Chemonics International - USAID Ecosystems/Protibesh Activity
Chemonics International seeks a Conservation Finance Specialist for the USAID Ecosystems/Protibesh Activity which is a 5-year, USD 20 million project that is funded by USAID. The activity aims to build the Government of Bangladesh’s (GOB) capacity to respond to a wide array of threats to biodiversity conservation in collaboration with civil society organizations and community stakeholders. It will also collaborate with and engage local partners in the effective management, protection, and governance of critical forest and aquatic ecosystems while advancing economic incentives to further biodiversity conservation. These partners include relevant Government agencies, NGOs, universities, and a broad range of private sector actors. This activity will target local communities in regions with key biodiversity areas, which include the Sundarbans Reserve Forest in southwestern Bangladesh, the ecologically critical forest and wetland zones of northeastern Bangladesh, and or other regions of the country with critical biodiversity. The primary targeted results of the activity are (i) strengthen environmental governance through an Ecosystem-Based Management approach; (ii) address key threats to biodiversity in and around targeted KBAs; and (iii) advance viable market-based incentives that promote sustainable natural resource management.
Provide technical support to the Protibesh Policy Lead and Biodiversity and Wildlife Biology Lead to initiatives to enhance conservation finance in Bangladesh, particularly the key biological areas in in the Sylhet and Khulna Districts.
The specialist will lead the development and implementation of a “Conservation Financing Strategy” in consultation with the Protibesh technical staff.
Specific tasks include but are not limited to:
Assess annual financial need for terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands, analyze the gaps, and forecast the need for financing for the next 25 (twenty-five) years for the Protibesh KBAs.
Examine the scopes of funding from sources of (national, international, private, other development partners, corporate, industries, and formal financial institutions to fill the financial gaps, particularly of the KBAs.
Conduct a willingness-to-pay study among key stakeholders to visit conservation areas for recreation and/or natural resource dependence.
Conceptualize payment for ecosystem services (PES) and other environmental fee mechanisms.
Explore the opportunity to leverage the regulators such as the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), business/ industries chambers and individual businesses/ industries to introduce a conservation fee system.
Educational Requirements :
Master’s Degree in Natural Resource Economics, Green Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field. Doctorate holders may receive higher preference.
Experience Requirements :
At least 15 year(s)
Additional Requirements :
At least fifteen years of relevant experience in providing financial consulting services.
At least ten years in the design of financial and or investment instruments.
Demonstrated capacity to develop conservation/endowment funding mechanisms is imperative. The candidates must show demonstrated experience in the six tasks specified above under point 3.
Solid knowledge of government funding systems and mechanisms is a requirement.
Excellent communication and representation skills in Bangla and in English.
