Call for Expression of Interest Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the 3rd Open Call for Concepts SADC TFCA Financing Facility

Call for Expression of InterestTechnical Advisory Group (TAG) for the 3rd Open Call for Concepts SADC TFCA Financing FacilityPART 1 – BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESThe SADC TFCA Financing Facility (TFCA FF) is a regional funding mechanism established to provide sustainable funding for conservation and management actions in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The Financing Facility was established to become a flexible, responsive, demand and performance driven financing mechanism, with the unique purpose of supporting the establishment and sustainable development of TFCAs. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of the German Government, through KfW Development Bank, provided initial funding for the establishment of the TFCA Financing Facility. The long-term vision is for the TFCA Financing Facility to be funded by several international cooperating partners and other innovative financing models to reach an initial resource mobilisation target of EUR 100 million by 2026. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the Project Executing Agency (PEA) for the TFCA Financing Facility through its Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office.The SADC TFCA FF is aligned with the objectives of the SADC TFCAs Programme (2023 – 2033) and informed by a number for SADC Protocols and Regional Development Strategies. The programme has a focus on improving three main areas:* Improved habitat connectivity, especially for elephants and large carnivores as flagship species (“species” dimension); * Improved management effectiveness of TFCAs and PAs (“habitat” dimension); and * Improved livelihoods for communities affected by human-wildlife co-habitation (“people” dimension)The SADC TFCA FF provides funding to Government conservation agencies, NGOs and Community-based Organisations. The main activities for the project portfolio highlighted above, include but are not limited to support for improved protected areas management, establishment of wildlife corridors, law enforcement, human wildlife conflict interventions, tourism development, and community livelihoods.For the first time, the SADC TFCA Financing Facility launches a joint funded approach, under the Third Open Call - a unique approach that has two funding envelopes co-funded by EU NaturAfrica Programme and funding from the German Government. The Third Open Call aims to boost sustainable green economic activities within African landscapes. The primary objective is to achieve sustainable economic benefits that contribute to landscape sustainability while enabling the achievement of conservation goals.Selected applications will be those showing the best potential to deliver impact, with an emphasis on market linkages and economic value chains. These activities can be implemented through NGOs and CBOs or incentives to private operators.Successful applicants will have the opportunity to be considered for up to 100% of match-funding contribution of German Government to scale up the impact. The complementary package of German Government should consist of actions that are ready for immediate investment that quickly brings scale and adds value to work package one (EU NaturAfrica). The theory of change must be linked to conservation and development in TFCAs. Approval of the German Government package is reliant on the successful EU package.The SADC TFCA FF launched an open call for concept notes in December 2025, with a focus on the Green Economy, which will focus on the following six TFCAs:TFCA-SADC MEMBER STATESKgalagadi Transfrontier Park - Botswana, South AfricaKAZA TFCA - Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, ZimbabweGreat Limpopo TFCA - Mozambique, South Africa, ZimbabweMalawi-Zambia TFCA - Malawi, ZambiaChimanimani TFCA - Mozambique, ZimbabweZIMOZA TFCA - Mozambique, Zambia, ZimbabweThe SADC TFCA FF seeks to establish a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to support the PMU with the review of project proposals and to provide additional technical expertise on specialised fields as and when required. The TAG will bring in additional technical expertise to help with the review of concept notes and final proposals, and to strengthen the design and quality of the projects funded by the SADC TFCA FF thus also contributing to grantee capacity-building.The TAG will consist of a small group of highly experienced technical experts drawn from the conservation and development sector including but not limited to IUCN Commissions and the SADC TFCA Network with specific expertise in the SADC region and familiarity with Protected and Conserved Areas Management, grant-making, and project management in SADC TFCAs.PART 2 – REQUIREMENTS1. REQUIREMENTS1.1. A detailed description of the services to be provided can be found in Attachment 1.A key component of the SADC TFCA FF grant-making mechanism will involve the review of