Terms of Reference Consultant for developing a concept project on Nature based Solutions for Cities

Transcription

1 Terms f Reference Cnsultant fr develping a cncept prject n Nature based Slutins fr Cities Backgrund The cncept f sustainability, in all its dimensins, deserves t be the main pillar f current urban develpment. In a scenari f extreme cmplexity, with an urban ppulatin that will grw t 6,000 millin by 2050, accrding t United Natins estimates, it is urgent t prepare ur cities fr the enrmus demgraphic pressure that will sharpen the already existing challenges: prvisin f basic services, traffic cngestin, quality f air, nise, glbal warming... Ecsystems prvide natural slutins t many challenges cities face by ffering numerus services such as clean air, water filtratin, fld preventin, nise reductin and climate change mitigatin and adaptatin, as well as many nn material benefits, fr example recreatin, educatin, aesthetic values and maintenance f scial relatins. In the face f urban expansin and densificatin, there is a need fr effective mechanisms fr the planning and gvernance f bidiversity and ecsystem services. Such mechanisms can imprve human well-being and strengthen the capacity f cities t adapt t change. Lcal gvernments can benefit frm taking the leadership rle in the effective integratin f bidiversity and ecsystem services int land use planning, plicy making and management respnses. The Nature-based Slutins (NbS) cncept, as used in envirnmental sciences and nature cnservatin cntexts, has emerged within the last decade r s, as internatinal rganisatins search fr ways t wrk with ecsystems rather than relying n cnventinal engineering slutins (such as seawalls) t adapt t and mitigate climate change effects, while imprving sustainable livelihds and prtecting natural ecsystems and bidiversity. The NbS cncept is being develped and applied by IUCN and ther rganisatins, such as the Eurpean Cmmissin. The IUCN Wrld Cnservatin Cngress, held in September 2016 in Hawaii, adpted Reslutins WCC-2016-Res-069-EN Defining Nature-based Slutins and WCC-2016-Res-029-EN Incrprating urban dimensins f cnservatin int the wrk f IUCN, nting the imprtance f NbS as an underpinning element f the IUCN Prgramme Accrding t IUCN, Nature-based Slutins (NbS) are defined as actins t prtect, sustainably manage and restre natural r mdified ecsystems, which address scietal challenges (e.g. climate change, fd and water security r natural disasters) effectively and adaptively, while simultaneusly prviding human well-being and bidiversity benefits. 1

2 The new circular ecnmy culd play an imprtant rle in NbS, cmplementarily, can als ffer ideas n fields such as waste management, sharing ecnmy, resurce efficiency, r resilient urban develpments. Circular ecnmy is a central theme in the new Eurpean urban agenda. Finally, the key cntributin that Urban Eclgy can prvide t a mre ec-systemic apprach fr urban develpment must be als taken int cnsideratin. Urban Eclgy is bradly recgnized as a discipline with an enrmus ptential fr the imprvement f sustainability, health and cexistence in urban areas. Due t the lack f integratin f bidiversity and ecsystems inurban planning, cities, in Eurpe and in the Mediterranean area, are currently facing enrmus difficulties in cping with climate change, airquality and nise related illness, pacific cexistence r security. This culd be changed thrugh the establishment f a new urban planning mdel, in which a central rle wuld be given t cnnectivity between urban areas and the surrunding ecsystem/landscape, new scial uses f the public space and mre green and bidiversity-friendly urban spaces. The IUCN-Med prgramme cncerns the Mediterranean regin, ne f the planet s "htspts" f bidiversity. IUCN-Med cncentrates its effrts n the implementatin f the three IUCN glbal prgramme areas: Valuing and cnserving nature; Effective and equitable gvernance f nature s use; and Deplying nature-based slutins t glbal challenges in climate, fd, develpment tgether with a furth new specific prgramme area fcused n IUCN crprate develpment. In the year 2025, the rate f urbanisatin f the Mediterranean regin as a whle culd reach 72% (trend scenari). With the aim f inspiring Nature Based Slutins in the Mediterranean cities and prmting this apprach, the IUCN Centre fr Mediterranean Cperatin has launched a prcess t identify the best NbS that culd be implemented in this reginal area; and t ffer a knwledge base fr develping innvative nature-based slutins and fster cperatin n this field. This is the framewrk in which this prject cmes int play, aiming at identifying Nature-based Slutins fr cities in the fields f public space, envirnmental prtectin and public health. Specifically the prject aims t identify and disseminate the mst suitable NbS needed fr develping a new ecsystem apprach in urban plicies. Overall gal f service One f IUCN s current fields f wrk is related with applying NbS apprach t sustainable urban develpment. With this gal in mind, a cnsultant is invited t develp a research and develpment framewrk fr this field aiming at: - Identifying hw NbS culd ffer strategic and ecsystem appraches t challenges that cities are currently facing in the Mediterranean regin (water shrtage, health, air pllutin, high temperatures, water levels, extreme event ); - Framing a ptential prject and a list f ptential internatinal/eurpean funds in this subject; 2

