Social and environmental impact monitoring and collection framework for indigenous enterprises

1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

About the project: “Incubator of Indigenous Enterprises in Bioeconomy for the Amazon Region” 

As part of the bioeconomy, Indigenous enterprises are gaining visibility as agents of change connecting remote areas of the Amazon to sustainable markets. These indigenous enterprises must be strengthened to improve living conditions and conservation efforts in the Amazon Basin.   

NESsT, together with national indigenous organizations from Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, have joined together to execute the project “Incubator of Indigenous Enterprises in Bioeconomy for the Amazon Region” with funding from IDB Lab, with the objective of co-designing a participatory model for the implementation of an Amazon incubator to support 15 indigenous enterprises and improve the income of 1,000 indigenous families.   

15 indigenous enterprises from Peru, Ecuador and Colombia will be part of an Incubation program with technical and financial support to improve their operations. This consultancy aims to strengthen the social and environmental monitoring framework. 

2. OBJECTIVES

Hire specialized services of a consultant or company with the following objectives:

• Strengthen the monitoring of social and environmental impact in the framework of the acceleration of indigenous-led enterprises in the Amazon; which may include geographic and environmental data. 
• Collection, compilation and analysis of data, with the objective of identifying the geographic areas where the enterprises are located, understand possible changes they may have experienced, and evidence levels of impacts/contribution to forests and other natural ecosystems. 

3. SCOPE OF WORK

• Conduct a review of the current social and environmental monitoring framework for the acceleration of indigenous enterprises. Propose a monitoring framework/scheme for the Amazonia incubator that can be applied regionally. The social and environmental impact monitoring program will collect information from 15 indigenous enterprises in Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.  

• The data collection will be done remotely and in close coordination with the NESsT team in the countries where the Amazon Initiative is implemented. 

4. ACTIVITIES

a. Planning

• Develop the execution plan for the consultancy, including details of the methodology, processes to be followed and tools to be used for the collection information. The plan should include the delivery of the tools to be used, as well as training for their use and application.

b. Design the monitoring framework for the collection of social and environmental impact metrics for indigenous–led enterprises.

• Review NESsT´s social and environmental impact monitoring framework for the Amazonia Initiative. Other impact frameworks from partner indigenous organizations can be consulted. 

• Conduct interviews with NESsT staff and project partners and others deemed relevant for the purpose of this consultancy.  

• Collect social and environmental impact data from indigenous enterprises (in collaboration with NESsT team) to inform the proposed monitoring system. Scientific databases, geographic information or other data considered relevant are recommended.   

• Develop an environmental impact assessment of the indigenous enterprises, that is supported by geographical information systems (with information about land use, natural resources, ecosystems present, among others).

c. Social and environmental impact monitoring system for the Amazonia incubator

• Provide a social and environmental impact monitoring system for indigenous enterprises of the Amazonia incubator. 

• Make suggestions and recommendations for the sustainability and scalability of the activities and processes of the proposed monitoring framework. 

The execution of the actions and products should be coordinated with the NESsT project management team. The consultant should maintain fluid and direct communication, interacting with multiple stakeholders in order to execute the activities of this consultancy.   

These activities may be subject to improvements according to proposals presented by the consultant. 

5. DELIVERABLES

Consultancy plan and timeline, which includes:

• Methodology, tools, resources, timeline and requirements

– Delivered by: 15 calendar days after signing the contract.  

– Payment: 10% of total amount.

Intermediate report, which includes:

• Initial monitoring framework system;
• Initial indicators collected from 10 indigenous enterprises, with consolidated information from each enterprise.

– Delivered by: 30 calendar days after signing the contract.

– Payment : 20% of total amount.

Interim report which includes:

• Complete indicators collected from 15 indigenous enterprises, with consolidated information from each enterprise.

– Delivered by: 60 calendar days after signing the contract.

– Payment: 30% of total amount.

Final report which includes:

• Consolidated monitoring system, with recommendations for sustainability and scalability;
• Analysis and validation of information from 15 indigenous enterprises.
• Results of training meetings on the environmental and social monitoring system.

– Delivered by: 90 calendar days after signing the contract.

– Payment: 40% of total amount

6. PROFILE AND REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Consultants or institutions with experience in geospatial systems, scientific databases, business management, administration, industrial engineering and/or related careers with a wide network of contacts in the sector of entrepreneurship and indigenous populations in the amazon region. 

• Minimum of 10 years of experience working with projects related to conservation and/or restoration, natural resource management, geospatial systems. Experience working with impact investment, entrepreneurship and indigenous populations in the Amazon region is preferred. 

• Knowledge and track record with sustainable value chains, experience with indigenous populations is preferred. 

• Strong analytical skills, experience in commercial, administrative activities and the ability to approach tasks in a highly organized, logical and diligent manner. 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to work in a team environment (face-to-face and virtual). 

7. CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS  

Oversight: Deliverables will be approved by the NESsT Amazonia Andes team and will work closely with members of the Amazon. 

Time frame: 90 calendar days after contract signature. 

Form of Payment: Once the contract is signed, the presentation of deliverables and payments will follow the beforementioned structure. Payments will be made once the deliverables are approved.  

Applicants must deliver a technical and financial proposal.

Deadline for submission: September 27th