Request for Information No 72053020RFI00001 - TCC.pdf

USAID/SOUTH AMERICA REGIONAL PROGRAM

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Date: December 13, 2019 Subject: Request for Information No. 72053020RFI00001 Title: USAID South America Regional Initiative for Transnational Conservation

Crimes in the Amazon

Purpose of this Request for Information (RFI):

The United States Government (USG), represented by the United States Agency for International Development USAID/South America Regional (SAR) Program is seeking feedback on the concept described below. The purpose of this RFI is to help USAID/SAR in the planning and design of a possible regional activity, evaluate the soundness of the regional approach and to identify gaps and potential transformative solutions. This is a Request for Information (RFI) and not a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Please submit your feedback regarding the theory of change and strategic approaches outlined below (the “what”) rather than describing how your organization would propose to achieve the results (the “how”).

Background:

Transnational conservation crimes (TCCs)--considered the fastest growing cross-border, high-value, low-risk enterprises-- are causing irreparable damage to the Amazon. Illegal harvest and transport of timber/plants, fish/wildlife, gold/minerals degrade the region and threaten the viability and security of vulnerable communities, governments, and the ecological foundation on which Amazon Biome Countries (ABCs) depend. For the purposes of this RFI, Amazon Biome Countries are: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Suriname.

In addition to pilfering Amazonian patrimony from future generations, organized criminal networks undermine government financial capital revenue streams, fuel corruption from local to regional levels and stifle regional progress for ABCs’ Journey to Self Reliance.

It is widely accepted that the persistence of TCCs is facilitated by a few endemic factors.

Entrenched corruption is among the most ubiquitous elements, along with weak transboundary institutional and operational cooperation, mismatched legal frameworks, variable transboundary enforcement capacity, and a lack of awareness among consumers and watchdog groups. Tackling TCCs in Latin America is further challenged given limited knowledge of the extent, dynamics, and structure of transnational illegal supply chains to which governments, civil society and the private sector could respond.

Growing evidence from governance, economic and conservation sectors indicate that broad-scale, multi-tiered approaches that unite actors regionally--from government, civil society and the private sector--are required to supplement traditional national and bilateral efforts (i.e., sustainable livelihoods, law enforcement training) to thwart these transnational conservation crimes. USAID/SAR is, therefore, applying a “whole-of-Amazon” regional systems approach to improve ABCs’ capacity, collaboration, and a sense of shared stewardship to combat TCCs. By working together across the region, with improved skills and greater knowledge, ABC’s can stay one step ahead of nimble crime networks and help conserve the Amazon Biome and the valuable natural resources and ecosystem services it provides.

Problem Statement:

Insufficient information, collaboration and incentives fuel transnational conservation crimes that threaten critical biodiversity and human well-being across the Amazon Biome.

Theory of change:

IF key actors (i.e., governments, civil society and the private sector) improve their capacity, collaboration, incentives and a sense of shared regional stewardship to combat transnational conservation crimes, THEN there will be a cohesive and effective system that decreases corruption and prevents the supply and demand for illegal natural-resource commodities among Amazon Biome Countries.

Geographic Area:

For purposes of this RFI, USAID/SAR defines Amazon Biome Countries as: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Suriname. Information and recommendations should be limited to regional perspectives and approaches that benefit the Amazon Biome.

Purpose:

In response to critical threats posed to the Amazon Biome by transnational conservation crimes, the USAID/South America Regional Program proposes an integrated regional strategy to improve the capacity and collaboration of government, civil society and private sector entities, increase institutional transparency and accountability, and decrease conservation crimes across the Amazon.

Intended Strategic Approaches (SA):

SA #1: Facilitate government collaboration and data-sharing on enforcement (investigation and prosecution, and prevention) of TCCs.

SA #2: Increase access to--and coordinated strategic use of--information/data by civil society in ABCs to advocate against TCCs and promote sustainable alternatives.

SA #3: Increase incentives for legal Amazonian supply chains and reduce demand for illegal commodities from key supply-chain actors in large end-consumer markets (i.e., India for gold).

Requested Information from the Public:

USAID/SAR welcomes information, opinions and recommendations regarding our theory of change and intended strategies. The questions below are guiding questions, and as such, not all questions need to be answered in your feedback.

Submissions will be accepted in English, Spanish, 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 not be reviewed.

Guiding Questions:

1. What do you consider the strengths and weaknesses of our approaches, and why?

2. What high-level regional approaches have we omitted that you would suggest for our consideration?

3. What critical assumptions do we need to consider?

4. Within the three strategic approaches, what steps are critical to ensure long-term results and impact?

5. What regional mechanisms and networks exist and could be fortified among the ABCs to facilitate collaboration, and what gaps prevent their effectiveness?

6. What are the barriers to enhanced regional collaboration and information sharing to help combat TCCs among ABCs’ governments and what approaches would most efficiently eliminate the barriers and incentivize collaboration?

7. Which ABC border areas are most challenging with respect to TCCs and which provide the greatest opportunity for positive impact?

8. Where are the large end-consumer markets with the most potential to decrease consumer demand for illegal Amazonian commodities using proven behavior change methodologies?

9. Which organizations (or consortia of organizations) are best placed and qualified to implement the large and diverse regional approaches we describe?

10. What regional processes work best to incentivize high-level private sector actors to perform due diligence and enforce 100% legal production in their supply chains?

11. Under what circumstances do formalization processes work to decrease barriers to enter or transition to legal markets?

12. What key incentives are required to support legal value chains for these natural resource commodities?

13. What research is needed to better understand and address TCC?

Journey to Self-Reliance:

Supporting the ABCs’ commitment and capacity to effectively combat TCCs will not only help conserve the Amazon Biome and promote legal sustainable use of its natural resources and ecosystem services, but also prevent illegal economies that undermine regional security and strip governments of critical financial resources, which are essential to the Journey to Self-Reliance.

Building alliances and strengthening the regional capacity of a broad array of public institutions- -including civil society organizations and national and regional governments--is critical to reduce TCCs and their drivers. In addition, supporting market-based incentives, institutionalizing capacity-building, and implementing behavior change approaches make interventions more sustainable and reduce reliance on public financing sources.

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 USG, nor does it commit the USG to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of comments and/or answers in response to this RFI.

Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.

The deadline for receipt of comments is 17:00 hours Lima time, January 22, 2020. Please submit responses electronically to limasolicitations@usaid.gov with copy to Mr. Jose Antonio Zarzar at jzarzar@usaid.gov and subject line for email responses must be as follows: “Request for Information No. 72053020RFI00001.”

[END OF RFI N. 72053020RFI00001]