boundaries used by RAISG (the Amazon Geo-Referenced Socio-Environmental Information Network).

Requested Information from the Public

As part of its learning agenda and market research, USAID/AREP is exploring how to build upon current and planned activities that seek to conserve biodiversity and the benefits provided by ecosystems in the Amazon Region. USAID/AREP is seeking innovative approaches that complement achievement of the Amazon Vision and contribute to a healthy and resilient Amazon Region that is valued by society, ensures human well-being, and safeguards our global climate. As part of the input, submissions can build on https://www3.socioambiental.org/geo/RAISGMapaOnline/ current, or propose additional activities that would help to achieve the Amazon Vision. Details about current and planned USAID/AREP activities are outlined in Annexes 2, 3 and 4.

In particular, USAID/AREP is requesting information, opinions, and recommendations for activities that address, at a regional scale:

1. Deforestation driven by commodity agriculture and/or land speculation;

2. Threats to the integrity of the Amazon River (including, but not limited to, water quality and quantity, nutrient and sediment cycles and ecological connectivity), its key tributaries and associated aquatic ecosystems; and/or

3. Wildlife trafficking and broader environmental crimes.

Additionally, USAID/AREP welcomes information, opinions and recommendations for potential activities under the above mentioned topics, but outside of the Amazon portion of the above mentioned countries that, while not immediately within USAID/AREP’s geographic scope, could complement and contribute to USAID’s Amazon Regional Environment Program and Amazon Vision.

Please include in your response:

● Information about the Amazon-wide, as well as country or subnational contexts and characteristics of those threats and their drivers;

● A description of potential intervention strategies; USAID/AREP is looking for interventions that have a conservation impact at an Amazon regional scale. Submissions should detail an explicit biodiversity objective, and reflect uniquely regional approaches, such as efforts to scale successful concepts and programs, address transboundary threats, among others.

● Illustrative landscapes and/or watersheds within the Amazon region where potential new USAID/AREP activities can be implemented. Suggestions for landscapes and/or watersheds in the USAID non-presence countries of Ecuador, Guyana and Suriname are particularly welcome.

● A description of how cross-cutting and enabling factors such as gender equality, social inclusion and private sector engagement would contribute to the achievement of conservation outcomes.

● A description on how your response will lead to self-reliance of USAID’s partner countries in the Amazon and lasting sustainability.

Submissions will be accepted in English, Spanish or Portuguese or Dutch. Responses are limited to a maximum of 7 pages (single spaced, Times New Roman 11 pt). If the submitter has produced relevant reports, those reports may be included, but only as embedded links. Please do not submit applications, proposals, or resumes as they will be discarded.

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes. This is not a Request for Applications (RFA) nor a Request for Proposals (RFP); and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government. Responses to this RFI shall not be portrayed as applications or proposals and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding agreement. Issuance of this notice does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government, nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of comments. Responders are solely

Annex 1. USAID’s Amazon Vision

Amazon Vision [Need photos]

AMAZON VISION

JULY 2018

USAID AMAZON VISION 2

Front Cover: View of the Brazilian Amazonian landscape. Credit: Neil Palmer/CIAT

Back Cover: Aerial view of the Amazon rainforest, near Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Brazil.

Credit: Neil Palmer/CIAT

USAID AMAZON VISION 3

Table of Contents Why is an Amazon Vision needed?

Development of the Amazon Vision Strategic Approaches for Goal 1 Strategic Approaches for Goal 2 Strategic Approaches for Goal 3 Strategic Approaches for Goal 4

The Amazon Vision – Monitoring, Evaluating and Learning

List of Tables Table 1: Scope and Goals of the Amazon Vision Table 2: Amazon Vision Goals, Strategic Approaches, and Operating Units Table 3: Indicators for the Amazon Vision

List of Figures

Figure 1: Map of the Amazon Figure 2: Amazon Vision Infographic………………………………………………………………………………...5 Figure 3: Theory of Change for Goal 1 Figure 4: Theory of Change for Goal 2 Figure 5: Theory of Change for Goal 3 Figure 6: Theory of Change for Goal 4

