Based in Seoul, The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote a model of economic growth known as "green growth", which targets key aspects of economic performance such a poverty reduction, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. The organization partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and private sector to help build economies that grow strongly and are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change. 

GGGI has a diverse portfolio of programs in developing countries around the world. These in-country programs, together with global products and services, focus on delivering results through an integrated approach of evidence-based green growth planning and implementation aligned to countries’ development priorities. The organization also focuses on knowledge development and management activities which build a strong theoretical and empirical basis for green growth, while providing concrete options and guidance for policymakers; as well as building the conditions for public and private green infrastructure investments.

Colombia Program Background

GGGI has been working with the Government of Colombia to advance green growth policies and green investments, through strategic partnerships such as with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Finance and Public Credit and the National Planning Department, among others. In a new phase of collaboration with Government agencies at the national and sub-national level, GGGI with the support of the Kingdom of Norway will expand its Colombia Country Program by virtue the transition towards a greener growth pathway that is socially inclusive and contributive to Colombia´s medium term development agenda. Five years of support (2017-2022) will expect to see an impact of  an increased capacity to mainstream green growth objectives into development planning and investments within the priority sectors and regions that are critical for Colombia´s future green growth, particularly in those areas that are highly susceptible to increased natural resource degradation and forest cover loss.

The program was divided in two phases: Phase I taking place from 2017 to 2019, and Phase II for 2020-2022. Phase II was designed to increase green growth investments in priority regions and sectors, in addition to supporting the GoC for reducing their current deforestation trends. The program outcomes are aligned with the GoC´s nationally determined contributions (NDC) targets and sustainable development goals (SDGs), GGGI’s Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020 and GGGI Colombia Country Planning Framework (CPF) 2016-2020, as well as the Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) strategic objectives. 

There are various underlying principles which underpin the fundamentals of Phase II of the program. The main principle being that GGGI will continue to build upon existing efforts to promote green growth, such as the implementation of the Green Growth Policy (with an emphasis on the forest economy) along with other relevant and aligned NDP goals, such as lowering the deforestation rate, increasing areas under sustainable conservation systems and PES. Secondly, there is an increased focus on delivering results at the subnational level, to increase deforestation reduction results in the selected jurisdictions and to augment the number of hectares and investments under a sustainable and restorative production systems approach.

GGGI began supporting the DNP and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development("MADS") in the implementation of the PES law (Decree law 870 of 2017) and CONPES 3886 in Phase I of its Norway-funded Green Growth Program. Here, GGGI provided its advisory and technical inputs towards the drafting of PES guidelines. These guidelines fulfill milestones 30-31 of the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI), as well as secure subnational funding to promote forest conservation by means of this financial instrument.

It is of interest to MADS, among others, to contribute to the institutional strengthening of the environmental sector and others involved on the PES methodological, legal, regulatory, institutional, financial, coordination and monitoring aspects; topics that will be developed prioritizing  the environmental authorities (41) territorial entities, NGOs, from the actions that were established in CONPES 3886, and that are not only responsibility of MADS.

In this context, it is important the generation of inputs to formulate a PES program that is consolidated as an instrument for short, medium and long-term planning of PES that guides investments and actions of the ONVS and MinAmbiente until 2030, which implies consolidating the strategic lines that make up the program, such as Stabilization and consolidation, deforestation and the Amazon Region (STC-4360 of 2018) and Territories of ethnic groups. Likewise, it is necessary to consolidate the mechanisms to make viable sources of financing for PES projects, especially those related to “obras por impuestos” resources. Moreover, it is necessary to consolidate the tools and procedures to monitor and report investments, actions and PES projects of territorial entities such as environmental authorities, and in addition to establishing a comprehensive strategy that allows strengthening the capacities of the territories to formulate and execute projects from PSA. 

Objectives/Purpose of the Assignment

The consultant will accompany the GGGI Colombia team to support MADS through the design and implementation of the technical assistance strategy for territorial entities and environmental authorities for the formulation and execution of PES projects, within the framework of the PND 2018-2022. The purpose of the task is, therefore, to provide solid advisory support to territorial and environmental entities and the generation of documents with guidelines that allow the design of projects in the Amazon region and with indigenous peoples, among others.  

Scope of Work

The consultant will work on the implementation of the MADS National PES Program through participation in technical assistance processes for entities interested in the implementation of these conservation projects. Likewise, the consultant will work on the preparation of strategic documents as guides for the implementation of PES projects. 

With consideration to the above, the consultant shall support the PSA MADS team in, but not limited to, the following activities: 

• Support the technical, operational and financial preparation of the strategic line of the national Payment for Environmental Services program in the territories selected for stabilization and consolidation processes.
• Prepare the inputs for the development of the strategic line of the national Payment for Environmental Services program for the Amazon region, including the elements of “Sentencia T-4360/2018”.
• Prepare the inputs for the development of the strategic line of the national Payment for Environmental Services program for the indigenous people and Law 1955/2019.
• Support the preparation and implementation of the technical assistance strategy for territorial entities and environmental authorities for the formulation and execution of PES projects, within the framework of the PND 2018-2022.
• Provide MADS´ accompaniment to PES projects of territorial entities and environmental authorities, specially Valle del Cauca, Antioquia and Pacific RAP.
• Generate the technical and operational elements of a guideline for structuring projects for Payment for Environmental Services, aimed at technical assistance processes and for the execution of “tax for publics works”
• Support in the generation of technical inputs for the consolidation of “conservation incentives” proposals.