Financial Assessment and Regional Scoping of Sustainable Financing Mechanisms EAC TBCAs

Terms of Reference for IUCN Consultancy Title: Consultancy to Undertake a Financial Needs Assessment and Regional Scoping of Sustainable Financing Mechanisms for the EAC Transfrontier Conservation Areas (EAC TBCAs) Objective of the Consultancy To undertake a comprehensive financial needs assessment and regional scoping study of sustainable and innovative financing mechanisms for selected Transboundary Conservation Areas in the EAC. Specific objectives include: 1. Assessing current financial allocations, expenditures, and funding sources across the 11 identified and prioritized TBCAs. 2. Identifying priority financial needs for effective conservation and management of natural resources withing the transboundary ecosystems including, but not limited to infrastructure and equipment, community engagement and development, law enforcement, monitoring, technology needs, transboundary coordination, and capacity strengthening. 3. Quantifying funding gaps at each TBCA levels and at EAC Level. 4. Conducting a regional assessment of possible sustainable financing opportunities available to TBCAs in the EAC including domestic, regional and global sources of finance. 5. Identifying mechanisms that can be implemented at various levels e.g. ecosystem, protected and conserved area, national, or regional levels. 6. Providing practical recommendations and enabling actions required to unlock identified financing options. Background Project Reference: Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), Support to the East African Community (EAC) to Facilitate and Coordinate Transboundary Management of Shared Resources/Ecosystems, Biodiversity Programme. RfP Reference: IUCN-2026-06-P04962-06 Donor reference: EU NaturAfrica project Terms of Reference for Consultancy v1 March2024 About IUCN IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 15,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards. IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being. www.iucn.org https://twitter.com/IUCN/ About the Project Transboundary Conservation Areas (TBCA) within the East African Community (EAC) are important for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, tourism development, climate resilience, and community livelihoods. The EAC has prioritised 11 TBCAs of particular importance for the region’s regenerative development. These include the Sango Bay– Minziro ecosystem (Uganda–Tanzania), Greater Serengeti–Mara ecosystem (Tanzania– Kenya), Mount Elgon transboundary ecosystem (Kenya–Uganda), Mkomazi–Tsavo and Kilimanjaro–Amboseli conservation areas (Tanzania–Kenya), Kagera–Akagera ecosystem (Tanzania–Rwanda), the Greater Virunga Landscape (Uganda–Rwanda–DRC), Eastern Arc Mountains (Tanzania–Kenya), Nyungwe–Kibira Landscape (Rwanda–Burundi), Kidepo–Karamoja–Turkana ecosystem (Uganda–Kenya–South Sudan), and the Maasai Steppe–Engaruka / Ewaso Ng’iro–Lake Natron ecosystem (Tanzania–Kenya). However, many of these landscapes face persistent and widening financing gaps that affect effective management and long-term sustainability. Previous work, including the Closing the Gap publication, the State of Protected and Conserved Areas in Eastern and Southern Africa report, produced through the EU-funded BIOPAMA programme and the EAC Natural Capital Valuation studies, has provided initial insights into conservation finance needs and opportunities for EAC to capitalise on. There is now a need for a more focused consolidated assessment that: i. Quantifies priority financial needs and funding gaps across 11 selected TBCAs (see list in section 3); and ii. Identifies and assesses viable sustainable financing mechanisms to support TBCAs in the EAC Terms of Reference for Consultancy v1 March2024 This consultancy will combine two activities into one integrated assignment: 1. Conducting a needs assessment for priority finance needs in the TBCAs in EAC and 2. Conducting a regional assessment of possible sustainable financing opportunities for EAC TBCAs. Description of the Assignment The consultant is expected to deliver two interlinked components: Component A: TBCA Financial Needs and Gap Assessment The consultant will:  Review existing financial assessments and management plans for individual TBCAs  Compile data on operational and capital expenditure needs.  Assess current funding sources including government allocations, donor funding, tourism revenue, trust funds, and other mechanisms.  Conduct stakeholder consultations with: o EAC Secretariat o National wildlife and conservation authorities o Ministries of Finance, Environment, and Tourism o Development partners and NGOs o Private sector and foundations, as necessary  Quantify short-, medium-, and long-term financial needs.  Identify and quantify funding gaps at site and aggregated regional levels. [...] Procurement details Reference: IUCN-26-08-Financial Assessment and Regional Scoping of Sustainable Financing Mechanisms EAC TBCAs-6 Procedure: SOP1 - Open Procedure Procurement type: Consulting IUCN office (lead): ESARO Kenya Requisitioning unit: ESARO -Drylands Resilience Programme(DRP) (KE) Project: P04962 NaturAfrica-EAC Country of performance: Madagascar Expected contract duration: 80 days Estimated contract value: 25,000-199,999 CHF Currency of proposals: USD - United States dollar Language of documents: English Donor requirements: No donor requirements needed Deadline for questions: 07 September 2026 20:59 UTC Deadline for technical and financial proposals: 17 September 2026 20:59 UTC Expected contract award date: 28 September 2026 20:59 UTC Documents - Terms of Reference: APPENDIX III_ToR - Needs assessment for priority finance needs TBCAs_Aug26.pdf - Conditions for Participating: Conditions for Participating ENG-SPA-FRA.docx - Standard contract: Standard Agreement.docx The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership union of government and civil society organisations working on nature conservation and sustainable development. IUCN procures consulting services, goods and works for its projects worldwide through the IUCN Procurement Portal. For all contracts above CHF 25,000 IUCN selects contractors through a formal competitive tendering process under its Standard Operating Procedure 1 (Open Procedure). Interested bidders must register on the portal, review the Terms of Reference, the Conditions for Participating and the standard contract, and submit their technical and financial proposals through the portal before the stated deadline. Questions must be raised through the portal's Q&A function before the deadline for questions.