List of Boxes Box 1. SilvaCarbon…………………………………………………………………………………………………..8 Box 2. SERVIR Amazonia…………………………………………………………………………………………... 8 Box 3. Conservation and Governance in the Amazonian Piedmont……………………………………………... 10 Box 4. Oil Palm Diversification: Reconciling Conservation with Livelihoods Program …………………………..10 Box 5. Conservation and Management in Protected Areas: Participatory Biodiversity Monitoring in Amazonian

Protected Areas Program ………………………………………………………………………………….12 Box 6. Generating and Delivering Sustainable Political Will and Enhancing Governance Conservation/

Development Issues in Peru ……………………………………………………………………………….12 Box 7. AIME Forest-Based Livelihoods Consortium ……………………………………………………………...14 Box 8. Indigenous Communities and Other Key Actors Better Protect Indigenous Lands and Other Natural

Resources Program ………………………………………………………………………………………...14

Acronyms AIME Accelerating Inclusion and Mitigating Emissions AREP Amazon Regional Environment Program BMP Best Management Practice GHG Greenhouse Gas REDD+ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation SAR South America Regional U.S. United States USG United States Government USAID United States Agency for International Development

USAID AMAZON VISION 4

Why is an Amazon Vision Needed?

The Amazon Region is a unique asset to its nations and is valued by the world. The region is home to 33 million people, including 1.6 million indigenous peoples. It hosts one third of the world’s known species of plants and animals – many of which do not occur anywhere else on earth. The Amazon Region is the largest river system in the world representing approximately 15% of the freshwater draining into the oceans worldwide. The natural capital of the Amazon, including biodiversity, water resources, and stocks of carbon in standing forests, is of global importance and has great potential to further contribute to national and regional economic development goals.

In recent years, South America has undergone rapid economic growth and significant political and social change. Large parts of the Amazon Region, however, continue to experience high poverty and essentially remain beyond the authority of the state. As pressures to develop the region’s rich natural resources intensify, so do the over-exploitation, contamination, and degradation of those resources. Amazonian countries all face significant environmental problems, including widespread deforestation, due to uncontrolled expansion of agricultural frontiers, large-scale infrastructure investments, mining (large and small scale) and petroleum extraction, and unsustainable (legal and illegal) logging. Environmental challenges will only be magnified by the widespread and severe impacts of climate change, including potential declines in forest health. Unfortunately, ineffective governance, including weak, decentralized systems, widespread corruption, conflict, and a lack of political understanding or will, undermines the potential to sustainably develop the region’s rich natural capital and respond to these threats.

Development of the Amazon Vision The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Amazon Regional Environment Program (AREP) developed the Amazon Vision in 2015 – 2016 to describe, guide, and measure USAID’s investments and conservation impact at a regional scale. USAID’s Amazon Vision team defined goals that the team is working toward across the Amazon Region. Using current and anticipated programming, the team identified the strategic approaches that contribute to each of these goals. Then, using existing Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks, and in collaboration with relevant missions and implementing partners, the team identified key relevant standard and custom indicators, all of which were already in use or identified for use in the next fiscal year, to describe progress toward achieving USAID’s regional conservation, climate change, and development goals. The result of these efforts is presented here, in this Amazon Vision Summary document. Importantly, the Amazon Vision is a living document that is responsive to regional strategies and priorities, and thus is likely to change over time.

USAID’s Amazon Vision USAID envisions a healthy and resilient Amazon Basin that is valued by society, ensures human well-being, and safeguards our global climate.

Figure 1. Map of the Amazon Region

USAID AMAZON VISION 5

Table 1: Scope and Goals of the Amazon Vision

Amazon Vision Scope

The Amazon Vision aims to conserve biodiversity and reduce land-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Amazon Region, with special focus on terrestrial ecosystems around high priority landscapes, the main stem of the Amazon River, and key tributaries and associated aquatic ecosystems. This, in turn, will improve the wellbeing of the people in the Amazon region and global climate health.

