Jal Jangal Request for Information (RFI) No. 72036721R00001 Post.pdf

Request for Information (RFI)

RFI ISSUANCE DATE: February 9, 2021, 17:00 Hours Nepal Time RFI CLOSING DATE: February 23, 2021, 17:00 Hours Nepal Time SUBJECT: Jal Jangal (Freshwater & Forests) Activity REFERENCE: RFI No. 72036721R00001

Dear Prospective Respondents and Interested Parties, The United States Government (USG) represented by the United States Agency for International Development, Nepal Mission (USAID/Nepal) issues this Request for Information (RFI) to provide stakeholders an opportunity to review and comment on the attached concept note and offer information and suggestions for an anticipated natural resources management activity, tentatively titled Jal Jangal (Freshwater and Forests). In the new activity, USAID seeks to capitalize on the successes and momentum of its ongoing terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity programs in Nepal, Hariyo Ban II and the Program for Aquatic Natural Resources Improvement (Paani).

USAID issues this RFI solely for information and planning purposes. This RFI does not constitute a request for proposals. USAID posts its competitive business opportunities on www. beta.SAM.gov.

Please monitor this site for announcements of this new opportunity. USAID encourages responses from new and underutilized partners, local entities, and locally established partners. (More information from the New Partnerships Initiative is available at www.usaid.gov/npi. Locally, this RFI will be published in two local newspapers (Kathmandu Post and Kantipur Daily) and amplified on Mission social media. USAID will also hold select stakeholder consultations based on this RFI.

Response to this RFI is voluntary. Responders are free to address any or all the items, as well as provide additional information that is relevant to the program. Please note USAID is not seeking technical or cost proposals at this time. Do not submit any proposal at this time. Only the information requested in this RFI will be considered. Issuance of this notice does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government, nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of comments. USAID will not publish the results of the responses to this RFI.

RFI Submission:

Responses to this RFI should be sent electronically to USAID via email to mailto:kathmanduoaaexchange@usaid.gov with the subject line “Jal Jangal RFI Response” by the closing date and time stated above. Responses should include names and contact numbers of the sender/contact person and the name of the organization. USAID requests that the submission not exceed 10 pages and would particularly value responses specific to the questions listed below.

mailto:kathmanduoaaexchange@usaid.gov

Consultation Questions:

Please refer to the attached activity concept note. In your responses, please provide any sources for the information, including peer-reviewed or grey literature, expert opinion, project evaluation reports and other documents relevant to this concept note.

1. As stated below, the overall goal of the potential partnership, as currently envisioned, is to reduce multiple threats to ecosystems and species in order to conserve nature, enhance human well-being, and safeguard the future. What do you or your organization view as the most pressing threats to biodiversity and resilience to climate change in Nepal and how can development partners such as USAID most constructively support the Government of Nepal and other stakeholders to address these threats?

2. How best might the views and interests of local beneficiary groups/institutions, especially the poor, vulnerable and marginalized groups, be solicited and integrated into the design and implementation of this activity? Examples will be appreciated.

3. What are the opportunities for the private sector to advance and sustain Nepal’s conservation efforts and how might development partners like USAID best support private sector engagement in sound natural resource management? Examples will be appreciated.

4. How have COVID-19 related issues affected natural resource management and threats to conservation, and what implementing strategies would be effective in this context?

5. Please share any additional information or references you view as being particularly relevant to the proposed new activity.

Issuance of this RFI neither obligates the USG to issue a solicitation or award a contract nor commits the USG to pay for any costs incurred or information resulting from this request. Respondents remain solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Thank you for your assistance and interest in USAID/Nepal programming.

Sincerely, Marva M. Butler Contracting Officer

Attached:

1. Activity Concept Note

2. Supplemental Information to the RFI Jal Jangal Ref. No. RFI72036721R00001 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qW-LGug0RIeXTdiZ3Khq3qY8NYLZU_RS/view?usp=sharing

Attachment 1

USAID Jal Jangal (Freshwater & Forests) Activity Concept

1. Problem statement

Background

Nepal’s natural resources, especially its freshwater and forests, form the bedrock of its economy. They provide ecosystem services that support the economy and livelihoods of the majority of its population.

Its geographical, climatic, and ecological diversity is remarkable considering its relatively small area of 147,181 km2, with a forest cover of 40% which is the second highest in the South Asian region after Bhutan. Himalayan water resources are regionally important, providing freshwater to over a billion people on the sub-continent.

