20 July 2015
Dear IPBES Member States, Observers and Partners,
The objective of this letter is to launch a call for proposals and pledges of support for capacity-building projects and activities under the prototype IPBES Matchmaking Facility, following up on the outcome of the third session of the Plenary (decision IPBES-3/1).
To support the mobilisation and alignment of technical and financial resources for priority capacity-building needs, IPBES is developing a prototype Matchmaking Facility. This Facility aims to promote and facilitate dialogue and cooperation among institutions, organisations and individuals looking for technical and financial support, and those in a position to provide such support.
The Facility comprises two components: a web-based tool bringing together those looking for support and those seeking to offer support for development and implementation of capacity-building activities in a common, searchable interface; and a set of enabling activities including regional dialogues, a Capacity-building Forum, and other face-to-face networking and support activities.
Together, the two components of the prototype IPBES Matchmaking Facility represent a significant opportunity for institutions, organisations and individuals that are either searching for technical or financial support for capacity-building projects, or are seeking to participate in such projects through contribution of technical or financial resources. When fully operational, it is envisaged that the IPBES Matchmaking Facility will receive pledges and project proposals continuously.
This call for proposals is closely associated with the notification on the first IPBES Capacity-building Forum to be held in Dehradun, India, 19-22 October 2015. During the Forum, examples of proposals and pledges resulting from this call will be presented to participants as a part of the launch of the prototype IPBES Matchmaking Facility.
During this first call for the prototype Matchmaking Facility, we are accepting proposals and pledges in three categories:
- Proposals looking for technical or financial support for planning capacity-building projects and activities, and developing proposals. Institutions, organisations, partnerships and individuals looking for technical or financial support in the development of a capacity-building project or activity are requested to submit the form found here.
- Proposals looking for technical or financial support for implementation of capacity-building projects and activities. Institutions, organisations, partnerships and individuals looking for technical or financial support in the implementation of a capacity-building project or activity are requested to submit the form found here.
- Pledges to commit technical or financial support for the development or implementation of capacity-building projects and activities. Institutions, organisations and individuals looking to contribute to capacity-building areas, projects or activities are requested to submit the form found here.
All submitted proposals and pledges should align with the IPBES priority capacity-building needs as established by the IPBES Plenary in decision IPBES-3/1, and available in the Concept note for the IPBES Capacity-building Forum, accessible here.
Submitted proposals and pledges will be reviewed and evaluated by the IPBES Task Force on capacity-building and its technical support unit based on their relevance to addressing the IPBES priority capacity-building needs, and their potential for use in demonstrating and testing the prototype Matchmaking Facility. Accepted proposals and pledges will become publically accessible following the launch of the Facility at the IPBES Capacity-building Forum.
Member States, Observers and Partners are invited to disseminate this call to relevant institutions, organisations and individuals for them to express their interest. Proposals from a broad range of organisations/institutions/individuals are encouraged.
In order to enable the development of the prototype Matchmaking Facility in time for the Capacity-building Forum, proposals and pledges should be submitted through the links provided above no later than 5 September 2015. For all questions concerning the call and the Matchmaking Facility please contact the technical support unit on capacity-building on tsu.capacitybuilding@ipbes.net.
I look forward to your valuable assistance in disseminating this important call, and to your continued support for the implementation of our ambitious work programme in 2015.
With very best regards,
Professor Zakri Abdul Hamid
Chair, Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