Amazon Vision Goals

1. Decrease deforestation, forest degradation, and GHG emissions

2. Foster an environmentally friendly economy

3. Protect key landscapes and species

4. Secure rights, resources, and health of forest-dependent communities

Figure 2: Amazon Vision Infographic

USAID AMAZON VISION 6

Vision Components

To achieve these goals, a suite of 11 strategic approaches were identified, each describing the contributions of current and anticipated USAID programming across the region. These goals and strategic approaches each support one another to achieve shared conservation and human well-being outcomes. On the following pages, each of the four goals and its contributing strategic approaches are described in further detail, with examples of each provided in the text boxes on each page. USAID will use a consolidated list of current, frequently-used indicators to monitor progress – the indicators and their use are described on Page 15.

Table 2: Amazon Vision Goals, Strategic Approaches and Operating Units

Goals Strategic Approaches Operating Units

1. Decrease deforestation, forest degradation, and GHG emissions

• Enable countries to access forest conservation finance

• Low Emissions Development Strategies

• Improve use of information to reduce hydrologic and fire risk

Colombia Peru

SAR

2. Foster an environmentally friendly economy

• Increase sustainable livelihoods

• Promote best management practices (BMPs) to foster an environmentally friendly economy

• Strengthen forest sector governance

Brazil Colombia

3. Protect key landscapes and species

• Combat environmental crimes in conservation units

• Build capacity for improved management of conservation units in key landscapes

Brazil Colombia

Washington

4. Secure rights, resources and health of forest-dependent communities

• Increase sustainable livelihoods for forest-dependent communities

• Strengthen the rights and resource management capacity of forest-dependent communities

• Increase capacity of forest-dependent communities to participate in conservation finance activities

Brazil Washington

USAID’s Approach USAID represents the third largest conservation donor in the Amazon. With a long history in the region, USAID can provide thought leadership and play a convening role to support natural resource stewardship.

There is no region-wide “one size fits all” solution to addressing challenges. Thus, USAID missions use different approaches to achieve the Agency’s conservation and development goals. To date, many of the most effective approaches have promoted sustainable natural forest management to lower GHG emissions, conserve biodiversity, and improve economic development by:

• Incorporating the value of ecosystem goods and services into program design and outcomes;

• Responding to the needs of local and indigenous communities;

• Strengthening governance systems; and

• Strengthening capacity to generate needed scientific evidence.

USAID AMAZON VISION 7

Strategic Approaches for Goal 1

This goal encompasses the work being done in the region to reduce land-based GHG emissions and reduce the impacts of climate change. It focuses on reducing land-based GHG emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation and minimizing the potential impacts of fire, drought, and flooding caused by climate change.

USAID is implementing three strategic approaches to contribute to this goal.

The first one focuses on enabling countries to access Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus (REDD+) and other forest conservation finance mechanisms and the second involves supporting Low Emissions Development Strategy planning. These two strategic approaches will improve the economic value of standing forests relative to other land uses, thereby reducing deforestation.

The third strategic approach addresses the potential effects of climate change on the Amazon, including an increase in drought that can lead to or exacerbate forest fires. By improving the use of hydrologic data and information about fire risk, governments and other stakeholders will have stronger capacity to plan and implement climate adaptation actions that will ultimately reduce deforestation and forest degradation, as well as the hydrologic impacts of climate change.

Aerial view of the Amazon rainforest, near Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas.

Brazil. Credit: Neil Palmier/CIAT

Credit:

GOAL 1:

Decrease deforestation, forest degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions

USAID AMAZON VISION 8

Figure 3: Theory of change for Goal 1to decrease deforestation, forest degradation, and GHG emissions

USAID is currently funding activities in Peru, Colombia, and regionally that address these strategic approaches.

