Deadline: 4-Sep-23
The Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA) programme is inviting applications to evaluate the functioning and economic value of wetland ecosystem services in the Kalu Oya Basin in Sri Lanka.
REDAA programme is working in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ogata Research Institute to deliver a research project on economic wetland ecosystem services in the Colombo Metropolitan Region.
Objective of the Research Project
To evaluate the function and economic value of wetland ecosystem services in the Kalu Oya Basin in the Colombo Metropolitan Region, Sri Lanka; understand wetland function under a range of future exogenous uncertainties associated with projected future climate change; produce public-facing communication materials; and facilitate training on the outputs of the project and models used.
Scope of Work
Research: Useful research in this context will improve the evidence base on key ecosystems and livelihoods, and on the dynamics of managing ecosystem degradation and restoration. It will consider ecological, social, political and economic issues. Methods, which may be quantitative, qualitative or participatory, will need to be diverse to uncover potentially challenging structural features of power and politics; they will also need to consider trade-offs, intersectionality and different stakeholder perspectives.
Research-to-action is about improving:
- The generation or supply of research — for example, the quality, relevance and accessibility of evidence generated through research
- Demand for the research — for example, through better incentives, increased capacity and improved processes for, and approaches to, using evidence, and
- Connections between demand and supply — for example, through better interactions and collaborations between research providers and users — to influence key decisions.
Environmental restoration and sustainable natural resources management: Research-to-action that is relevant in this context would tackle or reverse environmental degradation in rural and urban areas; protect, conserve or restore nature; or manage natural resources and ecosystems sustainably and equitably.
Outputs
The following outputs are expected from the REDAA-supported research:
- Bimonthly progress updates, in PowerPoint format, followed by a meeting with the REDAA team to discuss progress
- Research outputs disseminated to the REDAA team, JICA Ogata Research Institute, and Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation throughout the project’s lifetime; successful applicants will have scope to innovate and provide in the submission how it will undertake this throughout the project
- Wetland ecosystem modelling and valuations, made publicly available for use by other stakeholders, including those in the Colombo Metropolitan Region, and accompanied by public-facing communication products that outline the modelling outputs to stakeholders and how to operate the models
- Training for local stakeholders on how to operate the wetland ecosystem function and economic valuation models
- Peer-reviewed journal articles and grey literature published by the research team
- Final project report.
Funding Information
- The timeframe for the project studies is 12 months after the award of the grant, with a potential 6-month extension, should a bespoke wetland function model be required. The project leads will develop a detailed timeline as part of the study framework.
- The budget available for the project is up to £100,000. The project team will develop a detailed budget. Should a bespoke wetland function model for the Kalu Oya Basin be required, the project team will develop a proposal and detailed budget for this work, which will include public-facing communication products and training on the model operation. The additional budget available for this step is up to £100,000.
Expertise Required
Project teams should have:
- Significant expert knowledge of wetland ecosystem function and valuation, including computational modelling of wetland ecosystem function and valuation
- An in-depth understanding of environmental economics, science for climate change, biodiversity, nature-based solutions, environmental and ecosystem management, and governance at local community, regional and national levels
- Experience of conducting evidence and policy analysis/research, and of drawing out policy recommendations
- Experience in desk research and producing, or contributing to, reports with sound analysis and actionable recommendations
- Experience in developing and undertaking public-facing research communication products and training
- Strong understanding/experience of working with regional stakeholders, communities and the private sector
- Strong regional expertise and experience for the target region, with good networks of contacts in relevant sectors and with relevant stakeholders
- The ability to work across regional cultures and languages, and a strong understanding of gender equality and social inclusion, and
- Impartiality (a balanced team), with understanding of a broad spectrum of issues and views, not just the interests of one particular group.
For more information, visit Gov.UK.