[Coral-List] Call for Expressions of Interest to host BIOPAMA Pacific Regional Observatory

[Kate Lance]

Please note below an opportunity to host the BIOPAMA Pacific Regional Observatory for Biodiversity and Protected Areas. Kindly distribute this message within your organization or with associates who may have an interest in hosting the Observatory.  Also, if you/your organization is unlikely to respond to this call, but you still have an interest in collaborating with BIOPAMA, please contact Tony O’Keeffe (tony.okeeffe at iucn.org), IUCN BIOPAMA Focal Point for the Pacific. Comments, questions, or suggestions from those with interest in BIOPAMA are warmly welcomed.

+++ Apologies for cross-posting! +++

BIOPAMA is seeking a suitable host organisation for the Pacific Regional Observatory for Biodiversity and Protected Areas. This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, regionally active organisation that shares the mission of BIOPAMA and is interested in becoming part of, and helping to shape, the development of the Regional Observatory and supporting the delivery of its core functions.

BIOPAMA is a collaborative program that aims to improve the long-term conservation of biodiversity in the Pacific by promoting the use of the best available science and knowledge and building capacity to strengthen policy and decision-making on biodiversity conservation and protected areas management (terrestrial and marine). Towards this aim, the Regional Observatory is being established to enable the provision of relevant information and decision-support tools, to promote and facilitate exchange of information with a variety of end users (esp.. decision-makers and protected area managers and practitioners). Over time, it is also intended to facilitate capacity development, as well as the exchange and improvement of knowledge about biodiversity conservation and protected area issues and responses.

The objective of this call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) is to identify organisations in the region that have an interest in hosting the Regional Observatory and that share the vision of BIOPAMA for the Pacific. IUCN and EC-JRC (European Commission Joint Research Centre) will use the submissions as a basis for selecting a host organisation and for negotiating a hosting agreement for the establishment and implementation of the Regional Observatory.

A consortium approach to the expression of interest would be encouraged where organisations believe they could maximise services and benefits through the Regional Observatory by pooling their collective capacity and resources. The hosting arrangement will be formalised through the conclusion of an Agreement between IUCN and the hosting organisation, initially for two years with potential to extend this into a second phase based on an evaluation of progress in the first two years. 

Information and guidelines on responding to the call for expressions of interest as well as the submission template can be found on the BIOPAMA website: http://www.biopama.org/partners_and_actions/iucn/oro.cfm

A BIOPAMA factsheet can be viewed at: https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/biopama_factshet_web_final_17oct_.pdf

Expressions of Interest should be submitted by Friday, 31st January 2014. 

If you have any questions, please contact Tony O’Keeffe  (tony.okeeffe at iucn.org), IUCN Oceania Regional Office, http://www.iucn.org/oceania, The International Union for Conservation of Nature, 5 Ma’afu Street, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji Islands tel: +679 3319084 | fax: +679 3100128 | mob: +679 7772880.

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Kate Lance, Interdisciplinary Researcher/Consultant 
Geo-ICT Strategy, Policy, Project Management & Evaluation