They include SERVIR Amazonia (USAID/AREP) (see Box 1), SilvaCarbon in Peru (USAID/Peru) (see Box 2), and Component 3 of the Environment Peace Initiative for Colombia (USAID/Colombia).

Box 1. Silva Carbon

SilvaCarbon is a technical cooperation program to enhance capacity in monitoring and managing forest and terrestrial carbon. Drawing on the expertise of eight United States (U.S.) technical agencies and other partners, SilvaCarbon assists developing countries to design and implement comprehensive systems for tracking and reporting forest change and terrestrial greenhouse gas emissions. It is intended to result in stronger capacity to monitor, report, and verify changes in land use; a functional national carbon accounting system; policies that support Low Emissions Development Strategy and REDD+; the implementation of REDD+; and a reduction in GHGs.

SlivaCarbon works regionally across the Amazon and directly (bilaterally) with Peru and Colombia.

Box 2. SERVIR Amazonia

SERVIR, a USAID-NASA initiative, aims to strengthen the capacity of governments and key stakeholders to integrate Earth observation information and geospatial technologies into development decision-making.

SERVIR Amazonia will focus on drought and fire risk, water resources, hydro-climatic events, ecosystems management, weather, climate, and solar and wind resource forecasting. The regional initiative will also strengthen regional dissemination and collaboration mechanisms, particularly for precipitation and hydrologic monitoring and modeling data, and develop user-tailored tools to support the generation and use of information.

USAID AMAZON VISION 9

Strategic Approaches for Goal 2

This goal focuses on building an environmentally-friendly economy. Such an economy provides sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities, including a strong forestry sector, and applies best management practices (BMP) in infrastructure and extractive activities to minimize the environmental and social impacts of their practices.

The first and second strategic approaches, increasing sustainable livelihoods and strengthening governance in the forestry sector, aim to reduce community-based pressures, thereby improving the management and condition of forests and rivers. The third strategic approach, to promote BMPs, supports and advances development projects that follow BMPs. This, in turn, will improve forest and river management and condition.

Biodiveristy in the Unamat forest in Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru. Credit: Marco Simola/CIFOR

GOAL 2:

Foster an Environmentally Friendly Economy

USAID AMAZON VISION 10

Figure 4: Theory of change for Goal 2 to foster an environmentally friendly economy

These strategic approaches are exemplified by several current USAID-funded activities in the Amazon Region:

Promotion of Best Social and Environmental Management Practices (USAID/AREP); Oil Palm Diversification:

Reconciling Conservation with Livelihoods Program (USAID/Brazil) (see Box 4); the Middle Juruá Territory Program (USAID/Brazil); U.S. Forest Service Partnership for the Conservation of Amazon Biodiversity (USAID/Brazil); Environment Peace Initiative for Colombia (USAID/Colombia); Securing a Sustainable, Inclusive, and Profitable Forest Sector (USAID/SAREP); and Conservation and Governance in the Amazonian Piedmont (USAID/Colombia) (see Box 3).

Box 3. Conservation and Governance in the Amazonian Piedmont

The geographic scope of USAID/Colombia’s activity with implementing partner Fondo Patrimonio Natural covers the Andean-Amazon Piedmont region. The activity focuses on strengthening governance, sustainable livelihoods and BMPs to address the social and economic pressures driving the conversion of forest to agricultural lands. The governance component aims to address opportunities to improve technical capacity, coordination, and availability of biodiversity and climate change information. The sustainable livelihoods strategies focus on developing tools, policies, financial instruments, economic incentives, value chains, and capacity for sustainable, productive landscapes. BMPs focus on silvopastoral and agroforestry models.

Box 4. Oil Palm Diversification: Reconciling Conservation with Livelihoods Program

USAID/Brazil’s partnership with the Natura Company focuses on BMPs for palm oil producers, intended to increase the socio-economic benefits of the palm oil value chain. Production of palm oil is expanding rapidly. However, unsustainable production can result in deforestation, environmental degradation, and social problems. The Natura activity applies an experimental research approach to developing agroforestry systems and assessing their economic, social, and environmental impacts. The production practices use mixed cropping systems to obtain high palm oil yields, other products, and ecosystem services. The activity also explores business models, generates knowledge, and builds capacity in order to scale-up the application of BMPs in the palm oil sector.

