Biodiversity Conservation in Coffee Consultancy

In accordance with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) policies and procedures, full sized projects implemented by UNDP and financed by GEF are required to undergo a Terminal Evaluation (TE). The TE will be conducted according to the guidance, rules and procedures established by UNDP and GEF as reflected in the UNDP Evaluation Guidance for GEF Financed Projects.

This project seeks to promote biodiversity conservation by generating demand for coffee produced in compliance with the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) standards. In order to satisfy this demand, it is focused on building supply of Rainforest Alliance certified coffee in six coffee producing countries - Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru - thereby contributing to the conservation of the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Mesoamerican, and the Tropical Andes biodiversity hotspots. As the project seeks to transform the coffee sector to provide market incentives through certification, it expects in addition to produce conservation benefits in other coffee growing regions across the globe. In 2013, the project aims to result in the certification of 1,500,000 ha of coffee from which 500,000 metric tons (t) of RA certified coffee will be sold to more than 300 coffee companies (roasters).

Rainforest Alliance in coordination with UNDP will hire two international experts to conduct the TE exercise. The evaluators will assess the achievement of project results under the program strategies and interventions executed by Rainforest Alliance from 2007 to 2013. As part of this objective, the evaluators will also collate and analyze specific lessons and best practices which may be of relevance to other projects in the six target countries, and would aid Rainforest Alliance in the implementation of UNDP supported, GEF financed projects elsewhere in the world. The evaluators will also assess the key financial aspects of the project, including the extent of co-financing planned and realized. Project cost and funding data will be required, including annual expenditures. Variances between planned and actual expenditures will need to be assessed and explained. Results from recent financial audits, as available, should be taken into consideration.