submitted concepts and proposals during the two-stage application process. Therefore, IUCN seeks to establish a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to support the Project Management Unit (PMU) with the review of concept notes and proposals; and to provide additional technical expertise on specialised fields as and when required. The TAG will bring in additional technical expertise to help fast-track the proposal review process and to strengthen the design and quality of the projects funded by the SADC TFCA FF thus also contributing to grantee capacity-building. Qualifying experts will be shortlisted, added to the Roster of Experts and will be requested to participate in the TAG as and when required.The TAG consists of a small group of highly experienced technical experts drawn from IUCN Commissions and the SADC TFCA Network with specific expertise in the SADC region and familiarity with Protected and Conserved Areas Management, grant-making, and project management in SADC TFCAs. The TAG is expected to have expertise and experience in the Green Economy thematic area:* Sustainable agriculture and land management (Conservation agriculture and sustainable farming practices (e.g. crop production, livestock production, veterinary science, Herding for Health (H4H), commodity-based trade, irrigation and water provision). * Sustainable commercial use natural resources (non-timber-forest products, fisheries, carbon financing, apiculture, processing facilities for biodiversity products value addition etc.). * Green Economy Value Chains * Employment and livelihood opportunities * Eco-tourism development and enterprises * ecological restoration and value-addition designed to support SMMEs/create jobs * Payments for Ecosystem Services * Governance - Institutional capacity of community institutions * Human-wildlife conflict management and mitigation * Community-led conservation and Community Based Natural Resource ManagementSpecific tasks of the Technical Advisory Group will be as follows:The TAG will provide a peer-review of concept notes and proposals to assist PMU with the following:* Review shortlisted concept notes and project proposals using the selection and scoring criteria to be provided by PMU, * Provide comments, and recommendations on the technical strengths and weaknesses of each proposal, * Where applicable, draw attention to best practice standards, guidance and lessons from the region to help enhance the quality of the shortlisted applications, * Provide guidance and support on specific technical and operational questions which may arise during project implementation, * Attend meetings of the TAG convened by PMU to discuss findings with other reviewers.Scope of Work for the Technical Advisory GroupThe TAG members will receive the concept notes and/ proposals after preliminary screening by the PMU. The concept notes and/or proposals will be distributed amongst the TAG members and each concept note/proposal must be reviewed by at least two experts. Ideally, a group of four (4 - 6) members of the TAG is envisaged. The PMU will provide the TAG members with the selection and scoring criteria and application guidelines for each call well in advance of the assignment to help members to plan their engagement. The TAG members will be required to be impartial in their review of each concept/proposal and will be required to declare any potential conflict of interest.On average, it is estimated that there will be approximately one call for concept notes every two (2) years. The number of concept notes/proposals to be reviewed by the TAG members will vary from call to call but is estimated to be up to 25 concept notes and up to 20 full proposals per call. Depending on the nature of the concept/proposal, not all TAG members may be required to review every concept or proposal. On average, we expect TAG members to take 2-4 hours to review a Concept Note and up to a maximum 4-8 hours to review a proposal and provide detailed comments and recommendations. Following the review of all concept notes/proposals, the TAG will be required to meet virtually to discuss the outcome of the technical review process.Required Qualifications* Relevant qualifications related to the Green Economy thematic areas, i.e. Natural sciences, Sustainable Tourism development, Sustainable agriculture production (crop and livestock production), Fisheries, wildlife economy value chains, non-timber forest products, Ecosystem restoration, Renewable energy, Water resource management for local communities, Circular economy, * Knowledge of the SADC TFCA Programme * At least 10 years of work experience in implementing green economy initiatives/projects, with experience in the SADC region an advantage * Experience in designing and developing multi partner projects * Experience in analysing project proposals and formulation of sound recommendations for their improvement * Membership in relevant scientific and technical networks * Proven ability to work well as part of a diverse, multi-cultural and geographically dispersed team * Proficiency in EnglishWork planThe indicative work plan and deliverables for evaluation are as followsMILESTONE-INDICATIVE TIMELINESConcepts to be distributed to TAG members-A week after the TAG is appointedSubmission of completed appraisals-Two - three weeksVirtual call to discuss the outcome of the technical review process-1 week after completion and submission of all appraisalsProposals distributed to TAG members -A week after the TAG is appointedSubmission of completed appraisals-three – six weeksVirtual call to discuss the outcome of the technical review process.