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Jamaica's biodiversity is threatened on a variety of fronts. The cumulative impacts include the accelerated loss of vulnerable habitats and associated species, the reduction of ecological functionality and the growing insecurity of ecosystem services. As links are broken between remaining natural areas, Jamaica‘s marine and terrestrial ecosystems are becoming ever more fragmented. Opportunities for communities to realize the potential social and economic benefits accruing from biodiversity are lost. These issues are compounded and accelerated by the current institutional capacity that is weak in some areas in ensuring appropriate site and system level protected area management.
A host of globally significant species and associated habitats will be lost if overexploitation, habitat conversion, and climate change continue to erode ecosystem functionality. Jamaica is a global conservation priority with more than 1,400 known endemic species. This project‘s efforts will deliver the global benefits associated with a national protected area system (NPAS) better equipped to conserve globally significant, but currently vulnerable, ecosystems and allied species.
To support the financial aspect of the NPAS, a Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) is being established as a Regional Endowment for 8 national level Protected Area (PA) Trust Funds which is the first regional endowment to be developed anywhere in the world to support multiple national level PA Trust Funds. It is to be developed as an independent entity (meaning it has its own legal personality), incorporated as a tax-exempt, charitable Trust in the United Kingdom. The CBF capital will be invested, via an open and transparent process with an Investment Manager, for the long term, with an investment return goal (post investment management fees) of at least 7% per annum with a 5% pay out rate. As the CBF is being created as an incentive fund, each country will be asked to create new conservation finance mechanisms, such as tourism derived PA fees, entrance fees, conservation fees and water funds, (it is up to each country to decide on the mechanism) that will generate annually at least a 1:1 match to the annual CBF payout to the country’s national PA Trust Fund. The proceeds from the new conservation finance mechanisms will run through each country’s national level PA Trust Fund. Each country will have 2 years from the date of their national PA Trust Fund receiving its initial payout from the CBF to put in place the new conservation finance mechanism.
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Duties and Responsibilities
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In undertaking this assignment, the Consultant is expected to work closely with the Project Management Unit working under the direct supervision of the Project Manager. Within the framework of this Terms of Reference the consultant will be required to (at a minimum):
Component 1 – Collaboration with relevant stakeholders
- Develop a detailed Work plan for the delivery of the contracted work
- Collaborate with business and finance experts, legal specialists, public awareness specialist and relevant stakeholders in order to establish desired synergies for successful outputs
- Plan and implement stakeholder meetings on PA Trust Fund operations and management
Component 2 – Review of Trust Fund operations and support for project components
- Review the operation of PA Trust Funds locally, regionally and internationally drawing on their successes, lessons learnt and best practices and offer recommendations on what is most feasible for Jamaica.
- Identify Trust Funds that have been created (locally, regionally, internationally) that have incorporated cash inflow mechanisms
- Make recommendations on establishing a new Trust Fund or utilising an existing one
- If the establishment of a new Trust Fund is recommended, outline sequentially steps to be taken in establishing and managing the Trust Fund to be compatible with the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund
- If an existing Trust Fund is recommended, outline sequentially steps to be taken in incorporating changes in order to be compatible with the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund
- Liaise with Regional Experts working with similar projects in establishing Trust Fund and Revolving Fund
- Assist the local and international Business and Finance Specialists with the creation of an implementation plan for the Sustainable Finance Plan of the PASMP
- Support the drafting of / making amendments to Trust Fund legislation
Component 3 – Development and Implementation of Training Programmes
- Develop curricula and training materials for PA Trust Fund management for key stakeholders such as existing Trust Fund managers, PA managers, members of the Project Steering Committee, and relevant Government entities
- Design and implement training programmes on PA Trust Fund management for key stakeholders such as Trust Fund managers, PA managers, members of the Project Steering Committee, and relevant Government entities
Component 4 –Reporting
- Prepare and submit to the Project Manager progress reports (timeline as agreed by both parties)
- Prepare and submit to the Project Manager the Deliverables as outlined in Section 7
- Make oral presentations to the Project Steering Committee (as required)
Deliverables
The Consultant is required to provide:
- Detailed Work plan for the delivery of the contracted work
- Draft and final report on the review of Trust Fund operations with recommendations on what is most feasible for Jamaica.
- Draft and final report on Trust Funds identified that incorporates cash inflow mechanisms
- Draft and final report with rationale for either utilising an existing Trust Fund or development of a new Fund.
- If establishment of a new Trust Fund is recommended, provide a document outlining sequentially steps to be taken in establishing and managing the Trust Fund to be compatible with the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund
- If an existing Trust Fund is recommended, provide a document outlining sequentially steps to be taken in incorporating changes in order to be compatible with the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund
- Final report on stakeholder meetings
- Preparation of training curricula and manuals designed for PA Trust Fund training programmes
- Delivery of training workshops on Trust Funds and Revolving Funds
- Draft and final report on training workshops conducted
- Copies of PowerPoint presentations used in stakeholder meetings, workshops or any other relevant meetings
- Progress reports (timeline as agreed by both parties)
- Final Report on consultancy
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Competencies
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- Strong interpersonal skills
- Possess strong communication skills (verbal and written)
- Ability to demonstrate a good working relationship with Government Agencies, NGOs, International Development Partners, Multi-lateral and Bi-lateral Agencies and Academic Institutions
- Be highly motivated and capable of working independently
- Have a good understanding of the project management environment
- Possess computer skills including a working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Power Point and Excel
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Required Skills and Experience
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- Post Graduate Degree in Business Management/Finance
- At least 10 years proven experience with Trust Funds including analysis of Trust Funds, recommendations of types of Trust Funds and capitalization of Trust Funds, with emphasis on financing/environmental protection/natural resources management
- Relevant experience in protected area management planning, biodiversity conservation and environmental protection/natural resource management
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