USAID AMAZON VISION 11

Strategic Approaches for Goal 3

This goal focuses on the improved management of protected areas and other conservation areas. It reduces deforestation by strengthening the management of conservation areas and indigenous lands. It encompasses species conservation, though no activities currently focus on the conservation of specific species.

The first strategic approach improves national governments’ abilities to combat environmental crimes in conservation units.

Improving governments’ capacities in this regard will deter illegal activities causing deforestation. The second strategic approach builds conservation management capacity, focusing on support for the development and implementation of land use plans and management plans for conservation units. This strategic approach will reduce illegal deforestation and also slow the pace of legal deforestation through landscape and conservation planning.

GOAL 3:

Protect Key Landscapes and Species

Amazonia oratrix Credit: Duncan Rawlinson

USAID AMAZON VISION 12

Figure 5: Theory of change for Goal 3 to protect key landscapes and species

These strategic approaches are exemplified by several current USAID-funded activities in the Amazon Region:

Conservation and Management in Protected Areas: Participatory Biodiversity Monitoring in Amazonian Protected Areas Program (USAID/Brazil) (see Box 5), U.S. Forest Service Partnership for the Conservation of Amazon Biodiversity (USAID/Brazil), Accelerating Inclusion and Mitigating Emissions (AIME) (USAID/E3), Conservation and Governance in the Amazonian Piedmont (USAID/Colombia), the Amazon Center for Environmental Research (USAID/Peru), and Generating and Delivering Sustainable Political Will and Enhancing Governance in Conservation/Development Issues in Peru (USAID/Peru) (see Box 6).

Box 5. Conservation and Management in Protected Areas: Participatory Biodiversity Monitoring in Amazonian Protected Areas Program

USAID/Brazil’s partnership with the Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas focuses on building conservation management capacity through systematic and participatory collection of biodiversity monitoring data in protected areas. The activity first seeks to strengthen existing protected area biodiversity monitoring programs, emphasizing the participation of local communities. The activity then aims to scale up the approach by designing and implementing participatory monitoring programs in new protected areas, including a specific protocol for monitoring the impacts of large infrastructure projects in protected areas. Finally, the activity will develop a software tool to store and analyze biomonitoring results that are accessible to Ministry of Environment, local communities, and other stakeholders.

Box 6. Generating and Delivering Sustainable Political Will and Enhancing Governance Conservation/Development Issues in Peru

The purpose of USAID/Peru’s activity with the Conservation Council of Nations is to build political will in order to improve the government’s response to illegal gold mining. Illegal gold mining is a significant threat to biodiversity in the Madre de Dios region of the Peruvian Amazon due to the resulting deforestation and mercury pollution. The activity aims to build political will around a five-point action plan, signed as a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Peru and the U.S. Government (USG).

The action plan focuses on: 1) fighting criminal networks, 2) eradicating illegal mining in protected areas, 3) reinforcing transparent and licit supply chains,

4) alternative economic opportunities and 5) eliminating the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale mining.

The activity is expected to increase Peruvian policymakers’ commitment to improving conservation governance and natural resource management and combating illegal gold mining.

USAID AMAZON VISION 13

Strategic Approaches for Goal 4

The Amazon Vision’s fourth goal focuses on securing the rights, resources, and health of forest-dependent (often indigenous) communities across the Amazon Region. The first strategic approach contributing to this goal is to increase sustainable livelihoods for these communities. It has two aims: to help forest-dependent communities recognize that they can benefit from sustainable natural resource use and, simultaneously, to reduce dependence on those same resources. This is intended to contribute to improved management for indigenous lands, a subset of USAID’s focal biologically significant areas.

