Call for Proposals: Development of the SGP Mexico Geographic System and Database

Deadline: 1 May 2020

The GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), implemented by the UNDP, has announced a call for proposals for Development of the SGP Mexico Geographic System and Database.

The GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), implemented by the UNDP, provides financial and technical support to communities and CSOs to meet the overall objective of “global environmental benefits secured through community-based initiatives and actions”.

The goal of the Sixth Operational Phase of the GEF Small Grants Programme in Mexico is to contribute to achieving global environmental benefits by empowering local communities to manage production landscapes in Mexico’s Southeast large ecosystems in a manner that enhances their social, economic and environmental sustainability and resilience. Landscape and seascape resilience will be enhanced through the individual and synergistic impacts of a set of adaptive community practices that maintain ecosystem services, conserve biodiversity, mitigate climate change and reverse land degradation in the following large ecosystems: – Deltaic-estuarine landscape of the Grijalva-Usumacinta Rivers; – Coastal lagoons and marine interface in the northern Yucatan Peninsula; – Tropical deciduous, sub-deciduous and sub-evergreen forests in the Yucatan Peninsula; and – Montane broadleaf and cloud forest in northern Chiapas.

The project builds on the results, experience, and lessons from previous SGP phases, and lessons learned from relevant Programmes such as COMPACT. In particular, the project is strengthening networks and second-level organizations to integrate and bring to scale production and marketing of sustainably produced goods and services

Coordinated community projects in the landscape will generate ecological, economic and social synergies that will produce greater and potentially longer-lasting global environmental benefits, as well as increased social capital and local sustainable development benefits.

Target States

Tabasco
Chiapas
Campeche
Quintana Roo
Oaxaca
Yucatan

Eligibility Criteria

Limitations:
- Only national NGOs registered in Mexico
- Only entities with prior experience operating in Southeast Mexico (Tabasco, Chiapas, Yucatan Peninsula)
- Only entities that have a gender equality internal policy or statement
Minimum requirements/qualifications:
- Education: The NGO´s staff must have Bachelor’s degree in fields related to environment, geography and social science
- Work Experience: The team lead must have at least seven years of experience in the area of geography, database design, app design, related to community development or environmental issues. Experience working in indigenous communities of south east Mexico would be an asset.
- Key Competencies in the organization
  - At least 5 years of experience in Geographic Information System (GIS), app design, monitoring
  - At least 5 years of experience in an intercultural context. Previous experience in working with rural communities in Mexico.
  - The organization needs to share a portfolio of previous projects including development of mapping apps
  - Good knowledge of key actors involved in the management and conservation of natural resources in southeast Mexico
  - Only organizations that have their own capacity (required qualified personnel, partner organizations and/or affiliate entities), and ability to establish functional mechanisms to administer and implement the activities
The research and development team must include the following:
- Team Leader, Lead
- Deputy Team Leader, in charge of the mapping app
- Deputy Team Leader, in charge of the CO2 calculation
- An indigenous specialist which will focus on the intercultural approach and can provide translation in Maya language for the testing period is a plus
Other critical considerations:
- No sub-agreements allowed.
- Past performance working with development partners (e.g. SGP and international NGOs) will be considered when selecting most suitable proposal.

Evaluation Criteria

Organizational Qualification
- The entity has 7 years of experience in research and development;
- Capacity to propose a research team with the required qualifications and experience
- Capacity and standard system to handle financial management/reporting of grant funds (finance/grant management staff available within organization)
- Past performance working with development partners (e.g. SGP and international NGOs)
Professional Expertise and Previous Experience
- For the Research and development Team:
  - CVs
  - Lists of applicants’/ team members’ studies and publications
Methodology and Approach
- Understanding of the assignment, proposed roadmap for completing it, and proposed structure of the report
  - Max 1.500 characters statement on how the Research Team will achieve the expected goal of the research programme in Spanish or in English
  - Detailed roadmap and tentative chronological programme for delivering each output/ milestone and completing the assignment
Budget
- Proposed daily rate of each team member is acceptable
- Local travel, equipment costs and other costs are clearly justified and acceptable