The Government of Nepal (GON) has demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental management, biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation by being a signatory to international accords, implementing national policies and enabling decentralized natural resources governance through Community Forest User Groups (CFUG) with 40% of the population as members. It has achieved success in protecting endangered species such as the Bengal tiger and Greater One-horned rhinoceros and has demonstrated leadership on countering wildlife trafficking (CWT) in the region.

Despite these successes, Nepal’s aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity are threatened by climate change induced disasters, and the pressures exerted by an increasing human population, including infrastructure development, pollution, deforestation, unsustainable resource extraction and wildlife trafficking, among others. It is also among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. The threats are exacerbated by high levels of poverty, social exclusion, and political instability. Its largely rural population and high reliance on agriculture make it especially susceptible to the impacts of natural resource degradation and climate change. The economic recession precipitated by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic is expected to affect Least Developed Countries like Nepal disproportionately, and second-order impacts of the pandemic are anticipated to worsen unsustainable resource extraction, poorly enforced safeguards, and the existing inequity.

2. Development Hypothesis

Nepal’s wealth of natural resources, if managed strategically, sustainably, and equitably, can support its long-term economic growth and the livelihoods of vulnerable communities that depend on these resources for their livelihoods. It is also necessary that the country is able to mitigate the economic and environmental setbacks caused by recurring natural and man-made disasters, including those precipitated by poorly planned infrastructure; and improve the adaptive capacity of the communities most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and mismanaged natural resources. This activity will contribute to the development objective of More equitable and improved natural resources and disaster risk management and the overarching goal of USAID Nepal’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) - “A more self-reliant, prosperous and inclusive Nepal that delivers improved democratic governance, and health and education outcomes”.

The proposed Activity will build on the pioneering Hariyo Ban1,2,3 and Paani4 activities, using a landscape approach to natural resource conservation; and will focus on improving the health of ecosystems and biological diversity, environmental and social safeguards, climate resilience and addressing environmental crime. The activity will be implemented in partnership with the Government of Nepal, community groups, civil society, and private sector actors; and will also fully align with the Nepal government’s vision of “Conservation of biodiversity for sound and resilient ecosystems and national prosperity.”

The development hypothesis is:

If conservation of key habitats, ecosystems and biodiversity is improved;

And if regulatory frameworks including sustainable practices and standards for environmental safeguards and climate change adaptation, are developed, implemented/enforced and monitored;

And if capacity to address environmental crime is strengthened;

In a manner that improves gender equity and social inclusion; builds capacity of stakeholders for self-reliance; and improves policies, systems, and standards at all levels, Then Natural Resources (Freshwater and Forests) Safeguards and Security will be improved to develop Nepal as a stable, resilient, and reliable economic partner.

3. Goals and Objectives

The overall goals of this activity are to reduce multiple threats to ecosystems and species in order to conserve nature, enhance human well-being, and safeguard the future.

Objective 1: Health of ecosystems improved.

Objective 2: Natural resource safeguards and climate resilience improved.

Objective 3: Environmental crimes reduced.

4. Target Beneficiaries

Nepal’s economic development is highly reliant on its natural resources - forests, water, and biodiversity. Nature-based occupations such as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries (~25% of GDP) and tourism (~7.9% of GDP) make up nearly 33% of the country’s economy, with 60% of the population depending primarily on agriculture for their livelihoods. The goal of this activity is to reduce the threats to and secure these natural resources through application of better science, policy, and governance strategies so that the natural resource base can sustain the country’s economic growth in the long term.

The Jal Jangal activity will seek to achieve this by working with the populations, and their representative institutions, who directly rely on these natural resources for their livelihoods and well-being and are best placed to be the trustees of natural capital. Too often, however, poverty, social exclusion and political instability deny these groups the custodianship of the very resources they depend on, and expose them to disasters that threaten their lives, property, and livelihoods. Gender inequality and social marginalization further exacerbate vulnerability to shocks and stressors, due to curtailed access to education, assets and social capital resulting in chronic poverty. For example, while Nepal’s community forestry is held up as a global example of successful community natural resource management, women occupy only 26% of key positions in Community Forest User’s Groups.

USAID/Nepal’s focus is to increase the resilience, decision-making capacities, and well-being of the poorest, most vulnerable, and marginalized groups of Nepal, including its diverse indigenous communities, in all sectors of interest. The proposed Jal Jangal activity, to achieve this goal, will therefore commit to working with vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, and the institutions that represent them. These include, but are not limited to, the Community Forest Users Groups comprising forest-dependent groups like the Tharus, Chepangs and Rautes; mountain communities in high altitude ecosystems; community water users’ groups; and the recently established Community Aquatic Animal and Biodiversity Conservation Groups comprising traditionally marginalized river-dependent communities such as the Rajis, Majhis and Sonahas.