The second strategic approach uses indigenous life plans, land management plans, and development projects (that follow BMPs) to strengthen the rights and resource management capacity of forest-dependent communities. These activities will improve the management of indigenous lands. They strengthen the capacity of forest-dependent communities to pressure development projects to follow BMPs.

The third strategic approach increases the capacity of forest-dependent communities to participate in activities funded through REDD+ and other forest conservation finance mechanisms. The implementation of these activities will reduce deforestation from both large-scale and small-scale land use practices.

GOAL 4

Secure Rights, Resources, and Health of Forest-Dependent Communicties

In Ecuador, a woman harvests cocoa beans that will be processed into chocolate. Credit: Satre Communications

Credit: XX

USAID AMAZON VISION 14

Figure 6: Theory of change for Goal 4 to secure rights, resources, and health of forest-dependent communities

These strategic approaches are exemplified by several current USAID-funded activities in the Amazon Region:

Strengthening the Capacity of Indigenous Organizations in the Amazon (USAID/SAR), Amazon Indigenous Rights and Resources (USAID/SAR), Indigenous Communities and Other Key Actors Better Protect Indigenous Lands and Other Natural Resources Program (USAID/Brazil) (see Box 8), Territorial and Environmental Management of Indigenous Lands in the South Amazonas State Program (USAID/Brazil), Accelerating Inclusion and Mitigating Emissions (USAID/E3) (see Box 7), and Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (USAID/Peru).

Box 7. AIME Forest-Based Livelihoods Consortium

The Washington, D.C.-led AIME activity, as implemented in Peru, focuses on building capacity in indigenous and forest-based communities, strengthening policy, and engaging the private sector to promote subnational REDD+ programs. The partnership has created tools, curricula and inclusive capacity building approaches. It has also convened key actors, provided technical assistance to policy development, and promoted the participation of indigenous peoples in decision-making processes. In addition, the activity is developing REDD+ compatible products and activities that support indigenous groups, encouraging stewardship and conservation of ecosystem services within their territory.

Box 8. Indigenous Communities and Other Key Actors Better Protect Indigenous Lands and Other Natural Resources Program

USAID/Brazil’s activity with Equipe de Conservação da Amazonia seeks to replicate and scale-up a non-governmental organization, private sector, and indigenous community (Surui) partnership that resulted in an internationally verified indigenous community-led REDD+ project. The activity will use new mapping and data technology (Google Earth, Open Data Kit, Google Cultural Institute) and build the capacity of at least 30 communities, including indigenous and under-represented groups, to monitor their forests and borders to reduce deforestation and measure forest carbon. By 2020, the activity aims to contribute to the protection and sustainable management of 20% of the Brazilian Amazon and increase the wellbeing of traditional communities in those landscapes.

USAID AMAZON VISION 15

The Amazon Vision – Monitoring, Evaluating and Learning To the extent possible, all new USAID environment and climate change activities and projects operating in the Amazon Region will align to the Amazon Vision and contribute to the four high-level goals discussed above. USAID’s bilateral and regional operating units will implement activities in one or more countries that contribute to the overall Vision and goals. By consolidating reporting on shared and aligned indicators, USAID/SAR will consolidate results, report on regional progress, and promote greater synergies.

AREP will represent and promote the Amazon Vision, its goals, and contributing results; play a convening role in the region; identify synergies and encourage projects and activities to support regional priorities; and implement targeted, regional activities that respond to critical needs that are most effectively addressed at a multi-country level. USAID bureaus and offices in Washington, D.C., will provide technical support and services and recommend resource allocations that contribute to the Amazon Vision and goals.

The Amazon Vision is a framework for learning. By helping to identify and fill knowledge gaps, test critical assumptions, and better understand the environment in which USAID programs work, a regional-scale learning agenda based on the Amazon Vision’s theory of change will help improve programming region-wide.

