Application Invited for Research Programme

INDIA FORUM FOR NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS- Research Programme

About the Research Programme

Background

Nature-based solutions (NbS) have emerged globally as cost-effective, sustainable solutions offering a range of benefits including improved resilience, limiting climate change impacts and enhanced biodiversity along with the co-benefits of improved health and social well-being. However, the potential of NbS has yet to be realized in India, due to some significant challenges. While some of these challenges, like the availability of urban land, are consistent with global challenges facing NbS, many more are specific to the Indian urban context. There is still limited awareness, experience and documented evidence with NbS in Indian cities and available knowledge on NbS models, impact measurement framework, and operations and maintenance methodologies are yet to be tailored or adapted to the Indian experience.

About the India Forum for Nature-based Solutions The India Forum for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) is a coalition of research and practice organisations working to scale up the adoption of NbS to shape climate resilient cities and communities in India. The forum aims to climate proof 100 million residents and infrastructure worth $100 billion in Indian cities by 2030. Alongside peer-to-peer exchange of best practices, technical training and knowledge sharing, the Forum will support research towards strengthening local knowledge and evidence situated within the local context of political, social, economic and institutional structures.

Through the Research Program, the Forum will support at least 3 small research projects annually.

Topic 1: Framework to help decide when and what kind of Nature-based solutions to implement
Topic 2: Landscape assessment for investment in Nature-based solutions
Topic 3: Nature-based Solutions Operations and Maintenance Toolkit

Topic 1

Framework to help decide when and what kind of NbS solution to implement

This project aims to support decision-making frameworks for NbS. The research will enable decision-making around NbS, particularly for public actors by helping them assess the appropriate scenario for implementation, identification and procurement of the right solution for long term implementation.

Scope of Work

Over 12 months, consultants under this scope of work will:

• Conduct desk research of existing frameworks for conducting vulnerability assessments and selecting NbS for implementation and review these for strengths and challenges
• Map existing government schemes and policies that support implementation of NbS
• Identify a broad list of NbS solutions for implementation across a variety of Indian urban geo-climatic conditions
• Interview government stakeholders to determine the current outlook towards NbS, decision-making criteria, institutional structures and available expertise, data-sets and feedback mechanisms.
  Deliverables
• Proposed research structure and plans
• Quarterly reviews as presentation with progress updates, early insights and outstanding questions
  • Final report (20 pages + appendices) including
    A framework to help public institutions
    ▪ Conduct a climate vulnerability assessment to identify climate hazards
    ▪ Identify appropriate nature-based solutions within a given context
    ▪ Conduct a comparative assessment against alternative solution types
  • Learnings and recommendations
  • Supporting documentation

Time frame: The project will commence Mid-September 2023 and continue for 12 months.

How to Apply

To apply please email us at nbsforumindia@wri.org with Subject: Research Program_Framework_Organisation/Applicant Name

A cover letter detailing experience, team profile and approach CVs of team members, Any previous research products, Interviews will be held with shortlisted applicants. Applications are welcome from doctorate students, individual researchers, practitioners and firms with demonstrated track records working in the nature-based solutions space.

• DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 5 PM IST, 16TH AUGUST 2023.

Topic 2: Landscape assessment for investment in NbS

This project aims to strengthen the economic case for NbS. The research will build the case for NbS and drive public and private expenditure towards it by expanding understanding on the potential socio-economic benefits.

Scope of Work

Over 6 months, consultants under this scope of work will:

• Conduct desk research of available sources of finance, policies, schemes and regulations governing NbS and project finance
• Interview finance stakeholders to determine the current outlook towards NbS, priorities of financiers, decision making criteria, parameters for success and feedback mechanisms.
  Deliverables
• Proposed research structure and plans
• Mid-term (3-month) review as presentation with progress updates, early insights and outstanding questions
  • Final report (20 pages + appendices) including
    o Landscape assessment on NbS finance in India
    o Recommendations
    o Supporting documentation

Time frame: The project will commence Mid-September 2023 and continue for 6 months

How to Apply

To apply please email us at nbsforumindia@wri.org with Subject: Research Program_Landscape_Organisation/Applicant Name

A cover letter detailing experience, team profile and approach, CVs of team members, Any previous research products- Interviews will be held with shortlisted applicants. Applications are welcome from doctorate students, individual researchers, practitioners and firms with demonstrated track records working in the nature-based solutions or climate finance/investment space.

• DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 5 PM IST, 16TH AUGUST 2023

Topic 3: NbS Operations & Maintenance Toolkit

This project aims to support decision-making frameworks for NbS. The research will enable decision-making around NbS, particularly for public actors by helping them assess the appropriate scenario for implementation, identification and procurement of the right solution for long term implementation.

Scope of Work

Over 9 months, consultants under this scope of work will:

• Conduct desk research of existing literature NbS implementation and best practices to determine recurring and prevalent elements in operations & maintenance models for NbS, and review of existing models for determinants of success and failure across different geographic and institutional contexts.
• Interview stakeholders in NbS implementations in India to validate desk research in the Indian context, and identify and highlight variations.
  Deliverables
• Proposed research structure and plans
• Mid-term (3- and 6-month) reviews as presentations with progress updates, early insights and outstanding questions
  • Final report (20 pages + appendices) including
    o An operations & maintenance toolkit for NbS implementation that details the decision parameters when designing an operations & maintenance model, and how to apply them towards selecting the appropriate model for implementation.
    o Recommendations
    o Supporting documentation

Timeframe: The project will commence Mid-September 2023 and continue for 9 months.

How to Apply

To apply please email us at nbsforumindia@wri.org with Subject: Research Program_Toolkit_Organisation/Applicant Name

A cover letter detailing experience, team profile and approach, CVs of team members, Any previous research products, Interviews will be held with shortlisted applicants. Applications are welcome from doctorate students, individual, researchers, practitioners and firms with demonstrated track records working in the nature-based solutions space.

• DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 5 PM IST, 16TH AUGUST 2023.