ACCIÓN


Sustainable Communities for Climate Action in the Yucatan Peninsula

The Project

ACCIÓN seeks to increase the climate resilience of vulnerable communities, ecosystems, and productive systems on the coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula through ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and sustainable livelihoods. 

Context

ACCIÓN is a project based on FMCN’s more than 27 years of experience in marine-coastal issues and aims to be financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The project is currently in the design phase and is expected to be implemented in 2024-2029.

The lines of work (components) that guide ACCIÓN activities are:

  1. EbA actions in coastal and seascapes: This component will focus on field activities to restore the natural resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems and their communities. A call for subprojects will be made with two objectives:
    I.Conservation and restoration subprojects to improve coastal and marine ecosystem management (corals, dunes, mangroves, seagrass).
    II. Productive subprojects to improve business skills of sustainable community-based enterprises (CBE) and strengthen productive groups that have marine-coastal activities (small-scale fishing, aquaculture, sustainable tourism).
  2. Sustainable financing to scale EbA projects: This component focuses on mobilizing funding to scale up the activities carried out in component 1 at a community level. It has two main strategies; a) Conservation and restoration financing: Expanding the parametric coral reef insurance of the Mesoamerican Reef Fund to other regions or sectors that are vulnerable to similar ecological degradation.; b) Finance productive activities: Designing and implementing an impact credit scheme.
  3. Financial mechanism for the conservation and restoration of mangroves (blue carbon): This component seeks to facilitate the financing for blue carbon projects focused on the conservation, restoration, and improvement of the mangroves and seagrasses management. The mechanism will promote fair and transparent transactions for blue carbon credits in the voluntary market and also will work towards strengthening governance, technical, and financial capacities of communities.
  4. Knowledge management and coordination with existing public policies: This component aims to enhance effective knowledge management to inform decision-making at all levels. Activities will be implemented to facilitate decision-making through exchanging best practices and promoting spaces for regional coordination. Efforts will also be made to strengthen local instruments and regional mechanisms that contribute to reducing vulnerability to climate change, including existing coordination initiatives for small-scale fisheries, blue carbon, and early warning systems.

ACCIÓN is currently in the design phase and is expected to be implemented in 2024-2029.

Studies with preparation resources.

Achievements

The ACCIÓN project is expected to be implemented in 2024-2029. During 2023, FMCN will focus on the project’s design with GCF’s resources through various consultancies.
Learn more about the project: 
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Allies

Donor: Green Climate Fund

Partner: Sureste Sostenible, A.C.


Informative webinar on the studies for the preparation of the ACCIÓN project

Access the webinar recording held on January 20, 2023. The objective was to inform natural and legal persons interested in participating in study contracting processes with resources for the preparation of the ACCIÓN project.


FAQ

  • 1. How will the consultancy contracts be called?

    Through specific terms of reference for each consultancy that will be published online and disseminated on social networks by FMCN.

  • 2. What information do the terms of reference contain?

    • They indicate the general (and specific) objective of each consultancy, the description of the activities to be carried out, the deliverables, the duration of the consultancy, the payment conditions, the profile of the proposing party, indications for the submission of proposals and the evaluation criteria, and other relevant information. Some may indicate the budget allocated in the "Fees and payments" section.
    • It should be clarified that the proposing party must assume all costs associated with the preparation and submission of their proposals, and that FMCN will not be responsible for such costs, regardless of how the selection processes are carried out or their results.

  • 3. Who may submit offers and proposals?

    • National and international legal entities (consulting firms) or individuals (individual consultants), as indicated in the profile requested in each of the terms of reference. Participation is not limited to proposing parties from the Yucatan Peninsula.
    • Legal entities include corporations, universities, governmental research or educational institutions, and civil society organizations.
    • Academic or research institutions may participate if they do so in consortium with a civil society organization (registered with the SAT and not necessarily authorized to receive donations) or with some other type of consulting firm. The leader may sign a contract for the provision of services or donation and issue the corresponding tax receipts.
    • In the case of terms of reference addressed to national legal entities, these may form a consortium with an international consulting firm, provided that the national legal entity is the contract holder.
    • It will only be possible for a legal entity to be hired to develop more than one consultancy if it can demonstrate that it has personnel dedicated to each one of them.

  • 4. What will be the method of hiring?

    • In all cases, the contract formats will be those used by FMCN and approved by UNOPS.
    • Contracts for individuals (individual consultants) or legal entities (consulting firms) will be for the service provision.
    • A donation contract may be entered into with legal entities that have proven status as an authorized donee.
    • If participating independently, an academic institution must accept the contract or agreement established by FMCN, according to UNOPS, and Green Climate Fund administrative guidelines.

  • 5. What is the payment method?

    • It is indicated in terms of reference of each consultancy. In general, there is an initial partial payment (about 20% of the total cost of the consultancy) and then a fixed schedule of payments against delivery and acceptance of the products by FMCN.
    • All payments will be made upon presentation of receipts that comply with current tax regulations.
    • In the case of authorized donee, payment will be made upon presentation of the corresponding donation receipt that complies with current tax regulations.
    • Withholdings will be applied according to the tax regime of the person presenting the voucher.

    We recommend consulting the FMCN Operations Manual available here for more information on acquisitions and contract procedures. 

  • 6. How are proposals submitted?

    • Each term of reference indicates the technical profile to be met by the proposing party, the documentation required for participation, and the way of submitting the proposal.
    • There is no pre-established format for submitting technical and financial proposals.
    • The technical proposal shall include methodology, schedule or work program, and any other relevant information requested in terms of reference.
    • The financial proposal must be submitted separately from the technical proposal and include a detailed budget. The total amount should include the total expenses required to carry out the consultancy.
    • Individuals must submit a résumé detailing their professional training and verifiable experience in the specialized areas required by the consultancy. Legal entities must include their institutional curriculum and that of the personnel that will participate in the consultancy.

  • 7. How are proposals rated?

    • The terms of reference indicate the specific evaluation criteria for each consultancy.
    • In general, the quality and consistency of the technical offer and the methodological elements are the most. The economic proposal is important but does not determine the selection.
    • The proposals are qualified and selected through a process that includes the verification of all the documentation requested in the terms of reference and the qualification by an independent evaluation group made up of at least three experts in the subject of each consultancy. The decision of the evaluation group is final.
    • The group's evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the criteria established in the terms of reference using a standardized quantitative scoring matrix.

  • 8. Will individuals/corporate entities participating in the preparation stage consultancies be able to participate in the execution stage?

    There is no information available on any restrictions on the participation of individuals or legal entities in both stages.

  • 9. How will the consultancies be coordinated and supervised?

    • FMCN has an ACCIÓN project preparation process coordination team overseeing the procurement processes and the execution of the consultancies, and integrating the studies into the financing proposal following Green Climate Fund guidelines.
    • All hired consultants must be willing to coordinate with other consultants as part of the formulation of the funding proposal for the ACCIÓN project to ensure the integration and consistency of the deliverables and the alignment of the different activities of this process.