Table 3: Indicators for the Amazon Vision

Indicators

DR.6.3-1: # of individuals from low income or marginalized communities who received legal aid or victim’s assistance with USG support

Custom (partnerships): Amount of investment mobilized/leveraged (in USD) for improved natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, climate, sustainable livelihoods, and/or other environmental themes as supported by USG assistance

EG.10.2-1: # of hectares of biologically significant areas showing improved biophysical conditions as a result of USG assistance

EG.10.2-2: # of hectares of biologically significant areas under improved natural resource management as a result of USG assistance

EG.10.2-3 # of people with improved economic benefits derived from sustainable natural resource management and/or biodiversity conservation as a result of USG assistance

EG.10.2-4: # of people trained in sustainable natural resources management and/or biodiversity conservation as a result of USG assistance

EG.10.2-5: # of laws, policies, or regulations that address biodiversity conservation and/or other environmental themes officially proposed, adopted, or implemented as a result of USG assistance

EG.10.2-6: # of people who apply improved conservation law enforcement practices as a result of USG assistance

EG.11-2: # of institutions with improved capacity to assess or address climate change risks supported by USG assistance

EG.11-6: # of people using climate information or implementing risk-reducing actions to improve resilience to climate change as supported by USG assistance

EG.13-1: # of people trained in sustainable landscapes supported by USG assistance EG.13-2: # of institutions with improved capacity to address sustainable landscapes issues as supported by USG assistance

EG.13-3: # of laws, policies, regulations, or standards addressing sustainable landscapes formally proposed, adopted, or implemented as supported by USG assistance

EG.13-4: # of investment mobilized (in USD) for sustainable landscapes as supported by USG

USAID AMAZON VISION 16

Indicators 1 2 3 4 EG.13-5: # of people receiving livelihood co-benefits (monetary or non-monetary) associated with the implementation of USG sustainable landscapes activities

EG.13-6: GHG emissions, estimated in metric tons of CO2 equivalent, reduced, sequestered, or avoided through sustainable landscapes activities supported by USG assistance

EG.13-7: Projected GHG emissions reduced or avoided through 2030 from adopted laws, policies, regulations, or technologies related to sustainable landscapes as supported by USG

Custom: # of indigenous life plans Custom: # of hectares of degraded/deforested lands reforested as a result of this activity Custom: # of hectares under improved forest management in indigenous communities

Custom: # of institutions at national, sub-national, and local scales established or with improved capacity for conservation and management of natural resources and biodiversity as a result of USG assistance

Additional Resources

Key Documents Used to Develop the Amazon Vision

● How-To Guide 1: Developing Situation Models for USAID Biodiversity Programming

● How-To Guide 2: Using Results Chains to Depict Theories of Change in USAID Biodiversity Programming

● How-To Guide 3: Defining Outcomes and Indicators for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning in USAID

Biodiversity Programming

● An Analysis of International Conservation Funding in the Amazon (Moore Foundation, 2014)

● International Conservation Funding in the Amazon: An Updated Analysis (Moore Foundation, 2017)

● Amazonia Under Pressure (Amazonian Network of Georeferenced Social and Environmental Information, 2012)

Points of Contact

● USAID Peru (including SAR)

● USAID Colombia

● USAID Brazil

● USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean (covering Guyana and Suriname)

● USAID Office of Forestry and Biodiversity

● USAID Office of Global Climate Change

● USAID Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean

USAID AMAZON VISION 17

U.S. Agency for International Development

Av. La Encalada, cuadra 17

Monterrico, Surco

Lima, Peru 20521-3230

Tel: 511-618-1200 Fax: 511-618-1350 www.usaid.gov/biodiversity

Annex 2. Current and planned activities under AREP

Name Overall objective Status Details

Promotion of Best Social and Environmental Management Practices in the Amazon Region Activity

Reduce the negative impacts of megaprojects in the roads, hydropower, oil and gas and mining sectors.

In implementation See annex 3

Strengthening the Capacity of Indigenous Organizations in the Amazon

To strengthen the capacity of at least five selected indigenous peoples’ organizations within the Amazon region to manage financial resources to improve their ability to take ownership of their own development planning and priorities.

