Production of a synthesis of the knowledge generated by the ECOPRONAT Program

The ECOPRONAT research program aims to promote, based on research findings, the development of a pro-nature economy. It supports research on a better consideration and greater mainstreaming of biodiversity in several economic sectors.

More specifically, ECOPRONAT aims to:

• Develop knowledge and methodologies to integrate biodiversity into AFD Group’s policies and sectors of intervention (agriculture, spatial planning, and sustainable cities);
• Mobilize financial resources to effect these transformative changes;
• Build the capacity of local researchers;
• Provide change management support to AFD’s partners.
• The program is hence structured around several activities : research work, call for research projects, support for researchers and pro-nature project sponsors. 

Aims : 

The aim of this call for expressions of interest is to identify experts and scientists with the capacity to produce a synthesis of the knowledge products of the ECOPRONAT programme based on the results of the research and work carried out during its implementation. 

• Produce a document to capitalise on the ECOPRONAT program, synthesising the knowledge products (not submitted to peer-reviewed journals) and any scientific articles (submitted to or published in peer-reviewed journals) produced during the three years of the programme.
• Put these products into perspective with regard to the scientific literature in the fields concerned. A transversal analysis and thematic presentation of these results is expected, identifying the contributions of the program's knowledge and scientific products to the advancement of scientific knowledge (How do the knowledge and scientific products examined fit into the corpus or scientific field concerned by the research carried out?).
• Identify the new avenues of research opened up by the projects/research activities/capacity building. It is expected to identify questions relevant to their subjects that these projects and activities will not have addressed, or new questions that emerge further to advances in the scientific field (What is the added value in terms of knowledge of the research products in their scientific field?) .
• Identify and report on the specific contributions of the program's knowledge and scientific products to mainstreaming biodiversity in decision-making and public policy development in the agricultural, land-use planning and urban development sectors, and the large-scale implementation of nature-based solutions. This involves questioning and studying the methodologies deployed by project leaders and taking into account the research approaches carried out beyond the production of deliverables under the ECOPRONAT program (potentially involving interactions with research teams that will be facilitated by AFD).
• Analyse and compare the approaches and methods used to involve other stakeholders, public actors, private actors, and civil society, in particular in the development of the program’s research products, in order to take account of their knowledge and/or respond to their needs. 

The request for expressions of interest will enable the shortlisting of suitable candidates to carry out this knowledge synthesis work. They will then be invited to develop a full proposal in a second phase for final selection.

Eligible project proponents : 

Universities and research centres, NGOs, private foundations, international research centres and companies (including consultancy firms and individual consultants consortia). 

Geographical areas :

All of AFD’s intervention countries.

Sectors of activity concerned :

Agriculture, land use planning, urban development, sustainable finance, sustainability indicators, research capacity building, capacity building in soft skills and project acceleration, research policy interface.  

Available budget :

50 000 euros inclusive of all taxes. 

Project duration :

The capitalization work will take place over a period of 6 months, starting in the second half of 2024. 

• Launch of the call for expression of interest: February 1st 2024
• Closing of the call for proposal: April 2nd, 2024
• Completion of the full projects for the pre-selected expressions of interest : between May 1st and June 30th, 2024
• Award and contracting to the successful bidders : August 31st, 2024

Download the rules for the Call for Expressions of Interest for the Production of a synthesis of the knowledge generated by the ECOPRONAT Program.

For further information, download the FAQ below.