-1 week after completion and submission of all appraisalsRemunerationSuccessful TAG experts will be contracted by IUCN. Members of the Technical Advisory Group will be paid an honorarium of EUR 1,500 per open call which comprises of two stages (review of concept notes and proposals).Independence and conflict of interestThe TAG members will be required to be impartial in their review of each concept/proposal and will be required to declare any potential conflict of interest. The selected experts will be required to sign a declaration of no conflict of interest for each call for proposals before taking part in the TAG.2. CONTACT DETAILS2.1. During the course of this procurement, i.e. from the publication of this RfP to the award of a contract, you may not discuss this procurement with any IUCN employee or representative other than the following contact. You must address all correspondence and questions to the contact, including your Proposal.IUCN Contact: [email protected]. PROCUREMENT TIMETABLETHE FOLLOWING KEY DATES APPLY TO THIS CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST:DATE-ACTIVITY11 March 2026-Publication of the Expression of Interest31 March 2026 at 17:00 SAST-Closing Date and Time20 April 2026-Estimated Start Date for the Initial Assignment4.CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROCUREMENTIUCN is not bound in any way to enter any contractual or other arrangement with any Proposer because of issuing this Call for Expression of Interest. IUCN is under no obligation to accept the lowest priced Proposal or any Proposal. IUCN reserves the right to terminate the procurement process at any time prior to contract award. By participating in this Call, Proposers accept the conditions set out in this Call. Proposers must sign the “Proposer’s Declaration” and include it in their Proposal.5. Queries and questions during the period for the Call for Expression of InterestProposers are to direct any queries and questions regarding the Call to [email protected]. No other IUCN personnel are to be contacted in relation to this Call. Proposers may submit their queries no later than 31 March 2026 at 17:00 SAST.As far as possible, IUCN will issue the responses to any questions, suitably anonymised, to all Proposers. If you consider the content of your question confidential, you must state this at the time the question is posed.6. Amendments to Call documentsIUCN may amend documents for the Call for Expression of Interest by issuing notices to that effect to all Proposers and may extend the Call closing date and time if deemed appropriate.7. Proposal lodgement methods and requirementsProposers must submit their profiles to IUCN no later than 31 March 2026 at 17:00 SAST by email to: [email protected]. The subject heading of the email shall be [Call for Expression of Interest – Technical Advisory Group – SADC TFCA Financing Facility- [Proposer Name]. Electronic copies are to be submitted in PDF. Proposers may submit multiple emails (suitably annotated – e.g. Email 1 of 3) if attached files are deemed too large to suit a single email transmission exceeding 20 MB.Proposals must be prepared in English and in the format stated in Part 4 of this Call.8. Late and Incomplete ProposalsAny applicant profile received by IUCN later than the stipulated RfP closing date and time, and any incomplete submission, will not be considered. There will be no allowance made by IUCN for any delays in transmission of the submission from Proposer to IUCN.9. Evaluation of ProposalsThe evaluation of applicant profiles shall be carried out exclusively with regards to the evaluation criteria and their relative weights specified in part 3.10. CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTIONIUCN follows the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The information you submit to IUCN as part of this procurement will be treated as confidential and shared only as required to evaluate your Proposal in line with the procedure explained in this RfP, and for the maintenance of a clear audit trail. For audit purposes, IUCN is required to retain your Proposal in its entirety for 10 years after then end of the resulting contract and make this available to internal and external auditors and donors as and when requested.In the Declaration of Undertaking (Attachment 2) you need to give IUCN express permission to use the information you submit in this way, including personal data that forms part of your Proposal. Where …