In implementation See annex 4

SERVIR Amazonia

To reduce negative impacts of large-scale infrastructure, extractives activities, and climate change on Amazon forests and waters through increased use of geospatial information for improved planning and decision-making.

In procurement Request for Applications:

https://www.grants.gov/w eb/grants/view-opportunit y.html?oppId=306814

Amazon Indigenous Rights & Resources.

This regional activity will support work with the indigenous groups, Private Sector, Governments and the Civil Society (including academia) in raising awareness on indigenous people’s rights and responsibilities, especially for communities facing proposed projects or activities impacting the environment.

In design USAID Business Forecast:

https://goo.gl/KstkaF https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=306814 https://goo.gl/KstkaF

Annex 3. Overview of the “Promotion of Best Social and Environmental Management Practices in the Amazon Region” Activity

USAID’s five-year (2018 - 2023) “Promotion of Best Social and Environmental Management Practices in the Amazon Region Activity” (Amazon BMP Activity) aims to identify, adopt and replicate industry and environmental governance best management practices (BMPs).

The Amazon BMP Activity will operate at the site, country (Brazil, Colombia, and Peru) and regional levels with infrastructure (roads, hydropower) and extractive (mining and oil) sectors to foster an environmentally friendly economy in the Amazon Region.

The Amazon BMP Activity will work with government institutions, companies working on infrastructure (roads, hydropower) and extractive activities (mining and oil), business associations, indigenous peoples, and other key stakeholders to support industry BMPs and environmental governance practices throughout the entire project cycle, including the planning, siting, feasibility, design, construction, operations and closure phases.

To accelerate BMP’s adoption, the overall strategy emphasizes private sector engagement, evidence-based decision-making, stakeholder partnerships and collaborative platforms across the four sectors: Roads, Hydropower, Oil & Gas and Mining.

The BMP Activity evidences USAID’s recognition that in addition to its efforts to strengthen the capacity of government and civil society, the private sector has a critical role to play by championing the adoption of BMPs, especially in relation to megaprojects. Therefore, by working closely with key private sector partners, the BMP Activity will leverage the technology innovation and economic drivers that are implicit in private sector sustainability and corporate stewardship initiatives to reduce negative and social impacts of megaprojects in the Amazon.

Objective:

Reduce the negative impacts of megaprojects in the roads, hydropower, oil and gas and mining sectors.

Strategic Approaches (SA):

SA 1: Develop tools and incentives for BMP adoption.

SA 2: Facilitate partnership and collaboration arrangements for BMP adoption.

SA 3: Strengthen stakeholder capacity on environmental governance and compliance.

SA 4: Increase awareness and promote replication of BMPs.

Principal Activities:

1. Identify BMPs and establish implementation arrangements and tools

2. Promote adoption of BMPs and environmental governance practices

3. Replicate industry BMPs and environmental governance practices

Annex 4. Factsheet on the ‘Strengthening the Capacity of Indigenous Organizations in the Amazon” activity

USAID.GOV STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS | 1

STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY

OF INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS

The Amazon region’s 1.6 million indigenous people are important partners in biodiversity conservation, but face significant challenges when advocating for their interests to outside economic and political interests. Indigenous peoples’ organizations need support to strengthen their institutions in order to defend their rights.

HOW DOES THE ACTIVITY WORK?

• Indigenous organizations receive technical support to strengthen their administrative and financial management capacities.

• Five indigenous organizations from Colombia, Brazil and Peru will participate in an institutional capacity assessment and tailored technical assistance to meet each organization’s identified needs.

• Each indigenous organization will also manage a small grant to help them meet their institutional development goals.

WHAT RESULTS ARE EXPECTED?

• A minimum of five indigenous organizations will improve abilities to manage financial resources and implement community development projects.

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USAID.GOV STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS | 2

• Knowledge will be shared with other indigenous organizations across the Amazon region.

• This project is a first step to the Amazon Regional program’s strategic approach to secure indigenous rights and resources.