5. Results Framework

The proposed Activity will primarily focus on biodiversity-rich ecosystems within the target geographies, where it will strengthen natural resources governance through partnerships with local governments, local communities, and the private sector. It will scale up its current support of community-municipality co-management models, impart technical know-how, connect to private sector initiatives, and facilitate sectoral policy and legislation. The Activity will support low emission land use to increase incomes and co-benefits such as access to services and markets, effective safeguards, increased productivity, and protection of traditional livelihoods, among others. It is desired that the Activity results or outcomes be sustainable beyond the life of the project, so that Nepal may begin its journey towards self-reliance in the NRM sector. The higher-level results envisioned by USAID are outlined in the chart below.

6. Anticipated Approach

This concept has been informed by USAID/Nepal’s experiences from its ongoing activities in terrestrial and freshwater conservation, a desk review of resources, and the findings from a portfolio assessment. Terrestrial biodiversity conservation has a relatively long history in Nepal, while aquatic biodiversity conservation is still nascent. USAID perceives benefits in integrating these biodiversity focal interests for an ecosystem-based conservation approach, and addressing wildlife crime, while continuing to support human well-being through secure ecosystem services, policy changes, natural resource-based livelihoods, and improved climate change adaptation capacity.

The proposed Activity will build on USAID’s successful community conservation approach, promote sustainable natural resources governance policies and practices at all levels of government, partner with civil society, private sector, and research institutions to enhance knowledge, create evidence, support entrepreneurship, and improve capacity for informed decision-making. The proposed Activity will be designed around Conservation Landscapes Management, Environmental and Social Safeguards, Climate Resilience, and addressing Environmental Crime, but will be flexible to adapt to changes in context, opportunities, and funding.

7. Complementary Activities

The proposed activity will find synergy and complementarity with several USAID, USG and other Development Partner activities in the energy and environment sector. These include, but are not limited to, USAID Nepal’s Urja Nepal, Karnali Water Security (KAWAS), Bhakari and the Kathmandu Valley Clean Air Program (KCAP) Activities; and several ongoing and upcoming investments in the natural resources and climate resilience sectors by multilateral donors such as the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund and the World Bank. It may also have links with USAID’s Feed the Future Zone of Influence and One Health programs.

8. Geographic Scope

USAID’s current natural resources management activities Hariyo Ban II and Paani are being implemented in the Terai Arc and Chitwan Annapurna Landscapes (TAL & CHAL), and in the Karnali, Mahakali and Rapti river basins, respectively. USAID/Nepal proposes to continue its geographic focus in and around these large river basins (Karnali and Gandaki) that also overlap with Government of Nepal conservation landscapes that are either already declared (Chitwan Annapurna Landscape) or proposed (Karnali Conservation Landscape). This scope will align with the GON’s Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) plans and enable the activity to focus on freshwater priorities in addition to terrestrial ecosystems. There may be higher emphasis on the vulnerable northern high-altitude water towers and both terrestrial and riverine biodiversity corridors within and between these two landscapes. These corridors are crucial for connectivity and have not previously been an area of focus for USAID. The activity will also provide technical assistance and advocacy support for policy work at the national level on objectives such as environmental and social safeguards and combating wildlife trafficking (CWT).

9. Performance Monitoring

The detailed Performance Monitoring Plan for the proposed Activity will be developed to align with the Performance Management Plan of the Nepal Mission’s CDCS and the performance monitoring framework for Natural Resources Safeguards and Security (NRSS). It will include standard biodiversity and adaptation indicators, outcome indicators for threat reduction and key intermediate results, and other standard or custom indicators as relevant. Overall goal level illustrative indicators will include:

• EG. 10.2-1 - Number of hectares of biologically significant areas showing improved biophysical conditions as a result of USG assistance;

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

• CUSTOM - Number of hectares in all other areas under improved natural resource management, safeguards or sustainable practices as result of USG assistance

• G1 - EG. 10.2-3 - Number of people with improved economic benefits derived from sustainable natural resource management and/or biodiversity conservation as a result of USG assistance

• EG.13-5 - Number of people receiving livelihood co-benefits (monetary or non-monetary) associated with the implementation USG sustainable landscapes activities

• HL.8.5-1 - Number of people benefiting from adoption and implementation of measures to improve water resources management as a result of USG assistance

[END OF RFI NO. 72036721R00001]