***CLOSED*** Request for Expression of Interest for Consultancy Services for the development of a Strategic Plan for the Ministry of Economic Development (MED)

Background:

Belize, like many other Small Island Developing States (SIDS), is particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. The country’s low-lying coastline and sectoral vulnerabilities to climate risk coupled with limited access to national financial, technological, and technical resources to build the country’s resilience, led to a ranking of #9 on the Climate Change Vulnerability Index for the Latin American and Caribbean Region.

Taking a proactive approach to building climate resilience, the Government of Belize has prioritized the capacity building of national institutions which can access climate finance and implement bankable projects and programmes. International funding agencies such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) offer support to developing countries who are working to achieve climate adaptation and mitigation in accordance with their Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement, but these funds can only be accessed through accredited entities or national direct access entities.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a unique global platform established to respond to climate change by investing in low-emission and climate-resilient development. GCF was established to limit or reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in developing countries, and to help vulnerable societies adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Given the urgency and seriousness of this challenge, the Fund is mandated to make an ambitious contribution to the united global response to climate change.

GCF’s Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme supports country-driven initiatives by developing countries to strengthen their institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning and programming frameworks towards a transformational long-term climate action agenda. The Readiness Programme provides grants and technical assistance to National Designated Authorities (NDA) and/or Focal Points (FPs). Readiness funding can also be deployed to strengthen Direct Access Entities (DAE).
Currently, Belize has one national direct access entity to the GCF which limits the scope and scale of climate finance that can be accessed. With this in mind, the Government of Belize is aiming to enhance its national capacity by seeking the accreditation of additional institutions whose mandates are in alignment with the priorities of both the Fund and the Government, and who can aid in maximizing Belize’s access to critical climate finance.

The Government of Belize has identified the Ministry of Economic Development as a key actor in assisting the country to channel climate finance. The Ministry’s mandate is to promote economic development through planning and coordination. MED also serves as the focal point for all international financial institutions and multilateral development banks, and houses four units: the Belize-EU Cooperation, the Climate Finance Unit, the Policy and Planning Unit, and the Central Executing Unit. Work under an ongoing readiness grant identified gaps in MED’s operations such as the lack of a Strategic Plan to guide its long-term vision and work of the organization. This readiness grant seeks to strengthen the internal capacities and functions of MED to attain GCF accreditation by addressing the above gap. In doing so, Belize will be able to access international climate finance via an entity with a unique role as the direct focal point of the Government of Belize for financing, strategic planning, and liaising with the public and private sector for project development and implementation, inclusive of climate change projects.

Hence, under Output 1.2.2 of the GCF Readiness 10 Project, PACT is interested in identifying a consulting team to undertake the development of the MED Strategic Plan inclusive of the organization’s long-term goals for the development of the country in line with national priorities and climate adaptive needs.