3 - Identifying experts and partners in rder t cnceptualize a cmmn framewrk fr a prject in this field. Furthermre the cnsultant will have an pprtunity t review and prvide feedback n the cntributins that partners and experts are expected t prvide during the prject develpment prcess (via a wrkshp and an internatinal cnference). As a result f the research and framing phase, a prject n NbS fr cities is expected t be drafted. Expected Methdlgy and Outputs Step 1. Research and framing (Deadline, Octber 15). Purpse: Preliminary desktp analysis f current envirnmental plicies in the face f NbS in the cities and identificatin f best experts in this field in the Mediterranean regin. A summary f the research n existing ideas and prpsals fr implementing NbS in the framewrk f an ecsystem apprach t urban develpment in the Mediterranean regin. A database f experts that are in psitin t discuss the main bjectives and the mst apprpriate scpe f an IUCN prject n cities and NbS in the Mediterranean regin. A list f ptential partners in the Mediterranean regin (public, academic, scial r private) fr a shared prject in this field. Shrt analysis f the plicy framewrks t bst the develpment f the NbS prjects at Eurpean and Mediterranean level. Natinal r internatinal frums/netwrks/events where t give visibility t NbS and cities (such as ARLEM, FEMP ) Step 2. Prducing and discussing ideas (Deadline,Nvember 15) Purpse: Discussin f main ideas identified in step 1 within the framewrk f a specific meeting with experts and ptential partners. Organisatin f a meeting (apprximately 5-6 peple) with natinal/internatinal experts and ptential partners, previusly identified, t discuss the pprtunity, the general scpe, the cntent, and the bjectives f a cmmn prject n NbS in the urban field. A shrt presentatin t be discussed in the wrkshp, highlighting the lessns learned frm the research, and summary f the main ideas discussed in the wrkshp. Main utput: A shared framewrk fr an NbS prject n cities. Tentative radmap fr designing and implementing a prject in this framewrk, t be submitted t Eurpean calls. 3

4 Step 3. Drafting a prject (Deadline, December 30 1 ) Purpse: Design f a prject n Nature-based Slutins fr Mediterranean cities in the framewrk f an ecsystem apprach, t be submitted t Eurpean call-t-actins. Draft prject t be submitted t the mst suitable Eurpean call fr prpsals fr this field (Hrizn2020, ENI ). Step 4. Supprting the rganisatin f an internatinal wrkshp (Deadline, First quarter ) Purpse: Supprt t the rganisatin f an internatinal wrkshp t present the main ideas, prjects and results n this field f wrk by UICN-Med in crdinatin with the IUCN Eurpean reginal ffice General framewrk and bjectives Drafting agenda f the event Draft schedule Prpsal n cntributrs and participants. Supprt fr searching funds fr the rganisatin f the internatinal wrkshp Apprval f Deliverables IUCN Centre fr Mediterranean Cperatin will apprve all deliverables. Budget and Timeline The budget fr this cnsultancy shuld be arund eurs (VAT included); prpsals with amunts larger than this shuld be clearly justified. Travels t and frm the regin fr ne representative will be cvered by IUCN-Med in relatin t the rganisatin f the expert meeting and the internatinal cnference; all ther travels shuld be included in the cnsultancy fee. The cnsultant is expected t be paid 30% f the ttal amunt agreed upn cntract signing, an additinal 20% upn cmpletin f Phase 1 and the final 50% upn cmpletin f Phase 3. 1 This deadline culd be mdified depending n the dates f the ptential calls. 2 This deadline is als subjected t the lgistic availability t rganise the internatinal cnference in that perid. 4

5 The cnsultancy will start in September 2017 and end in the first quarter f Qualificatins & Experience The cnsultant/s is expected t have a multi-disciplinary envirnmental and scial science backgrund, preferable with experience n urban develpment and EU plicy develpments and funding instruments. Demnstrated expertise in relatin t the call cvering ne r mre f the fllwing: Nature-based slutins, urban planning, cnceptual framewrks, resilience t climate change, c benefits f natural slutins and methds fr knwledge synthesis. It will als take in cnsideratin experiences in inter and transdisciplinary wrk n tpics related t Nature based slutins in cities and in science plicy interface prcesses. Dcuments t be Presented Methdlgical prpsal n the basis f the TRs including timeline f actins; CV f the candidate/es; Financial ffer Wrking knwledge in English. Dcuments will have t be prduced in English. Evalutin f the Offer The evaluatin will be based in: (i) the expertise f the candidate/es in relatin with the gals f the TORs; (ii) methdlgical prpsal, (iii) financial ffer. Applicatin and Deadline The applicatin pack shuld be sent in pdf t: Lurdes.lazar@iucn.rg and andres.alcantara@iucn.rg, n later than 21 h August 2017 at CET. 5